いやしん坊ぼう

い

や

し

ん

ぼ

う

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

gluttonous; greedy

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person who is greedy for food or material things. Often used in a mildly scolding or teasing way. The word is somewhat colloquial and carries a negative, but not extremely harsh, tone.

あの子こはいやしん坊ぼうで、いつもお菓か子しを欲ほしがる。
That kid is greedy and always wants snacks.
いやしん坊ぼうだから、食たべ放ほう題だいに行いくと元もとを取とろうとしすぎる。
Because I'm a glutton, I try too hard to get my money's worth at all-you-can-eat places.

Kanji

坊boy, priest's residence, priest
卑lowly, base, vile

Related words

食くいしん坊ぼう
食いしん坊 specifically refers to a glutton or someone who loves eating, while いやしん坊 can also imply greed for money or possessions.
欲よく張ばり
欲張り is a more general term for greed or avarice, and can be used in formal contexts. いやしん坊 is more colloquial and often implies a childish or petty greed.

Written forms

いやしん坊ぼうUsage100%
Kana spelling is standard; usually written in kana.
卑いやしん坊ぼう
Kanji spelling using 卑 (lowly, base). Rarely used; the kana form is strongly preferred.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective 卑しい (いやしい, 'greedy, lowly') plus ん坊 (a suffix meaning 'person' or 'child', often used in nicknames). The exact historical development is uncertain, but the word has been used in colloquial Japanese for centuries.