noun
humorous words; funny gesture
Refers to witty remarks, jokes, or comical actions, often in conversation or performance. Can be used for ad-libbed humor.
彼の話にはいつも茶利が入っていて、聞いていて飽きない。
His stories always have humorous touches, so you never get bored listening.
会議中に茶利を入れるのはやめてください。
Please stop making funny remarks during the meeting.
noun
comic interlude; funny part (in a puppet show, kabuki, etc.)
Specifically refers to a humorous scene or comic relief within a traditional performing art like bunraku or kabuki.
この人形浄瑠璃では、茶利の場面で観客がどっと笑った。
In this bunraku play, the audience burst out laughing at the comic interlude.
noun
woman's temple hair (archaic)
Archaic term for a style of hair at the temples, used in historical contexts. Not used in modern Japanese.
江戸時代の文献に「茶利」という女性の鬢の形が記されている。
Documents from the Edo period record a women's hairstyle called 'chari' at the temples.
冗談 is a general word for joke or jest, while 茶利 often implies a witty, ad-libbed remark or a comic gesture, and can also refer to a scripted comic part in traditional theater.
おどけ refers to clowning or playful antics, often physical. 茶利 can include verbal humor and is more associated with clever, sometimes subtle, wit.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 茶利 are ateji, used phonetically. It may be related to the verb ちゃる (to do) in some dialects, but this is speculative.