Translation guide
A playful trick or mischievous act, often meant to surprise or amuse. In Japanese, the most common word is いたずら, but other expressions exist for specific types of pranks.
To describe a light-hearted, often harmless trick or mischievous act.
The most common and versatile word for a prank or mischief. Can be used as a noun or a する-verb (いたずらする). Often implies childish or playful behavior.
子供たちがいたずらをして先生を驚かせた。
The children played a prank and surprised the teacher.
彼はよく妹にいたずらをする。
He often plays pranks on his younger sister.
Kanji form of いたずら. Less common in everyday writing but seen in literature or formal contexts. Same meaning and usage.
悪戯好きな子猫が部屋中を走り回っている。
A mischievous kitten is running around the room.
Literally 'mischievous heart', meaning a playful or prankish impulse. Used when someone feels like doing a prank.
いたずら心が湧いて、友達の靴を隠した。
I felt mischievous and hid my friend's shoes.
To describe a more elaborate prank, often involving deception or setup, like a hidden camera prank or a fake announcement.
Refers to a surprise prank, often staged and recorded, like those on TV shows. Can be used as a noun or with する. Very common in media and everyday conversation.
昨日のドッキリ番組は本当に面白かった。
Yesterday's prank show was really funny.
友達にドッキリを仕掛けたら、すごく驚いていた。
When I pulled a prank on my friend, they were really surprised.
Means 'mischief' or 'prank' with a nuance of going too far or being mean-spirited. Often used when a prank causes trouble or is not just innocent fun.
Generally means 'joke', but can be used for a prank when it's verbal or a playful lie. Not for physical pranks.
To describe a prank done over the phone, like making a fake call or saying something silly.
Literally 'prank call'. The standard term for a phone prank, whether it's a silly call or a more malicious one.
夜中にいたずら電話がかかってきて困った。
I was troubled by a prank call in the middle of the night.
A phone prank that is part of a ドッキリ setup, often recorded for entertainment. Implies a more elaborate surprise.
芸能人にドッキリ電話をかける企画が人気だ。
The segment where they make prank calls to celebrities is popular.
To express the action of pulling a prank on a specific person.
The most common pattern: 'play a prank on ~'. Replace 〜 with the target person.
弟にいたずらをして泣かせてしまった。
I played a prank on my little brother and made him cry.
Means 'to set up a prank on ~'. Used for more planned, surprise pranks. 仕掛ける means 'to set up' or 'to pull'.
友達にドッキリを仕掛けるために、部屋に隠れた。
I hid in the room to pull a prank on my friend.
いたずら is a general term for any playful mischief, often small-scale and spontaneous. ドッキリ implies a planned, surprising prank, often with an element of performance or recording, like a hidden camera stunt. Use いたずら for everyday mischief and ドッキリ for TV-style pranks.
彼は授業中にいたずらをした。
He played a prank during class.
誕生日にドッキリを仕掛けられた。
I was pranked on my birthday (with a surprise setup).
There is no direct one-to-one translation for 'prank' that covers all contexts. Using プランク is not natural. Choose the appropriate Japanese word based on the type of prank.
彼の悪ふざけでパーティーが台無しになった。
His prank ruined the party.
As a prank, I said 'I won the lottery,' and everyone believed it.