wordplay
言葉遊び
解説 Definition
wordplay は、言葉遊び、しゃれ、語呂合わせという意味です。音や意味の似通いを利用しておもしろさを出す表現を指し、文学や広告、会話などで使われます。
Wordplay is the humorous, clever, or imaginative use of words, especially by exploiting similarities in sound or differences and ambiguities in meaning. It includes devices such as puns and is common in jokes, titles, advertising, and literature.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
word「言葉」＋play「遊び」という透明な複合語なので、「言葉を遊ばせる」と捉えます。pun は個々のしゃれを指しやすいのに対し、wordplay は多義性、似た音、語呂合わせなどを利用する表現全般。clever wordplay、depend on wordplay の形で覚えると実用的です。
The structure gives the meaning directly: word plus play is “play with words.” Imagine a writer moving sounds and meanings around as if they were game pieces. A pun is usually one particular joke based on double meaning or similar sound, while wordplay is the broader category covering puns and other playful verbal techniques. Useful combinations include clever wordplay, simple wordplay, and depend on wordplay. Translation is a typical context because humor based on a language’s particular sounds or multiple meanings often cannot be transferred directly.
例文
The title uses simple wordplay to catch the reader's attention.
その題名は読者の注意を引くために簡単な言葉遊びを使っています。
Her speech included clever wordplay, but the main message was still clear.
彼女のスピーチには巧みな言葉遊びが含まれていましたが、主なメッセージは明確でした。
Some jokes are hard to translate because they depend on wordplay.
言葉遊びに頼っているため、翻訳しにくい冗談もあります。
wordplay の類義語・関連語
wordplay の語源・成り立ち Etymology
word（言葉）+ play（遊び）の複合語。wordは古英語 word（ゲルマン祖語 *wurdą）、playは古英語 plegan（運動・遊戯）に由来。駄洒落・掛詞・アナグラムなど言葉の多義性や音を利用した遊びの総称。関連語：swordplay（剣術）、horseplay（ふざけ）。
Wordplay is a transparent compound of word and play. Word comes from Old English word and belongs to the Germanic vocabulary of speech and expression. Play is also Germanic and is related to Old English forms referring to play, exercise, or movement. The compound developed its present sense from the idea of treating language playfully, especially by manipulating sounds, spellings, and multiple meanings for humor or rhetorical effect.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう