noun
professional jester; entertainer; buffoon
Historical term for a male entertainer at parties in the Edo period, who flattered guests, told jokes, and kept the mood lively. Now mostly used in historical or figurative contexts. The reading ほうかん is more common for the ateji 幇間.
See also: 幇間 (ほうかん)
江戸時代の宴席では、太鼓持ちが客を楽しませた。
At banquets in the Edo period, professional jesters entertained the guests.
noun
flatterer; sycophant; brown-noser
Derogatory term for someone who shamelessly flatters others to gain favor, likened to the historical jester. Often used in modern colloquial speech.
彼は上司の太鼓持ちで、いつもご機嫌を取っている。
He's a sycophant to his boss, always sucking up to him.
Synonym for the historical professional jester sense, but ほうかん is the more common reading for the ateji 幇間. 太鼓持ち is the more colloquial and widely recognized term.
Also means 'flatterer' or 'sycophant', but 太鼓持ち carries a stronger nuance of being a professional or habitual flatterer, with historical connotations.
Literally 'drum carrier', from 太鼓 (taiko, 'drum') + 持ち (mochi, 'carrier'). Originally referred to a person who carried a drum and performed at parties, later extended to mean a flatterer or jester.