How to say "banter" in Japanese

• トークCommon
  nounCovers banter as light, good-humored talk or chat: the patter of a talk-show host or a stage musician's friendly exchanges with the audience between songs. This is the word you want when 'banter' means lively verbal byplay rather than teasing, and it is a far better fit for that sense than the teasing words below.
• 揶揄やゆCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers banter in the direction of raillery and ridicule: good-natured or pointed teasing of another person. It is a noun (often with する) for the act of bantering someone in a teasing way, so it suits 'banter' when the tone tips toward mockery rather than mere chat.
• 冷やかすひやかすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb for bantering that leans toward making fun of or jeering at someone, often in a chaffing, needling way. Choose it when 'banter' implies ribbing a person rather than simply chatting, and note that it can also mean merely browsing a shop without buying, so context decides the reading.
  彼かれらはジャックの髪かみの刈かり方かたをひやかした。↗

  They made fun of Jack's haircut.
• 冷やかしひやかしCommon
  nounThe noun counterpart to 冷やかす: banter as teasing or chaffing, the act of making light fun of someone. It fits 'banter' when the English word refers to the teasing itself rather than to friendly conversation, though as a shopping term it can instead mean window-shopping.
• からかうJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to tease, poke fun at, or make a crack about someone, and a common way to render 'banter' when it involves one person ribbing another. It is usually written in kana alone, and it captures the playful, needling side of banter better than any noun for 'chat' would.
  我々われわれはこの事ことで彼かれをからかった。↗

  We made fun of him about this.

For friendly, good-humored banter, 「トーク」 is the natural choice, especially for a host's patter or a musician's chat with the audience; for teasing or mocking banter, use the verb 「からかう」 or the noun 揶揄, with 「冷やかす」/「冷やかし」 covering banter that shades into making fun of someone.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• トークtalk (esp. by a talk-show host, or by a stage musician to the audience between songs)
• 揶揄やゆbanter
• 冷やかすひやかすto banter
• 冷やかしひやかしbanter
• からかうto tease
• からかいteasing
• おちょくるto tease
• 諧謔かいぎゃくjoke
• 囃すはやすto jeer
• 混ぜ返すまぜかえすto interrupt (with a joke, sarcastic remark, etc.)
• 混ぜっ返すまぜっかえすto interrupt (with a joke, sarcastic remark, etc.)