諧かい謔ぎゃくを弄ろうする

Meanings

1

expression, suru verb (special)

crack jokes; jest; make witty remarks

rare term

Rare, literary expression for engaging in humorous or witty banter. Not used in everyday conversation; more likely encountered in older texts or formal writing.

彼かれは会かい合ごうで諧かい謔ぎゃくを弄ろうして場ばを和なごませた。
He lightened the mood at the gathering by cracking jokes.

諧harmony
謔sport with
弄play with, tamper, trifle with

Similar words

冗じょう談だんを言いう
Common, everyday expression for telling jokes or making humorous remarks. 諧謔を弄する is a rare, literary equivalent.
洒落しゃれを言いう
Means to make a pun or witty remark; more specific than 諧謔を弄する, which can refer to broader jesting.

Etymology

Compound of 諧謔 (かいぎゃく, 'joke, jest') + を + 弄する (ろうする, 'to play with, to toy with'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the phrase is a literary Sino-Japanese construction.