茶ちゃ番ばん

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

farce; charade; sham

Refers to a ridiculous pretense or transparent act, often used critically. Common in the phrase 茶番劇 (farce, charade).

• 彼かれの謝しゃ罪ざいは茶ちゃ番ばんに過すぎない。

  His apology is nothing but a farce.

• その会かい議ぎは完かん全ぜんに茶ちゃ番ばんだった。

  That meeting was a complete charade.

noun

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.

• 歌か舞ぶ伎きの茶ちゃ番ばんは、役やく者しゃの即そっ興きょう的てきな滑こっ稽けい芸げいだった。

  The kabuki chaban was an improvised comic routine by the actors.

noun

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.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの茶ちゃ屋やでは、茶ちゃ番ばんが客きゃくにお茶ちゃを運はこんだ。

  At Edo-period teahouses, a tea server brought tea to the customers.