cancelling a debt; forgiving a debt; being even
Colloquial term for wiping the slate clean financially, often used in phrases like チャラにする (to call it even).
この前貸した金はチャラにしてやるよ。
I'll forget about the money I lent you the other day.
おごってもらったから、これでチャラね。
You treated me, so we're even now.
forgetting what was said or done; pretending something never happened
Colloquial extension: treating a past remark or incident as if it never happened, often in the phrase チャラにする.
さっきの失言はチャラにしてくれ。
Forget what I just said—pretend it never happened.
My friend forgave my debt and called it even.
喧嘩のことはもうチャラにしよう。
Let's just forget about the fight.
昨日のけんかのことはチャラにしよう。
Let's just forget about yesterday's argument.
We both apologized, so we're even now.
My savings and debt were the same amount, so it ended up even in the end.
チャラチャラ describes a flashy, frivolous manner or the jingling sound of things clinking, while チャラ means cancelling a debt or pretending something never happened.
frivolous woman; good-time girl
shallow playboy; frivolous lad; good-time Charlie
try to look cool; act flashy; show off
jingle; clink; jangle · chattering; joking around; messing around · flirty; flashy; superficial
Common katakana spelling for this colloquial term.
Hiragana spelling, also used.
The exact origin is uncertain. It may be related to the onomatopoeic sound of something being erased or wiped away, or possibly derived from a contraction of ちゃらんぽらん (irresponsible).