芝居(しばい)

しばい
noun
play, drama, theatrical performance
1. play, drama, theatrical performance
A stage performance or theater production.
週末(しゅうまつ)に芝居(しばい)を見(み)に行(い)った。
I went to see a play on the weekend.
この劇団(げきだん)の芝居(しばい)は評判(ひょうばん)が良(よ)く、いつも満席(まんせき)になる。今回(こんかい)の公演(こうえん)のチケットも発売(はつばい)日(び)に完売(かんばい)した。
This theater company's plays have a good reputation and are always sold out. Tickets for this performance also sold out on the day they went on sale.
2. act, pretense
A false display of emotion or behavior.
彼(かれ)の涙(なみだ)は芝居(しばい)だった。
His tears were just an act.
芝居 = pretense, fake display
芝居(しばい)をするのはやめてほしい。
I want you to stop putting on an act.
芝居(しばい)をする = to put on an act, to pretend
下手(へた)な芝居(しばい)はすぐにばれる。
Bad acting is quickly found out.
彼女(かのじょ)は病気(びょうき)の芝居(しばい)をして学校(がっこう)を休(やす)んだ。
She pretended to be sick and skipped school.

芝居(しばい) originally referred to theatrical performances, but it's also commonly used to mean fake behavior or pretense.

MEANING 1 - THEATER:

  • 芝居(しばい)を見(み)る (to watch a play)
  • 芝居(しばい)を打(う)つ (to put on a play)
  • 芝居小屋(しばいごや) (theater, playhouse)

MEANING 2 - ACT/PRETENSE:

  • 芝居(しばい)をする (to put on an act)
  • 猿(さる)芝居(しばい) (monkey business, transparent trick)
  • 下手(へた)な芝居(しばい) (bad acting, unconvincing act)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 演劇(えんげき) (drama, theater - more formal)
  • 劇(げき) (drama, play)
  • 歌舞伎(かぶき) (kabuki)
  • 役者(やくしゃ) (actor)
general
Added 2026.1.11 22:40 · Revised 2026.2.27 23:03
03000/03195_shibai