三さん段だん落おち

noun

three-part joke; rule of three in comedy

A comedic structure where two similar, mundane setups are followed by a surprising third element as the punchline. Often used in Japanese manzai and comedic storytelling.

See also: 落ち (おち)

• あの芸げい人にんは三さん段だん落おちを得とく意いとしている。

  That comedian is good at three-part jokes.

• 三さん段だん落おちの構こう成せいは、落らく語ごでもよく使つかわれる。

  The three-part joke structure is also often used in rakugo.