Translation guide
The act of making fun of someone playfully, often to provoke or amuse. In Japanese, the expression depends on the intent—lighthearted joking, mild provocation, or mean-spirited mockery—and the relationship between the people involved.
To joke around with someone in a friendly, affectionate way, often to get a reaction or share a laugh.
The most common verb for playful teasing. It implies a light, often affectionate provocation, like pulling someone's leg or making fun of them in a friendly way.
彼はいつも私をからかう。
He's always teasing me.
からかわないでよ。
Stop teasing me.
Often used for playful teasing or messing with someone, especially in casual conversation. It can also mean 'to fiddle with' something physically, but in social contexts it means to tease or make fun of someone lightly.
友達にいじられるのが好きだ。
I like being teased by my friends.
Literally 'to reach out a hand,' but idiomatically means to tease or meddle with someone, often in a slightly annoying but playful way. Can also imply making a pass at someone.
弟にちょっかいを出すな。
Don't tease your little brother.
To say something slightly provocative or challenging, not necessarily mean, but to see how someone responds.
Means to provoke or taunt. Stronger than からかう, often used when someone is trying to get a rise out of another person, but still can be playful depending on context.
彼は私を挑発するようなことを言った。
He said something to tease/provoke me.
To egg someone on, to incite or tease someone into doing something. Often used when encouraging someone to act, sometimes in a teasing manner.
友達をけしかけて、彼に告白させた。
I teased/egged my friend into confessing to him.
To make fun of someone in a hurtful way, often about their appearance, behavior, or weaknesses.
Means to bully or tease cruelly. This is not playful; it implies a power imbalance and intent to harm emotionally or physically.
彼は学校でいじめられている。
He is being teased/bullied at school.
To make fun of someone, to ridicule, to treat someone as a fool. Stronger than からかう and often hurtful.
To sneer at, to mock with laughter. A literary or dramatic word for scornful teasing.
To tease someone you are attracted to, often playfully and with affection.
Same as above, but in a romantic context it implies flirtatious teasing. Very common.
彼女は彼をからかうのが好きだ。
She likes to tease him (flirtatiously).
To tease oneself, often to be humble or to make others laugh.
Japanese often use self-deprecation (自虐, じぎゃく) as a form of humor. Instead of a direct verb for 'teasing oneself,' you describe the act of making fun of yourself.
自虐ネタを言う。
I make self-deprecating jokes (tease myself).
からかう is playful and usually harmless; いじめる is bullying and hurtful. Use からかう for friendly teasing among equals, and いじめる for serious, repeated harassment.
友達をからかうのは楽しい。
Teasing friends is fun.
弱い者をいじめてはいけない。
You must not bully the weak.
There is no single noun that perfectly matches 'teasing.' Use verb phrases or describe the action. For example, 'His teasing is annoying' becomes 彼のからかい方はうざい (かれのからかいかたはうざい) using the verb nominalized.
彼のからかい方はうざい。
His teasing is annoying.
妹をからかうのはやめなさい！
Stop teasing your sister!
彼らはただ君をからかっていただけだよ。
They were just teasing you.
本気なのかからかっているのかわからない。
I can't tell if you're serious or just teasing.
He's making fun of me.
群衆は彼を嘲笑った。
The crowd mocked him.
Can imply making a pass or flirting, often with a teasing tone.
彼はよく女の子にちょっかいを出す。
He often teases/flirts with girls.