ピエロ

ぴえろ
noun
clown; pierrot
1. clown; pierrot
A clown or comic entertainer, especially one with a white-painted face. Also used figuratively to mean someone who is made a fool of or plays a ridiculous role.
サーカスのピエロが面白(おもしろ)い。
The circus clown is funny.
(かれ)はいつもピエロ(やく)()()ける。
He always takes on the role of the clown.
みんなに(わら)われて、まるでピエロのようだった。
Everyone laughed at me, and I felt like a clown.

USAGE:
ピエロ comes from French "Pierrot." In Japanese, it is used both literally for circus clowns and figuratively for someone who ends up looking foolish or being the butt of a joke.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ピエロ(やく) (the clown role; the fool's role)
  • ピエロになる (to end up looking like a fool)
  • 道化師(どうけし) (synonym — more formal term for clown)