役やく者しゃ子こ供ども

noun

skilled actor who is childlike offstage

Describes a talented actor whose real-life personality is innocent or naive, like a child. A set phrase from the Edo period, now rare.

• 彼かれはまさに役やく者しゃ子こ供どもで、舞ぶ台たいを降おりると無む邪じゃ気きそのものだ。

  He is exactly a yakusha kodomo—once offstage, he is innocence itself.

noun

child kabuki actor

Original literal meaning from the Edo period, referring to a child performer in kabuki. Archaic.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには役やく者しゃ子こ供どもが舞ぶ台たいで人にん気きを博はくした。

  In the Edo period, child kabuki actors gained popularity on stage.