noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to a ridiculous pretense or transparent act, often used critically. Common in the phrase 茶番劇 (farce, charade).
彼の謝罪は茶番に過ぎない。
His apology is nothing but a farce.
comic interlude; short humorous sketch
Historical term for a brief improvised comic sketch performed between kabuki acts during the Edo period. Now mainly encountered in historical or theatrical contexts.
歌舞伎の茶番は、役者の即興的な滑稽芸だった。
The kabuki chaban was an improvised comic routine by the actors.
tea server; person who serves tea
Rare literal meaning: a person whose job is to serve tea. This sense is seldom used in modern Japanese; the word is overwhelmingly used in the farce sense.
江戸時代の茶屋では、茶番が客にお茶を運んだ。
At Edo-period teahouses, a tea server brought tea to the customers.
Everyone thinks this trial is a farce.
その会議は完全に茶番だった。
That meeting was a complete charade.
The politicians put on another farce in front of the public.
He said he no longer wanted to go along with this farce.
芝居 literally means a stage play but can also mean a put-on act, whereas 茶番 always carries the negative sense of a ridiculous, transparent sham.
見せかけ points to a false outward appearance or facade, while 茶番 describes the whole absurd, staged event or pretense.
茶番 (a farce or sham) and 番茶 (a common everyday green tea) use the same two kanji in reverse order, so learners often mix them up.
farce; low comedy; burlesque
farcical; comical; absurd
farce; burlesque; low comedy
Originally referred to a person who served tea (茶 'tea' + 番 'watch/guard'), then came to denote the comic sketches performed by such attendants during kabuki intermissions, and later broadened to mean any farcical act.