Translation guide
A person who habitually takes advantage of others' generosity without giving anything in return.
Describing someone who habitually relies on others for food, money, or housing without contributing.
A person who lives in someone else's home and is fed without paying; a dependent. Commonly used for long-term houseguests who don't contribute.
Describing someone who dodges paying for shared expenses, such as meals or bills.
Literally 'a person who rides for free'; used for someone who enjoys benefits without paying, like skipping a bill or using services without contributing.
彼はいつも飲み会でただ乗りしようとする。
He always tries to freeload at drinking parties.
A broad term for someone who takes advantage of others' resources or kindness.
A literary or historical term for a dependent who lives and eats at someone's house; a hanger-on. Rare in modern casual speech.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'freeloader' in all contexts. Using 居候 (isōrō) for a person who avoids paying at a restaurant may sound odd; instead, describe the action (e.g., ただ乗りする).
Japanese often describes the act of freeloading rather than labeling the person. For example, おごってもらう (to be treated) or ただで食べる (to eat for free) can be more natural than a noun.
彼は友達の家に居候している。
He is freeloading at his friend's house.
A moocher or sponger; someone who frequently asks for money, food, or favors without shame. Slightly more negative and colloquial.
あいつはいつもたかり屋で、食事をおごらせようとする。
That guy is always a moocher, trying to get others to treat him to meals.
From 'parasite'; often used in the phrase 'パラサイトシングル' (parasite single) for an adult who lives with and depends on their parents. Can sound technical or metaphorical.
彼はいい年して親にパラサイトしている。
He's freeloading off his parents at his age.
A person who evades splitting the bill. More specific to shared payment situations.
彼女はいつも割り勘を逃れる人だ。
She's always the one who dodges splitting the bill.
彼はまるで食客のように振る舞っている。
He acts like a freeloader.