Pun 雙關語 (双关语)

shuāngguānyǔ · from English

What is a pun?

A pun is wordplay that exploits multiple meanings or similar sounds of words for humour or rhetorical effect.

Puns may rely on homophones, homonyms or near-sounds. In East Asia they are not just jokes: they shape gifts, food at festivals, business names and advertising. Chinese calls them 雙關 shuāngguān (double-hitting), Japanese dajare, Korean 말장난 maljangnan.

Examples

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana; 年年有餘 (魚); 布団が吹っ飛んだ futon ga futtonda; Korean 말장난 maljangnan (wordplay)

Kungfucius says: Puns are the lowest form of humour, unless you think of them first.