Japanese

Noun

坊主 ‎(hiragana ぼうず, romaji bōzu)

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

Synonyms

• (monk):
  • 法師 (ほうし) ‎(hōshi)
  • 坊 (ぼう)さん ‎(bōsan)
  • 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) ‎(teruterubōzu): 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 shaven

Usage notes

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

References

• 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, ISBN 4095102535.