Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), ぼう (Kunyomi)
Meaning: boy, priest, monk, (suffix for) master, (suffix for) a quarter/block
The kanji 坊 combines 土 (earth, ground) and 阝 (originally 阜, a mound, signifying a natural elevation or, when simplified, often indicating a place or village). This combination suggests an enclosed area, such as a monk’s living quarters or a district within a town. Over time, it also came to represent the inhabitants of such places, leading to meanings like “monk” or “boy.”
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 坊 consists of 7 strokes. It starts with the radical 土 on the left, followed by the right component.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 土 (つちへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Ungraded |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ボウ (BOU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ぼう (bou)
Common Words Using 坊
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 坊主 | ぼうず | Buddhist priest; boy; shaven head |
| お坊さん | おぼうさん | (polite) Buddhist priest |
| 寝坊 | ねぼう | oversleeping; late riser |
| 丸坊主 | まるぼうず | completely shaven head; a complete failure |
| 小坊主 | こぼうず | young priest; acolyte |
| 坊城 | ぼうじょう | castle town; a block in a town |
| 坊主めくり | ぼうずめくり | a traditional Japanese card game |
| 坊や | ぼうや | small boy (often written in hiragana, but 坊 is the kanji) |
| 坊っちゃん | ぼっちゃん | son (someone else’s); young master |
| 雪坊主 | ゆきぼうず | snowman; snowdrift |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 坊や | ぼうや | small boy (affectionate) |
| 坊主 | ぼうず | Buddhist priest; boy; shaven head |
| 坊っちゃん | ぼっちゃん | son (someone else’s); young master |
| 寝坊 | ねぼう | oversleeping; late riser |
| 丸坊主 | まるぼうず | completely shaven head; a complete failure |
| 雪坊主 | ゆきぼうず | snowman; snowdrift |
| 坊守 | ぼうもり | (Buddhist) head priest’s wife |
| 寺坊 | じぼう | priest’s living quarters in a temple |
| 坊主めくり | ぼうずめくり | a Japanese card game |
| 小坊主 | こぼうず | acolyte; young priest |
Example Sentences
Japanese: あの坊やはとても元気だ。
Kana: あのぼうやはとてもげんきだ。
Romaji: Ano bouya wa totemo genki da.
English: That little boy is very energetic.
Japanese: お坊さんがお経を読んでいる。
Kana: おぼうさんがおきょうをよんでいる。
Romaji: Obousan ga okyou o yonde iru.
English: The Buddhist priest is chanting sutras.
Japanese: 彼はいつも寝坊する。
Kana: かれはいつもねぼうする。
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo nebou suru.
English: He always oversleeps.
Japanese: 新しい先生は坊主頭だ。
Kana: あたらしいせんせいはぼうずあたま。
Romaji: Atarashii sensei wa bouzu atama da.
English: The new teacher has a shaven head.
Japanese: うちの坊っちゃんはわがままだ。
Kana: うちのぼっちゃんはわがままだ。
Romaji: Uchi no botchan wa wagamama da.
English: Our son is spoiled.
Japanese: 子供たちは雪坊主を作った。
Kana: こどもたちはゆきぼうずをつくった。
Romaji: Kodomo-tachi wa yukibouzu o tsukutta.
English: The children made a snowman.
Japanese: 坊主憎けりゃ袈裟まで憎い。
Kana: ぼうずにくけりゃけさまでにくい。
Romaji: Bouzu nikukerya kesa made nikui.
English: If you hate the priest, you even hate his surplice. (Proverb: You hate everything associated with someone you dislike.)
Japanese: 彼は昔、小坊主だった。
Kana: かれはむかし、こぼうずだった。
Romaji: Kare wa mukashi, kobouzu datta.
English: He was once a young priest.
Japanese: その寺には多くの寺坊がある。
Kana: そのてらにはおおくのじぼうがある。
Romaji: Sono tera ni wa ooku no jibou ga aru.
English: That temple has many priests’ living quarters.
Japanese: 今日は坊主めくりで遊ぼう。
Kana: きょうはぼうずめくりであそぼう。
Romaji: Kyou wa bouzu-mekuri de asobou.
English: Let’s play Bouzu-mekuri today.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.