芝居 (しばい, shibai) Japanese meaning: play

芝居 (しばい, shibai) Japanese meaning: play | Kotomora

Kanji

芝turf, lawn
居reside, to be, exist

Related words· 7

演えん劇げきN3
演劇 is the broad, formal term for theatre as an art form, while 芝居 usually points to a specific play or performance and carries a more colloquial, traditional feel.
劇げきN3
劇 is a simple, neutral word for a play or drama, whereas 芝居 often adds a nuance of traditional Japanese theatre or, figuratively, staged pretense.
舞ぶ台たいN3
舞台 refers to the stage or a theatrical production as a setting, while 芝居 focuses on the play itself as a story being performed.
演えん技ぎN3
演技 means 'acting' or 'performance skill', close to the figurative sense of 芝居 as 'putting on an act', but it doesn't refer to a whole play.

Show 3 more

狂きょう言げん
芝居 is the general word for a play or act, while 狂言 in its figurative sense implies a deliberately staged deception.
プレイN3
芝居 is the natural Japanese word for a theatrical play or performance, while プレー in this sense sounds more formal or literary.
茶ちゃ番ばん
芝居 literally means a stage play but can also mean a put-on act, whereas 茶番 always carries the negative sense of a ridiculous, transparent sham.

Counted with

幕まくN3
curtain; stage curtain; screen · act in a play; act; counter for acts · falling of the curtain; end of a scene · end; close; conclusion · one's place; one's turn; role to play; occasion for involvement · makuuchi; top sumo division

Word family· 28

紙かみ芝しば居い
kamishibai; picture-story show
猿さる芝しば居い
monkey show · bad acting; overacting; unconvincing performance; farce; clumsy subterfuge
一ひと芝しば居い
a trick; a put-on act; a little drama
伽とぎ芝しば居い
fairy play; pantomime

Written forms

芝しば居いUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling for theatrical play or drama.
しばいUsage1%

Etymology

Compound of 芝 (しば, 'turf, lawn') and 居 (い, 'being, sitting'). Originally referred to performances on grassy areas or temporary stages, later generalized to mean theatrical play.

芝しば居い

Meanings

Usage patterns

Expressions