大根役者(だいこんやくしゃ)

だいこんやくしゃ
noun
ham actor; bad actor
informalentertainmentevaluation
1. ham actor; poor actor
An actor whose performance is wooden or clumsy. Often shortened to 大根(だいこん) alone, as in 大根(だいこん)だ 'he can't act'.
あの人(ひと)は大根役者(だいこんやくしゃ)だ。
That person is a terrible actor.
大根役者(だいこんやくしゃ)と言(い)われて悔(くや)しかった。
It hurt to be called a ham actor.
人気(にんき)はあるが、演技(えんぎ)は大根役者(だいこんやくしゃ)だと批判(ひはん)されることも多(おお)い。
He is popular, but he is often criticized as a poor actor.

Etymology

The usual explanation is that daikon radish never causes food poisoning (it never 'hits', 当(あ)たらない), just as a bad actor never gets a hit. Another links it to the radish's plain whiteness.

Common expressions

Related words

  • 名優(めいゆう): great actor
  • 演技力(えんぎりょく): acting ability

Related Words

Antonym: 名優(めいゆう) (great actor)
general
Added 2026.9.29 6:49 · Revised 2026.10.3 16:36
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