猿芝居(さるしばい)

さるしばい
noun
transparent sham; clumsy trick
communication
1. transparent sham; clumsy trick; farce
A poorly executed deception or performance that is easily seen through, like a monkey imitating a human play.
そんな猿芝居(さるしばい)は通用(つうよう)しない。
That kind of transparent sham won't work.
彼(かれ)の泣(な)き真似(まね)は猿芝居(さるしばい)だとすぐわかった。
I could immediately tell his fake crying was a transparent act.
政治家(せいじか)たちの猿芝居(さるしばい)にはもううんざりだと国民(こくみん)は感(かん)じている。
The public is fed up with the politicians' farcical charades.

Literally "monkey play" — from the image of trained monkeys performing crude imitations of human theater. The word emphasizes that the deception is transparent and unconvincing, often implying contempt for the attempt.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 茶番(ちゃばん): farce, sham — similar in meaning but without the animal imagery; often used for absurd situations
  • 芝居(しばい)がかった: theatrical, melodramatic — describes exaggerated behavior that seems rehearsed
  • 見(み)え透(す)いた嘘(うそ): a transparent lie — focuses on the lie itself rather than the performance
general
Added 2026.4.26 23:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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