おちゃらける
おちゃらける
verb (ichidan)
to joke around, to act silly, to clown around
1.
to joke around, to act silly, to clown around
To behave in a playful, unserious manner, especially when the situation calls for seriousness. Often used critically to describe someone not taking things seriously enough.
おちゃらけないで、真面目に聞いて。
Stop goofing around and listen seriously.
彼はいつもおちゃらけている。
He's always clowning around.
大事な会議なのにおちゃらけるから、上司に怒られた。
I got scolded by my boss for joking around during an important meeting.
CONJUGATION (ichidan):
- Negative: おちゃらけない
- Te-form: おちゃらけて
- Past: おちゃらけた
- ている form: おちゃらけている (clowning around — habitual or ongoing)
The noun/adjective form おちゃらけ can modify nouns: おちゃらけた態度 (a frivolous attitude).
NUANCE:
おちゃらける usually carries a mildly negative tone — the speaker thinks the person should be more serious. However, in the right context, being a bit おちゃらけ can be seen as endearing or fun.