repartee
機知に富んだ応答
解説 Definition
機知に富んだ応答、すばやい会話の返し。特に言葉遊びや冗談を含む。
Repartee is quick, clever, and often funny conversation in which people reply to each other sharply. It is common in lively social talk, comedy, and writing. The word is slightly formal and is often used to praise someone’s wit.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
reply や retort の仲間として覚えると定着しやすい語。単なる返答ではなく、会話のテンポを切らずに、少しユーモアや皮肉を効かせて返す「気の利いた切り返し」。witty repartee, sparkling repartee, exchange repartee の形で見かけやすい。面接の answer や説明の response ではなく、雑談・議論・ドラマのせりふの応酬で光る語。banter が軽口のやり取り全体を指しやすいのに対し、repartee はその中の鋭い返しを意識すると区別しやすい。
Remember it as a cousin of `reply` or `retort`, but more clever. `Repartee` is the fast, witty back-and-forth you hear in sharp conversation, not a formal answer. It often appears with words like `witty` or `sparkling`, which can help fix the feeling of the word.
例文
His repartee was sharp and witty, making everyone laugh at the dinner party.
彼の切り返しは鋭く機知に富んでいて、ディナーパーティーで皆を笑わせました。
The two comedians engaged in clever repartee that delighted the audience.
2人のコメディアンは気の利いたやり取りを交わし、観客を楽しませました。
Her quick repartee during the debate impressed many spectators.
議論中の彼女の素早い切り返しは、多くの観客を感心させました。
repartee の類義語・関連語
repartee の語源・成り立ち Etymology
repartee はフランス語 repartie「切り返し・返答」に由来し、re-「返して」+ partir 系の語にさかのぼります。related part, depart。会話の球をただ返すのでなく、すばやく気の利いた形で返す感じが『機知に富んだ応答』です。
Repartee came into English from French repartie, meaning a reply or quick answer. It goes back to roots meaning "to divide" or "to share out," but in conversation it came to suggest an answer thrown back to someone. Over time, the meaning narrowed to a fast, clever, witty reply. Related English words from the same root include part and depart.
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