洒落しゃれ

しゃ

れ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to a witty remark, pun, or clever wordplay. Often used in the phrase 洒落がきく (to be good at making puns/witty remarks).

彼かれの洒落しゃれはいつも面おも白しろい。
His jokes are always funny.
それは洒落しゃれにならない。
That's no laughing matter.

na-adjective

stylish; smartly dressed; fashionable

Describes someone or something as stylish, refined, or fashion-conscious. Often used in the form お洒落 (おしゃれ), which is more common in modern Japanese.

Usage patterns

洒落しゃれを言いうto make a pun/witty joke
彼かれはいつも洒落しゃれを言いって皆みんなを笑わらわせる。
He always cracks puns and makes everyone laugh.
洒落しゃれがきくto be good at making witty remarks/puns
彼かの女じょは洒落しゃれがきく人ひととして知しられている。
She's known for being quick with clever wordplay.
洒落しゃれを飛とばすto crack a joke/pun
会かい議ぎ中ちゅうに洒落しゃれを飛とばして雰ふん囲い気きを和なごませた。
He cracked a joke during the meeting to ease the mood.
洒落しゃれな〈物もの〉〉a stylish/fashionable thing
あの店みせはとても洒落しゃれな内ない装そうをしている。
That shop has a very stylish interior.

Expressions

しゃれにならないnot funny; no laughing matter; serious

Kanji

洒wash, sprinkle
落fall, drop, come down

Related words

冗じょう談だんN3sense 1
冗談 is the general word for a joke, while 洒落 specifically means a clever pun or piece of wordplay.
おしゃれN3sense 2
お洒落 is the far more common everyday form for 'stylish/fashionable', while 洒落 alone in this sense is rarer and slightly more literary.
だじゃれ
しゃれ is a neutral term for a clever pun or witty remark, while 駄洒落 specifically refers to a corny or lame pun.
戯あじゃら
戯 is an archaic term for light-hearted banter, while 洒落 is the everyday word for a witty joke or pun.

Opposites

野や暮ぼN1sense 2
野暮 describes something unfashionable or unsophisticated, the opposite of 洒落 meaning stylish and refined.

Don't confuse with

ジョーク
洒落 specifically means a pun or wordplay, whereas ジョーク covers any humorous remark or story, not just wordplay.
洒しゃ落らくN1
Written with the same kanji, 洒落 read しゃれ means 'a joke/pun' or 'stylish,' while 洒落 read しゃらく is a literary word for an open-hearted, easygoing personality.
おしゃれN3
おしゃれ means fashionable or dressing up, but 洒落 (without お) means a joke or pun.

Word family· 11

おしゃれN3
stylish; fashionable; trendy · dressing up; making oneself look nice · fashionable person; stylish dresser
だじゃれ
bad pun; corny joke; feeble joke
洒落しゃれるN1
dress stylishly; be chic · joke; play on words; crack a joke
悪わる洒落じゃれ
offensive joke; crude pun; vulgar wisecrack
洒落しゃれた
stylish; smart; tasteful; fashionable · witty; clever

Show 6 more

洒落しゃれ本ぼん
sharebon; Edo-period comic novelette about the pleasure quarters
洒落しゃれ者もの
dandy; fop; fashionable man
洒落しゃれっ気け
fashion-consciousness; desire to be stylish · wit; sense of humor
洒落しゃれ込こむ
get dressed up; dress up smartly · treat oneself; splash out
おしゃれさん
fashionable person; stylish person
洒落しゃれのめす
joke everything away; turn everything into a joke; keep joking to the end

Written forms

洒落しゃれUsage25%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Standard kanji spelling, though the characters are ateji (phonetic). High priority.
シャレUsage43%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is sometimes used for emphasis or in casual contexts.
しゃれUsage32%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for the 'joke/pun' sense.

Etymology

The kanji 洒落 are ateji (phonetic) for the reading しゃれ. The exact origin is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb しゃれる (to be stylish, to be witty).

Related words

冗じょう談だんN3sense 1
冗談 is the general word for a joke, while 洒落 specifically means a clever pun or piece of wordplay.
おしゃれN3sense 2
お洒落 is the far more common everyday form for 'stylish/fashionable', while 洒落 alone in this sense is rarer and slightly more literary.
だじゃれ
しゃれ is a neutral term for a clever pun or witty remark, while 駄洒落 specifically refers to a corny or lame pun.
戯あじゃら
戯 is an archaic term for light-hearted banter, while 洒落 is the everyday word for a witty joke or pun.

Don't confuse with

ジョーク
洒落 specifically means a pun or wordplay, whereas ジョーク covers any humorous remark or story, not just wordplay.
洒しゃ落らくN1
Written with the same kanji, 洒落 read しゃれ means 'a joke/pun' or 'stylish,' while 洒落 read しゃらく is a literary word for an open-hearted, easygoing personality.
おしゃれN3
おしゃれ means fashionable or dressing up, but 洒落 (without お) means a joke or pun.

Word family· 11

おしゃれN3
stylish; fashionable; trendy · dressing up; making oneself look nice · fashionable person; stylish dresser
だじゃれ
bad pun; corny joke; feeble joke
洒落しゃれるN1
dress stylishly; be chic · joke; play on words; crack a joke
悪わる洒落じゃれ
offensive joke; crude pun; vulgar wisecrack
洒落しゃれた
stylish; smart; tasteful; fashionable · witty; clever

Show 6 more

洒落しゃれ本ぼん
sharebon; Edo-period comic novelette about the pleasure quarters
洒落しゃれ者もの
dandy; fop; fashionable man
洒落しゃれっ気け
fashion-consciousness; desire to be stylish · wit; sense of humor
洒落しゃれ込こむ
get dressed up; dress up smartly · treat oneself; splash out
おしゃれさん
fashionable person; stylish person
洒落しゃれのめす
joke everything away; turn everything into a joke; keep joking to the end

Written forms

洒落しゃれUsage25%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Standard kanji spelling, though the characters are ateji (phonetic). High priority.
シャレUsage43%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is sometimes used for emphasis or in casual contexts.
しゃれUsage32%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for the 'joke/pun' sense.