冗談を言って
jōdan o itte
The English phrase "tell me a joke" is translated into Japanese as 冗談を言って (jōdan o itte).
This phrase is used as a request for someone to say something funny in order to make the listener laugh.
What does it mean word for word?
冗談 means "joke" or "jest".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 冗談を言って is an informal request suitable for use with friends or family. If you are speaking to people you are not close with, you should use the polite form 冗談を言ってください by adding ください to the end.
How do you pronounce it?
jōdan o itte
Did you know?
- If a joke is particularly bad or predictable, a Japanese person might say it is 寒 (samui), which literally means 'cold'.
- In traditional Japanese theater like Rakugo, a single performer tells a joke while sitting on a cushion and using only a fan and a hand towel as props.
- While 冗談 means 'joke', if you ask a Japanese person to tell a 'joke' in the sense of a professional comedy routine, they might prefer the word ネタ, which literally refers to 'material' or 'ingredients'.
Examples in context
- 何か面白い冗談を言って。Nanika omoshiroi joudan o itte.Tell me a funny joke.
- 元気が出るように、冗談を言って。Genki ga deru you ni, joudan o itte.Tell me a joke to cheer me up.
- 暇つぶしに、冗談を言ってよ。Himatsubushi ni, joudan o itte yo.Tell me a joke to pass the time.
Example conversation
Misaki is feeling a bit down and wants to laugh.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くん、元気が出るように冗談を言って。Youta-kun, genki ga deru you ni joudan o itte.Youta, tell me a joke to cheer me up.
- 陽太 Yotaええ、いいよ。面白い冗談を考えてみるね。Ee, ii yo. Omoshiroi joudan o kangaete miru ne.Sure, okay. I'll try to think of a funny joke.
- 美咲 Misaki楽しみにしてるね。Tanoshimi ni shiteru ne.I'll be looking forward to it.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さんは、笑う準備はできてる？Misaki-san wa, warau junbi wa dekiteru?Misaki, are you ready to laugh?
