洒落

See also: 灑落

Chinese

For pronunciation and definitions of 洒落 – see 灑落 (“to trickle; to drip; confident and at ease; natural and elegant”). (This term is the simplified form of 灑落).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
洒	落
しゃ Hyōgaiji	らく > れ Grade: 3
goon	irregular

Derived as the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 洒(しゃ)落(れ)る (shareru, “to be witty; to be stylish or dapper”). The spelling is an example of phonetic ateji (当て字), ultimately from Chinese 灑落／洒落 (sǎluò, “confident and at ease; natural and elegant”).

First cited to the late 1600s.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) しゃれ [shàré] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɕa̠ɾe̞]

Noun

洒(しゃ)落(れ) or 洒落(シャレ) • (share) 

1. [1680] wittiness, refinement, stylishness, easygoing-ness

   Synonym: 洒脱 (shadatsu)

2. [1706] stylish and fashionable dress, good style in one's clothing

   Synonym: おしゃれ (oshare)

3. [1711] (historical) short for 洒落女 (share onna): a type of prostitute during the Edo period

   Synonym: (literally “fancy woman”) 洒落女 (share onna)

4. [1770] a witticism, a bon mot, a joke

   Synonyms: (“witticism”) 警句 (keiku), (“joke”) 冗談 (jōdan), (“pun”) 駄洒落 (dajare)

5. [1782] playing around in a red-light district
6. [1813] playing around in general, jesting, joshing

   Synonym: 戯れる (tawamureru)

7. [1887] something attractive, cool, interesting (compare English shiny)

Derived terms

• お洒(しゃ)落(れ) (oshare)
• 駄(だ)洒(じゃ)落(れ) (dajare)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
洒	落
しゃ Hyōgaiji	らく > ら Grade: 3
goon	irregular

Appears to be a shift from sharaku.

First cited in the 1620s.

This reading appears to be archaic, possibly obsolete.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɕa̠ɾa̠]

Adjective

洒(しゃ)落(ら) • (shara) -na (adnominal 洒(しゃ)落(ら)な (shara na), adverbial 洒(しゃ)落(ら)に (shara ni))

1. [1621] (archaic, possibly obsolete) cheeky, impudent, impertinent, saucy, pretentious, haughty

   Synonyms: 洒落臭い (sharakusai), 生意気 (nama-iki)

2. [1642] (archaic, possibly obsolete) stylish, trendy, fashionable

   Synonym: 粋 (iki)

Noun

洒(しゃ)落(ら) • (shara) 

1. [1682] (historical, archaic, possibly obsolete) a type of prostitute during the Edo period

   Synonym: (literally “fancy woman”) 洒落女 (share onna)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
洒	落
しゃ Hyōgaiji	らく Grade: 3
goon

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 灑落 (MC sraeX lak, “confident and at ease; natural and elegant”).

First cited to 1520. Given the dates of first appearance, sharaku may have been the original reading. An 1876 dictionary of word readings lists sharaku as an alternative for share.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) しゃらく [shàrákú] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɕa̠ɾa̠kɯ̟ᵝ]

Adjective

洒(しゃ)落(らく) • (sharaku) -na (adnominal 洒(しゃ)落(らく)な (sharaku na), adverbial 洒(しゃ)落(らく)に (sharaku ni))

1. [1520] carefree, easygoing

   Synonym: 洒脱 (shadatsu)

Noun

洒(しゃ)落(らく) • (sharaku) 

1. [1876] (archaic, possibly obsolete) wittiness, refinement, stylishness, easygoing-ness (see the share reading)