居候|いそうろうisourou[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verblodger who pays nothing for room and board; freeloader; sponger
    彼かれはいつもどこかの家いえに居候いそうろうしているようだ。↗
    He always seems to be living rent-free in somebody's house.
Conjugation
Dictionary form居候する(いそうろうする)
Polite (masu)居候します(いそうろうします)
Negative (nai)居候しない(いそうろうしない)
polite (masen)居候しません(いそうろうしません)
classical zu / nu居候せず・居候せぬ(いそうろうせず・いそうろうせぬ)
Past (ta)居候した(いそうろうした)
polite (mashita)居候しました(いそうろうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)居候しなかった(いそうろうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)居候しませんでした(いそうろうしませんでした)
Te form居候して(いそうろうして)
Potential居候できる(いそうろうできる)
Passive居候される(いそうろうされる)
Causative居候させる(いそうろうさせる)
Causative passive居候させられる(いそうろうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)居候すれば(いそうろうすれば)
tara居候したら(いそうろうしたら)
Volitional居候しよう(いそうろうしよう)
polite (mashou)居候しましょう(いそうろうしましょう)
Imperative居候しろ(いそうろうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym冷や飯食いひやめしくいCasualColloquial and old-fashioned: a freeloader who 'eats cold rice' in someone's home; also someone treated coldly, or younger sons in olden times.
  • Synonym食客しょっかくWrittenWritten, historical term for guest-retainers kept by feudal lords; by extension also a freeloader like 「居候」.
  • Antonym主人しゅじんNeutralNeutral word for the head of a household or a husband — the opposite of a 「居候」 sponging off others.
  • Antonym主あるじWrittenWritten and old-fashioned: the master of a house, the counterpart of the dependent 「居候」.
  • Antonym亭主ていしゅCasualColloquial: the head of a household or a husband, also an innkeeper or shopkeeper — the opposite of 「居候」.

Use 「居候」 for someone living free in another person's home, as in 「友人の家に居候する」. For retainers of old lords use 「食客」; for the head of a household or husband use 「主人」 or 「亭主」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 他人たにんの家いえで暮くらし、食事しょくじなどの世話せわを受うけていること。また、その人ひと。
Kanji in this word

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