1.
manzai comedian; comic dialogue performer
A performer of manzai, a traditional form of Japanese stand-up comedy performed by a duo consisting of a straight man (tsukkomi) and a funny man (boke).
有名な漫才師。
A famous manzai comedian.
彼は若い頃から漫才師を目指していた。
He aspired to be a manzai comedian from a young age.
あの漫才師のコンビは息がぴったり合っていて、いつも会場を沸かせる。
That manzai duo has perfect chemistry and always gets the audience fired up.
Composed of 漫才 (manzai comedy) and 師 (master, practitioner). Refers to professional performers of manzai, a distinctly Japanese form of rapid-fire comic dialogue.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 漫才師を目指す: to aspire to be a manzai comedian
- 漫才師のコンビ: a manzai duo
- 人気漫才師: popular manzai comedian
- 売れっ子漫才師: a successful / in-demand manzai comedian
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Manzai is a form of stand-up comedy especially associated with Osaka and the Kansai region. It features a two-person act: the ボケ (funny man) delivers absurd or silly remarks, while the ツッコミ (straight man) reacts with sharp corrections. The annual M-1 Grand Prix is the most prestigious manzai competition in Japan.
RELATED TERMS:
- 漫才: manzai comedy — the art form itself
- 芸人: entertainer / comedian — a broader term for any performer
- 落語家: rakugo storyteller — a solo comic storytelling tradition