ボケ
Boke
ぼけ
In manzai (stand-up comedy), the 'boke' delivers absurd jokes while the 'tsukkomi' reacts and corrects them — this duo dynamic is fundamental to Japanese comedy. In daily life, 'bokeru' means to deliberately say something silly, and 'tennen boke' describes someone who's naturally airheaded. In Kansai, 'Boke!' works as a light, affectionate insult, but outside the region it can sound like a genuine put-down, so use with caution.
Examples
ちょっとボケたのにツッコんでくれないと寂しいじゃん
I set up a joke and nobody gave me a tsukkomi — that's just sad.
When your joke falls flat in a conversation with friends
このボケ、何度言わせるんじゃ。
You boke — how many times do I have to tell you?
Scolding someone with strong language, but with a light tone
ボケとツッコミのバランスが大事
The balance between boke and tsukkomi is everything.
おじいちゃん最近ボケてきたかも
Grandpa might be starting to lose it a little lately.