Translation guide
Expressing that something is funny or intended to be funny. Japanese uses different words depending on whether it's genuinely funny, witty, or just a joke.
Describing something that makes you laugh or is entertaining.
The most common word for 'funny' or 'interesting'. Can describe jokes, stories, people, or situations.
His story was very funny.
That movie is funny.
Means 'funny' in a strange or laughable way. Can also mean 'suspicious' or 'odd', so context matters.
That joke was so funny that everyone laughed.
A loanword meaning 'humorous' in a witty or charming way. Often used in writing or formal descriptions.
His speech was humorous and entertained the audience.
Describing humor that is intelligent, sharp, or uses wordplay.
Indicating that something is said or done as a joke, not meant to be taken seriously.
Describing a person who is able to appreciate or create humor.
The standard way to say 'has a sense of humor'. Uses the loanword 'ユーモア'.
He has a sense of humor.
Literally 'jokes get through'. Means someone understands jokes or can take a joke.
She is someone who gets jokes.
The English word 'humorous' is often translated as ユーモラスな, but this sounds formal and is less common in everyday speech. For casual conversation, use 面白い or 冗談で instead.
面白い is the safest and most common word for 'funny/interesting'. 可笑しい can mean 'funny' but also 'strange' or 'suspicious', so be careful with context. For example, おかしな人 can mean 'a strange person' rather than 'a funny person'.
Her witty conversation is always enjoyable.