Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of mime is expressed through specific performance terms, loanwords, or descriptive phrases depending on context.
To refer to the art form of mime or a mime performance.
The standard loanword for mime as a performance art. Commonly used in everyday conversation.
彼はパントマイムが上手だ。
He is good at mime.
Literally 'silent drama', a more formal or literary term for mime or pantomime.
無言劇の公演を見に行った。
I went to see a mime performance.
A less common term meaning 'gesture play', sometimes used for mime.
身振り劇で物語を表現する。
Express a story through mime.
To refer to a mime artist.
Loanword for 'mime artist'. Widely understood.
あのパントマイマーはとても面白い。
That mime artist is very funny.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'person who does mime'. Useful if the loanword is not known.
パントマイムをする人になりたい。
I want to become a mime artist.
To describe the action of miming something.
Means 'to convey through gestures'. Natural way to express miming an action or idea.
言葉が通じないので、身振りで伝えた。
Since we didn't share a language, I mimed it.
Using gestures to indicate something. Common in casual contexts.
彼はジェスチャーで答えを示した。
He mimed the answer.
Literally 'to do mime'. Can be used for performing mime as an art or miming something casually.
彼女は動物の動きをパントマイムで表現した。
She mimed the movements of an animal.