1.
riddle; word puzzle; lateral-thinking puzzle
A type of riddle or wordplay challenge where the solver must find an unexpected connection between two things. A traditional form of Japanese wit, especially popular in rakugo comedy.
謎かけを出してみよう。
Let me pose a riddle.
この謎かけの答えが分かりますか。
Can you figure out the answer to this riddle?
落語家は謎かけが上手い人が多く、観客からのお題にすぐ答える。
Many rakugo performers are skilled at riddles and can instantly answer topics given by the audience.
A traditional form of Japanese wordplay that follows the pattern 'X とかけて Y と解く。その心は Z' (X and Y have something in common — the connection is Z). The humor relies on puns (駄洒落) or unexpected double meanings. It is closely associated with 落語 (comic storytelling) and variety shows.
FORMAT:
- Standard pattern: 「AとかけてBと解く。その心は？」(What do A and B have in common? The connection is...)
- The answer typically involves a homophone or word with multiple meanings
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 謎かけを出す: to pose a riddle
- 謎かけの答え: the answer to a riddle
- 謎かけに答える: to answer a riddle
RELATED TERMS:
- 謎々: riddle (general) — broader term for any riddle, especially children's riddles
- 駄洒落: pun; bad joke — the wordplay mechanism that 謎かけ often relies on
- 落語: comic storytelling — the traditional art form where 謎かけ is frequently performed