坊主・房主|ぼうずbouzu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

Common
ぼんずbonzu
Which spelling to use
坊主坊主 is the common form and the recommended choice for learners; use it when writing this word.
房主房主 is a rarely used kanji variant of 坊主, so learners will seldom need to write it.
Definitions
  1. nounBuddhist priest; bonzeぼんず is dialectal
  2. nounclose-cropped hair; crew cut; person with a shorn head
  3. nounboy; sonny; lad
  4. noun, fishingnot catching anything; getting skunked
  5. noun, hanafudathe August 20-point card
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym坊さんぼうさんNeutralA friendly, affectionate term for a monk, as in 「坊さんが読経する」; 「坊主」 is rougher and also means a shaved head or a boy.
  • Synonymお坊さんおぼうさんNeutralThe polite, everyday way to refer to a monk, as in 「お坊さんを呼ぶ」; 「坊主」 is casual and can even sound contemptuous.
  • Synonym坊様ぼんさまFormalA formal, honorific term for a monk or a pampered little boy, with an old-fashioned ring; 「坊主」 is much more casual.
  • Related小僧こぞうCasualColloquial for a young monk, an apprentice or errand boy, or a young brat; 「坊主」 also covers shaved heads and adult monks.

Use 「坊主」 casually for a monk, a shaved head, or a boy, as in 「坊主頭」「うちの坊主」. For politeness say 「お坊さん」, for warmth 「坊さん」, and for a young monk or errand boy 「小僧」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 仏教ぶっきょうの僧侶そうりょを表あらわす俗語ぞくご、別称べっしょう。
  2. 髪型かみがたの一いち。頭部とうぶ全体ぜんたいを等ひとしい長ながさで短みじかく刈り込かりこんだもの。僧侶そうりょの多おおくが剃髪ていはつしていたことから。
  3. 人ひとの頭あたまや山林さんりんなどが禿げ上はげあがった状態じょうたい、また毛足けあしが短みじかく揃そろった状態じょうたいを指さす表現ひょうげん。
  4. 男児だんじに呼よびかける時ときの俗称ぞくしょう。転てんじて、若年者じゃくねんしゃへの蔑称べっしょう。僧侶そうりょと男児だんじは飲酒いんしゅや妻帯さいたいが禁止きんしであること、修行しゅぎょう中ちゅうの身みであること、生意気なまいきであること、髪かみは短みじかくすべきことと共通点きょうつうてんが多おおいことから。
  5. 魚さかながまったく釣つれないこと。儲もうけ(もう毛け)が無ないという洒落しゃらく。
Kanji in this word
See also

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