Editing Japanese wordplay

{{Short description|Usage of Japanese language conventions to create humor}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

'''Japanese wordplay''' relies on the nuances of the [[Japanese language]] and [[Japanese writing system|Japanese script]] for [[Word play|humorous effect]], functioning somewhat like a cross between a [[pun]] and a [[spoonerism]]. [[Double entendre|Double entendres]] have a rich history in Japanese entertainment (such as in [[kakekotoba]])<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last1=Backhaus|first1=Mio|last2=Backhaus|first2=Peter|date=2013-05-27|title=Oyaji gyagu, more than just cheesy puns|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/05/27/language/oyaji-gyagu-more-than-just-cheesy-puns/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}</ref> due to the language's large number of [[Homograph|homographs]] (different meanings for a given spelling) and [[Homophone|homophones]] (different meanings for a given pronunciation).

== Kakekotoba ==
{{Main|Kakekotoba}}
{{nihongo|''Kakekotoba''|掛詞}} or "pivot words" are an early form of Japanese wordplay used in [[Waka (poetry)|waka poetry]], wherein some words represent two homonyms. The presence of multiple meanings within these words allowed poets to impart more meaning into fewer words.<ref name=":0" />

==Goroawase==
{{nihongo|''Goroawase''|語呂合わせ|4="phonetic matching"}} is an especially common form of Japanese wordplay, wherein [[homophone|homophonous]] words are associated with a given series of letters, numbers or symbols, in order to associate a new meaning with that series. The new words can be used to express a [[superstition]] about certain letters or numbers. More commonly, however, ''goroawase'' is used as a [[mnemonic]] technique, especially in the memorization of numbers such as dates in history, scientific [[Physical constant|constants]] and [[phone number]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Goroawase: Japanese Numbers Wordplay|url=https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/goroawase-japanese-numbers-wordplay/|website=Tofugu|date=30 August 2011|access-date=13 August 2019|quote=The idea is that you can basically use any of these sounds associated with any of these letters to create mnemonics to help someone to remember a phone number.}}</ref>

===Numeric substitution===
{{main|Numeric substitution in Japanese}}
{{Transcluded section|Numeric substitution in Japanese}}
{{:Numeric substitution in Japanese}}
<!--This section should be edited at [[Numeric substitution in Japanese]].--->

====Examples====
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* '''11''' can be read as "wan-wan", which is commonly used in Japan as an onomatopoeia for a dog barking.
* '''16''' can be read as "hi-ro", [[Hiro (given name)|Hiro]] being a common Japanese given name. 16 is also a common age for anime and manga [[Protagonist|protagonists]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} (i.e., [[hero|heroes]]).
* '''26''' can be read as "fu-ro" ({{nihongo2|風呂}}), meaning "bath". [[Sentō|Public baths in Japan]] have reduced entry fees on the 26th day of every month.<ref>{{Cite web|author=<span lang="ja">埼玉県</span>|title=<span lang="ja">生活衛生営業／お風呂の日（毎月26日）は銭湯へ</span>|url=https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0706/6hou/26ofuro.html|access-date=2016-09-29|language=ja-JP}}</ref>
* '''29''' can be read as "ni-ku" ({{nihongo2|肉}}), meaning "[[meat]]". [[Restaurant|Restaurants]] and [[Grocery store|grocery stores]] have special offers on the 29th day of every month.
*'''39''' can be read as "san-kyū", referring to "thank you" in English.
* '''44''' can be read as "yo-yo" and is thus a common slang term in the international competitive [[yo-yo]] community, which has a strong Japanese presence.
* '''56''', read as "ko-ro", is used in {{nihongo2|[[:wikt:56す|56す]]}}, an alternate spelling of the verb "korosu" ({{nihongo2|殺す}}, to kill) used on the internet to avoid [[wordfilter]]s.
* '''89''' can be read as "ha-gu", which refers to "hug" in English. August 9th is National Hug Day in Japan.
* '''109''' can be read as "tō-kyū". The [[109 (department store)|109]] department store in [[Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]] is often read as "ichi-maru-kyū", but the number 109 was selected as the alternative reading "tō-kyū" is a reference to [[Tokyu Corporation]], the group that owns the building.
* '''230''' can be read as "fu-mi-o", the given name of former Japanese prime minister [[Fumio Kishida]]. He uses this number in his Twitter handle "kishida230".<ref>{{Cite Twitter profile|kishida230|Fumio Kishida}}</ref>
* '''428''' can be read as "shi-bu-ya", referring to the [[Shibuya]] area of [[Tokyo]], and "yo-tsu-ba" ({{nihongo2|四つ葉}}) meaning [[four-leaf clover]].
* '''526''' can be read as "ko-ji-ro" in reference to [[Sasaki Kojirō|Sasaki Kojiro]], a samurai from the Edo period.
* '''634''' can be read as "mu-sa-shi". The [[Tokyo Skytree]]'s height was intentionally set at 634 meters so it would sound like [[Musashi Province]], an old name for the area in which the building stands.<ref>[[Kyodo News]], "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120523a7.html Tower's developers considered several figures before finally settling on 634]", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 23 May 2012, p. 2</ref>
*'''801''' can be read as "ya-o-i" or [[yaoi]], a genre of homoerotic manga typically aimed at women.
* '''893''' can be read as "ya-ku-za" ({{nihongo2|やくざ}}) or "[[yakuza]]".<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is the origin of yakuza?|url=https://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/yakuza.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=www.sljfaq.org}}</ref> It is traditionally a bad omen for a student to receive this candidate number for an [[exam]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}
*'''1492''', the year of [[Voyages_of_Christopher_Columbus#First_voyage|Columbus' first voyage to America]], can be read as "i-yo-ku-ni" and appended with "ga mieta" to form the phrase "Alright! I can see land!" ({{nihongo2|いいよ！国が見えた！}}). Additionally, "i-yo-ku-ni" itself could simply be interpreted as "It's a good country" ({{nihongo2|いいよ、国}}). The alternative reading "i-shi-ku-ni" is also used to memorize the year, though it is not typically associated with a particular meaning.
* '''4649''' can be read as "yo-ro-shi-ku" ({{nihongo2|よろしく}}), meaning "best regards".
* '''18782 + 18782 = 37564''' can be read as "i-ya-na-ya-tsu + i-ya-na-ya-tsu = mi-na-go-ro-shi" {{nihongo|2=嫌な奴＋嫌な奴＝皆殺し|4=bad person + bad person = massacre}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=弁護士のブログ |title=弁護士のブログ - 「18782（嫌な奴）」＋「18782（嫌な奴）」＝「37564（皆殺し）」の波紋——過剰反応では？ |url=http://www.law-yokoi.com/blog/?p=1419 |access-date=2023-02-08 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=【嫌な奴+嫌な奴＝皆殺し】とはどういう意味ですか？ - 日本語に関する質問 |url=https://ja.hinative.com/questions/2972282 |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=HiNative |language=ja}}</ref>
*'''3.14159265''', the first nine digits of [[pi]], can be read as "san-i-shi-i-ko-ku-ni-mu-kou" ({{nihongo2|産医師異国に向こう}}), meaning "an obstetrician faces towards a foreign country".

