揶揄|やゆyayu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbbanter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 揶揄する（やゆする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 揶揄します（やゆします） |
| Negative (nai) | 揶揄しない（やゆしない） |
| polite (masen) | 揶揄しません（やゆしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 揶揄せず・揶揄せぬ（やゆせず・やゆせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 揶揄した（やゆした） |
| polite (mashita) | 揶揄しました（やゆしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 揶揄しなかった（やゆしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 揶揄しませんでした（やゆしませんでした） |
| Te form | 揶揄して（やゆして） |
| Potential | 揶揄できる（やゆできる） |
| Passive | 揶揄される（やゆされる） |
| Causative | 揶揄させる（やゆさせる） |
| Causative passive | 揶揄させられる（やゆさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 揶揄すれば（やゆすれば） |
| tara | 揶揄したら（やゆしたら） |
| Volitional | 揶揄しよう（やゆしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 揶揄しましょう（やゆしましょう） |
| Imperative | 揶揄しろ（やゆしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym愚弄ぐろうWrittenWritten word for mocking someone as a fool; far more insulting than 「揶揄」, often as 「人を愚弄する」.
- Synonym冷やかすひやかすNeutralTo banter or tease, often at couples; also means window-shopping. Lighter in tone than 「揶揄」.
- Synonym嘲るあざけるWrittenWritten verb for mocking with open contempt; 「揶揄」 is more understated and laced with humour.
- SynonymからかうNeutralEveryday verb for teasing someone; the most common choice. 「揶揄」 leans to satirising remarks or society, so the two are not freely interchangeable.
- Synonym嘲弄ちょうろうWrittenWritten word for scornful mockery; more overt and hurtful than the ironic 「揶揄」.
- Related冷笑れいしょうWrittenWritten noun for a cold sneer; highlights a contemptuous look or attitude, whereas 「揶揄」 is mostly verbal banter.
- Relatedあざ笑うあざわらうNeutralVerb for laughing at someone with contempt; stresses the act of laughing, while 「揶揄」 can be verbal irony.
- RelatedおちょくるCasualColloquial: to tease someone for fun, sometimes with contempt or provocation; lacks the social satire of 「揶揄」.
- Related嘲笑ちょうしょうWrittenWritten word for laughing at someone you look down on; contempt is openly shown, heavier than 「揶揄」's subtle irony.
- RelatedなぶるWrittenWritten verb for teasing or tormenting someone weaker for fun; carries a cruel nuance, targets usually at a disadvantage.
- Related茶々を入れるちゃちゃをいれるCasualColloquial phrase for butting in with jokes while others talk; stresses the interruption, not necessarily sarcastic.
- Related嗤笑ししょうWrittenRare written word for sneering; close to 「嘲笑」. In everyday speech say 「あざ笑う」 instead.
- RelatedおちゃらかすCasualColloquial: to tease someone in fun; light and casual, without the satirical colour of 「揶揄」.
- Relatedせせら笑うせせらわらうWrittenWritten verb for a scornful, nasal sneer; often used in fiction to describe a character's expression.
- Antonym賞賛しょうさんNeutralAntonym: to praise or commend someone, the opposite of sarcastic 「揶揄」, as in 「称賛を浴びる」.
For everyday teasing use 「からかう」. In written prose, 「揶揄」 suits ironic comment on society or current affairs. For open contemptuous laughter choose 「嘲笑」 or 「あざ笑う」; lighter banter can be 「おちょくる」 or 「冷やかす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
