面白い|おもしろいomoshiroi[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectiveinteresting; fascinating; intriguing; enthralling
   新聞しんぶんには何なんも面白おもしろいことは載のっていない。↗

   There is nothing interesting in the newspaper.
2. i-adjectiveamusing; funny; comical
   これは私が読よんだ中なかで一番いちばん面白おもしろい本ほんです。↗

   This is the funniest book in my reading.

   彼女かのじょは子供こどもたちに面白おもしろい話はなしをしてあげた。↗

   She told her children an amusing story.
3. i-adjectiveenjoyable; fun; entertaining; pleasant; agreeable
   この本ほんは面白おもしろい読み物よみものです。↗

   This book makes pleasant reading.

   野鳥やちょうを観察かんさつするのはとても面白おもしろい。↗

   Watching wild birds is great fun.
4. i-adjectivegood; satisfactory; favourable; desirable; encouragingusu. in the negative

• Synonym興味深いきょうみぶかいWrittenWritten/formal prose: very interesting and worth exploring; an intellectual word that never means funny.
• SynonymおかしいNeutralFunny, but also odd or strange, as in 「何かおかしい」 — a sense 「面白い」 does not have.
• Synonym楽しいたのしいNeutralAbout your own happiness and enjoyment; the focus is your mood, while 「面白い」 focuses on the thing being interesting.
• Synonym愉快ゆかいNeutralPleasant and delightful, as in 「愉快な仲間」; leans toward written, formal prose.
• SynonymおもろいCasualColloquial Kansai dialect for 「面白い」; same meaning, with a relaxed, casual feel.
• Related滑稽こっけいNeutralComical and laughable, also absurd or ridiculous, as in 「滑稽な姿」; the point is making people laugh.
• RelatedエキサイティングNeutralLoanword for something thrilling and heart-pounding; typical of matches, games and events.
• RelatedユーモラスNeutralLoanword for humorous and witty, as in 「ユーモラスな話」; suggests a gentle, good-natured laugh.
• Related小気味良いこきみよいNeutralCrisp and gratifying rather than funny, as in 「小気味よい音」; stresses a brisk, refreshing feel.
• Related魅力的みりょくてきNeutralAttractive or appealing, as in 「魅力的な提案」; it is about the pull something has on people rather than about being fun or funny.
• RelatedコミカルNeutralLoanword for comical in the manner of a comedy, as in 「コミカルな動き」.
• Related楽しげたのしげNeutralDescribes someone looking happy or cheerful; used for other people's visible demeanor, not your own feelings.
• RelatedおもしろおかしいNeutralBoth interesting and comical at once, often as 「面白おかしく話す」; the emphasis is on amusing people.
• Related刺激的しげきてきNeutralExciting and stimulating rather than funny, as in 「刺激的な体験」; it thrills and stirs the senses.
• Related蠱惑的こわくてきWrittenWritten/formal prose: bewitching and alluring, captivating and tempting the heart; carries a seductive, glamorous tinge.
• AntonymつまらないNeutralThe opposite of 「面白い」: dull and uninteresting; it can also mean trivial or of little worth.
• Antonym退屈たいくつNeutralThe opposite of 「面白い」: boring and tedious, or the state of being bored stiff with nothing to do.

For something interesting or funny, 「面白い」 is the default. Use 「興味深い」 for things worth exploring, 「おかしい」 or 「滑稽」 for the comical, 「楽しい」 for your own enjoyment, and 「刺激的」 for thrills. The loanwords 「エキサイティング」, 「ユーモラス」 and 「コミカル」 suit events and humor; 「魅力的」 is for charm. 「おもろい」 is casual Kansai speech; 「詰らない」 and 「退屈」 are the opposites.

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

1. 続つづけたり、見聞みききしたりしたいと思おもうさま。興味きょうみを引ひかれる。
2. 思おもわずわらいたくなるような。滑稽こっけいな。おかしい。
3. めずらしい。奇妙きみょうだ。風変ふうがわりだ。
4. 愉快ゆかいだ。心こころが晴はれる。
5. （否定ひていで）思おもわしい。好このましい。望のぞましい。