坊主

Japanese

Kanji in this term
坊	主
ぼう Grade: S	す > ず Grade: 3
on’yomi

Noun

坊(ぼう)主(ず) • (bōzu) 

1. A Buddhist monk
2. A bald head, bald person
3. (slang) A young boy; kid; kiddo; sonny

Usage notes

May be used as an uncomplimentary address for a Buddhist priest or monk: Similar phonetically to 凡僧(ぼんそう) (bonsō); or ぼんぞう (bonzō): an ordinary, lowly monk.

The “bald head, bald person” sense typically refers to one that is shaved bald, though may sometimes refer to one who is naturally bald, for example due to male pattern baldness or other hair loss.

Synonyms

• (monk):
  • 法師(ほうし) (hōshi)
  • お坊(ぼう)さん (obōsan)
  • 僧(そう) (sō)
• (youngster):
  • 小僧(こぞう) (kozō)

Derived terms

• 油坊主(あぶらぼうず) (aburabōzu): skilfish
• 照(て)る照(て)る坊主(ぼうず) (teru teru bōzu): lit. "shine shine monk"
• 坊主頭(ぼうずあたま) (bōzuatama): shaved head
• 丸坊主(まるぼうず) (marubōzu): clean shaven
• 三日坊主(みっかぼうず) (mikkabōzu): (literally, three day priest) someone who cannot stick to anything, someone who gives up easily.
• 腕白坊主(わんぱくぼうず) (wanpakubōzu): naughty child, rascal
• 坊主憎(ぼうずにく)けりゃ袈裟(けさ)まで憎(にく)い (bōzu nikukerya kesa made nikui)

References

• 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.