Difference between 道化師, ピエロ, and クラウン


What’s the difference in usage between these three words?

  1. ピエロ
  2. クラウン
  3. 道化師

Which of these would describe a typical American’s notion of a circus clown?

[type of clown I’m thinking
of](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_clown?wprov=sfti1)

Does one of these words describe Japanese clowns?




ピエロ and クラウン are almost interchangeable in Japan. I think ピエロ was more common
than クラウン at least before Joker's movie. Since Japanese do not distinguish l
and r, I imagine "crown" which is an ornament for the king more often than
"clown" which is an actor in a circus. Maybe people see ピエロ juggling ball in a
pachinko game setting.

However Halloween gets popular in Japan in this decade and a costume play is
often influenced by movie, I am not so sure about how the term really used for
younger generations.

道化師 is the most traditional one for a circus clown you imagine.




ピエロ and クラウン are almost interchangeable in Japan. I think ピエロ was more common
than クラウン at least before Joker's movie. Since Japanese do not distinguish l
and r, I imagine "crown" which is an ornament for the king more often than
"clown" which is an actor in a circus. Maybe people see ピエロ juggling ball in a
pachinko game setting.

However Halloween gets popular in Japan in this decade and a costume play is
often influenced by movie, I am not so sure about how the term really used for
younger generations.

道化師 is the most traditional one for a circus clown you imagine.

