坊主

Japanese

Kanji in this term
坊	主

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)
• 坊さん (ぼうさん, bōsan)
• 僧 (そう, sō)

(youngster):

• 小僧 (こぞう, kozō)

Derived terms

• 照る照る坊主 (てるてる坊主, teru teru bōzu): lit. "shine shine monk"
• 坊主頭: shaved head
• 丸坊主: clean shaven
• 三日坊主 (literally, three day priest) someone who cannot stick to anything, someone who gives up easily.
• 腕白坊主: naughty shaven

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.