==Dajare==
{{main|Dajare}}
In Japanese, [[pun]]s are referred to as {{nihongo|''dajare''|駄洒落|'bad jokes'}}. Like puns in English, ''dajare'' may be considered {{nihongo|[[dad joke]]s|親父ギャグ|oyaji gyagu}}. ''Dajare'' commonly involve the usage of two homophonous phrases alongside each other in a sentence, though [[double entendre]]s are used as well.

'''Example one:'''
* アルミ缶の上にある蜜柑 ('''''arumi kan''' no ue ni '''aru mikan''''')
: '''Translation:'''
: An orange on an aluminum can.
: '''Explanation:'''
: アルミ (''arumi'') means "aluminum" and 缶 (''kan'') means "can"; ある (aru) means "to exist" and 蜜柑 (''[[mikan]]'') refers to mandarin varieties popular in Japan.

'''Example two:'''
: A: 大食いのたけし君も、宇宙ではあまり物を食べられないよ。 (''ōgui no takeshi kun mo, uchū dewa amari mono o taberarenaiyo'')
: B: なぜ? (''naze'')
: A: 宇宙には'''空気(食う気)'''がない。 (''uchū niwa '''kūki''' ga nai'')
: '''Translation:'''
: A: In space, even a glutton like Takeshi can't eat anything.
: B: Why's that?
: A: In space, there is no air.
: '''Explanation:'''
: ''Kūki'' (くうき) can mean either "air" (空気) or "appetite" (食う気), thus the last phrase could also be interpreted as "in space, (he has) no appetite".
===Ginatayomi===
Some ''dajare'' rely on {{nihongo|''ginatayomi''|ぎなた読み|'phrasal misparsing'; {{lit|ginata-reading}}}} for effect, similar to [[garden-path sentence]]s in English. Many are commonly told by children.

'''Example one:'''<br>
:「パン作ったことある」(''pan tsukutta koto aru''; Have you ever made bread before?)
:　'''Can also be interpreted as:'''
:「パンツ食ったことある」(''pantsu kutta koto aru''; Have you ever eaten underpants before?)

'''Example two:'''<br>
:「ねぇ、ちゃんとお風呂入ってる」(''nee, chanto ofuro haitteru''; Hey, have you been bathing regularly?)
:　'''Can also be interpreted as:'''
:「姉ちゃんとお風呂入ってる」(''nee-chan to ofuro haitteru''; Do you bathe with your older sister?)

== See also ==
* [[Japanese rebus monogram]]
** [[Rebus#Japan|Rebus § Japan]]
* [[Tetraphobia]]
* [[Word play]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Mnemonics]]
[[Category:Japanese word games]]