How to say "humor" in Japanese

• 機嫌きげんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'humor' in the sense of a person's mood or temper, not comedy. Typical in phrases about being in a good or bad humor; when you mean funniness, this is not the word you want.
  彼かれは他人たにんの機嫌きげんを損そこねないように気きをつけている。↗

  He is chary of offending people.
• ユーモアJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'humor' as comic sense or funniness, including jokes and a person's ability to be amusing, as in having a (good) sense of humor. A loanword; it does not refer to someone's mood.
  彼かれには素晴すばらしいユーモアのセンスがある。↗

  He has a great sense of humour.

Use 機嫌 for someone's mood or temper, especially good or bad spirits; use 「ユーモア」 for the sense of fun or comic appreciation, as in humor in jokes or a person's character.

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

• 機嫌きげんhumour
• ユーモアhumor
• おかしみhumor
• 気色きしょくmood
• ご機嫌ごきげんhumour
• 機嫌気褄きげんきづまhumour
• 気褄きづまhumour
• あやすto cuddle
• 洒落っ気しゃれっけhumor
• 面白さおもしろさhumor