Joking around
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 56 of 71Teasing and banter
Lets you mark a joke, ask for the punchline, or admit one bombed.
- joudan da yojust kidding
- uso usojust kidding, just kidding
- ochi wa?and the punchline is...?
- subettathat joke bombed; it fell flat
- jaanta-da!
Mix-ups uso uso (just kidding) is not the reaction uso! (no way!).
joudan da yo
polite joudan desu yo
just kidding
Take back a tease, or a joke someone took seriously.
uso uso (literally 'lie, lie') is another quick 'just kidding'.
uso uso, joudan da yo. okotta?
Nah, just kidding. Are you mad?
うそうそ、冗談だよ。怒った？
joudan desu yo. ki ni shinaide kudasai.
Just kidding. Don't take it seriously.
冗談ですよ。気にしないでください。
Written 冗談だよ · じょうだんだよ · 冗談ですよWho you say itHeard 274× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
uso uso
just kidding, just kidding
Takes back a tease or a fake-out right after saying it, usually with a laugh.
A single 'uso!' is the opposite move: 'no way!' when you hear surprising news.
ashita tesuto da yo. uso uso, joudan.
There's a test tomorrow. Just kidding, joking!
明日テストだよ。うそうそ、冗談。
Written うそうそWho you say itHeard 13× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ochi wa?
and the punchline is...?
A teasing demand at the end of a flat story; Japanese banter expects stories to land on a payoff.
Kansai-flavoured but heard everywhere. Ochi = the payoff of a story or joke.
e, sore de owari? ochi wa?
Wait, that's it? Where's the punchline?
え、それで終わり？オチは？
Written オチは？ · おちは？Who you say it and hear itHeard 3× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
subetta
that joke bombed; it fell flat
Admits or points out that a joke got no laugh; saying it about yourself helps you recover.
Literally 'slipped', so it also means 'I slipped'. The opposite is ukeru: the joke lands.
daremo warawanai... kanzen ni subetta.
Nobody's laughing... that totally bombed.
誰も笑わない…完全にすべった。
Written すべったWho you say it and hear itHeard 62× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
jaan
ta-da!
Said while revealing something you're proud of.
jajaan adds more drama.
jaan! kore, tezukuri no keeki.
Ta-da! I made this cake myself.
ジャーン！これ、手作りのケーキ。
jaan! kore, tezukuri no keeki desu.
Ta-da! I made this cake myself.
ジャーン！これ、手作りのケーキです。
Written ジャーン · じゃーんWho you say itHeard 47× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles