戯ざれ言ごと

Similar words

• 冗じょう談だん

  冗談 is the most common word for 'joke' in everyday conversation. 戯れ言 is more literary and often implies a frivolous or nonsensical remark.

• たわ言ごと

  たわ言 means 'nonsense' or 'rubbish' and is more negative than 戯れ言, which can be light-hearted.

Etymology

Compound of 戯れ (ざれ, 'playfulness') + 言 (こと, 'word'). The reading ざれ is the 連用形 of the verb 戯れる (ざれる, 'to jest'). The alternate reading たわむれごと uses the 連用形 of 戯れる (たわむれる).