シュール
Meanings
surreal; strangely unreal
Used as a な-adjective for something dreamlike, oddly unreal, or absurd in a way that feels surreal. In everyday Japanese it often describes films, images, jokes, or situations with a strange, off-kilter mood.
It was a surreal movie, like something in a dream.
That commercial is strangely surreal and hard to forget.
Noun use as an abbreviation of シュルレアリスム, especially in discussion of art, literature, or style. The full form シュルレアリスム is clearer in formal writing.
See also: シュルレアリスム
In art history, シュール is used as an abbreviation for surrealism.
The influence of surrealism can be seen in his early works.
Usage patterns
- シュールな〈事〉a surreal, oddly unreal situation or thing
This movie keeps unfolding in a surreal way right to the end.
- シュールなギャグsurreal, absurd humor or a deadpan joke with a strange logic
His surreal jokes always leave the audience puzzled.
- シュールな光景a surreal, dreamlike sight or scene
The empty amusement park was a somehow surreal sight.