clownish
道化師っぽい
解説 Definition
道化師のような、ふざけた、またはばかげた行動や外見を示す。軽蔑的なニュアンスで、ふまじめで不適切な行動を指す。
Clownish means looking or acting in a silly, exaggerated, or awkward way, like a clown. It is often used when someone's behavior seems foolish rather than serious, and it can sound slightly negative.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
clown を知っていれば取りやすい語。語尾の -ish は childish, foolish のように「〜っぽい」「やや〜気味」の感覚なので、clownish でまず「道化師みたいな」とつなげる。ポイントは、単に funny ではなく、場に合わずふざけすぎて幼稚・ばかげて見えること。a clownish grin, clownish behavior のように、表情や振る舞いが軽薄で品がない感じまで含むと覚えると使い分けしやすい。
Build it from `clown` plus `-ish`, which often means "somewhat like" or "having that quality." So `clownish` means clown-like, but usually in a bad way, not just funny. Think of `clownish behavior` or a `clownish grin` that feels silly, awkward, or childish.
例文
His clownish behavior was inappropriate for the formal meeting.
彼の道化師のような行動はその公式な会議には不適切だった。
The clownish antics disrupted the serious discussion.
その道化師のようなしぐさは真面目な議論を邪魔した。
She dismissed his clownish jokes as unprofessional.
彼女は彼の道化師のような冗談を不真面目だと却下した。
clownish の類義語・関連語
clownish の語源・成り立ち Etymology
clownish は clown「道化師・野暮な人」に形容詞語尾 -ish「〜っぽい」が付いた語です。clown 自体は北欧・低地ドイツ系の「不器用な田舎者」に通じるとされるので、『道化師っぽい』だけでなく『野暮でぎこちない』感じまで含むのが納得でき、関連語に clown、clownery があります。
Clownish comes from clown + the adjective ending -ish, meaning "like" or "somewhat like." Clown entered English from a Germanic source, probably linked to Scandinavian or Low German words for a clumsy or rude country person. The idea later shifted from "rustic and awkward" to "like a clown," so the word can suggest both silliness and awkwardness. Related English words include clown and clownery.
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