noun
antics; buffoonery; clowning
Refers to silly or playful behavior, often for entertainment. Can describe both professional clowning and everyday fooling around.
彼の道化にみんな大笑いした。
Everyone burst out laughing at his antics.
サーカスでピエロが道化を演じる。
The clown performs buffoonery at the circus.
noun
clown; jester
Abbreviation of 道化方 (comic actor in traditional theater) or 道化師 (clown). Used for a person who plays the fool.
See also: 道化方
彼は舞台で道化を務めた。
He played the clown on stage.
中世の宮廷には道化がいた。
There were jesters in medieval courts.
Compound of 道 (way, path) and 化 (change, transform), suggesting a person who deviates from the normal path or transforms into a fool. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.