せりふ・台詞・科白serifu[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun(spoken) line (in a play, film, comic, etc.); one's lines
   役者やくしゃは台詞せりふを暗記あんきしなければならない。↗

   An actor has to memorize his lines.
2. nouncomment; remark; phrase; words
   それはこっちのセリフですよ。↗

   That's what I want to say.
3. nounstock phrase; set phrase; cliché; platitude

• Synonym科白かはくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Read 「かはく」 it means lines together with actions; it also survives today as another way of writing 「せりふ」.
• Related口上こうじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. An opening speech or spoken statement, as in 「口上を述べる」; leans toward kabuki usage.

For lines in a play or stock phrases, use 「台詞（せりふ）」, as in 「台詞を覚える」 and 「決め台詞」. For opening remarks, say 「口上」; 「科白」 also still works as another way of writing 「せりふ」.

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

1. せりふ。台辞だいじ。