傑作(けっさく)

けっさく
noun
masterpiece, great work
literarycolloquial
1. masterpiece, great work
An outstanding work of art, literature, or craftsmanship.
この絵(え)は彼(かれ)の傑作(けっさく)だ。
This painting is his masterpiece.
世界(せかい)の傑作(けっさく)を集(あつ)めた美術館(びじゅつかん)だ。
It's a museum that has collected masterpieces from around the world.
彼(かれ)の最後(さいご)の傑作(けっさく)となった。
It became his final masterpiece.
この映画(えいが)は監督(かんとく)の傑作(けっさく)だ。
This film is the director's masterpiece.
傑作(けっさく)選(せん)を出版(しゅっぱん)した。
We published a collection of great works.
2. something hilarious, a gem
Colloquially, something amusingly absurd or ridiculously funny.
彼(かれ)の言(い)い訳(わけ)は傑作(けっさく)だった。
His excuse was hilarious.
Colloquial/ironic usage
彼女(かのじょ)の失敗談(しっぱいだん)は傑作(けっさく)だ。
Her failure story is hilarious.
その冗談(じょうだん)は傑作(けっさく)だね。
That joke is a gem.
今日(きょう)の会議(かいぎ)は傑作(けっさく)だったよ。
Today's meeting was hilarious.
あの失敗(しっぱい)は傑作(けっさく)だった。
That failure was priceless.

傑作(けっさく) has both a serious and colloquial meaning.

Serious usage

Colloquial/ironic usage

  • 「あれは傑作(けっさく)だね」 (That's hilarious/ridiculous)
  • Often used sarcastically for absurd situations or excuses

Related terms

Related Words

Antonym: 駄作(ださく) (poor work)
Related: 名作(めいさく) (masterpiece, classic work)
Related: 代表作(だいひょうさく) (representative work)
Compare: 力作(りきさく) (masterpiece)
Compare: 逸品(いっぴん) (excellent item)
Compare: 名品(めいひん) (fine article)
Compare: 秀作(しゅうさく) (excellent work)
Compare: 受賞作(じゅしょうさく) (award-winning work)
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Added 2026.1.13 21:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
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