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I haven't heard from a good friend for a while, I would like to reproach him
playfully, but have no clue what the appropriate thing to say would be.

Would `恥を知れ!` be appropriate if said in a funny tone, or is it too strong of
an expression?

## Edit: some context

Forgive me if I didn't add too much context, but I wanted a generic advice
more than a specific one. Though I understand in language, and especially in
such a language as Japanese is, it doesn't make much sense to be _context-
free_.

Basically, we are very good friends, both males. We travelled a lot together
while in Europe; I stayed at his place in Japan, he stayed at my place; met my
family. We have a very strong connection and we are playful with eachother.

We are, however, admittetly both 筆無精. And we don't keep in touch. The reason
why I wanted something more than 久しぶり is because he got married and just did
an announcement on Facebook. I want to do this playful scolding, but I don't
want to sound too serious: of course I really care about his life, but I
understand things have been hectic and he didn't have time to contact me.
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2013-04-29T12:58:17.967
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question
usage expressions idioms
How to playfully scold someone?
I applaud your courage to try something new and more sophisticated, when you
can so easily use some safe & mandane expressions like お久しぶり!

Unfortunately, things like this entirely depend on the context and what your
perceived character is to the other person, for there's always some context in
which almost any expression is appropriate.

For example, if you and he have some shared memory around that particular
phrase, it'd be very much desirable to use 恥を知れ!. Or if you've been known to
him as a very frank person and he had promised you to reach back to you when
he didn't. I can imagine you saying something
お前結婚式には呼ぶっていってたじゃんよ、奥さんに昔の恥ずかしい話をしてやろうと思ってたのに。恥を知れ（笑）.

Interestingly because the phrase itself is a pretty strong one as you note,
I'd say there's actually little chance of this being taken as offensive. When
you receive an e-mail like this from an old acquaintance, you just can't
imagine anything that warrants such anger, so really you can only assume that
he meant it lightly.

And the use of frank, straight phrases creates an intimacy and closeness,
which is a good thing if you are writing to an old buddy.

If you want advices on possible other expressions, I think you need to provide
a lot more context, such as whether you are a male or female, the nature of
friendship, how old/young you are, etc.
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2013-04-29T17:04:18.740
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answer
わたしなら.....  

> ●ちょっとぉ～。久しぶり(orやっとかめ？)すぎるんじゃないの？ど～ゆうこと？  
>  ●ナニソレ。結婚なんて聞いてなかったけど。(≒ 俺に黙って結婚するとか、アリ？)  
>

etc...と言うかな・・・と思います。
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2013-05-02T07:38:14.993
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