ドラ息子むすこ

ど

ら

む

す

こ

Common word

Meanings

1

noun

lazy son; profligate son; good-for-nothing son

A derogatory term for a son who is idle, irresponsible, or a drain on the family. Often carries a nuance of disappointment or exasperation.

Written forms

ドラ息子むすこUsage65%
Standard spelling with katakana ドラ; the most common written form.
どら息子むすこUsage24%
Hiragana variant; less common but still encountered.
どらむすこUsage12%

Kanji

息breath, respiration, son
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Similar words

道どう楽らく息子むすこ
道楽息子 emphasizes a son devoted to pleasure or dissipation, while ドラ息子 focuses more on laziness and uselessness.
放ほう蕩とう息子むすこ
放蕩息子 is a more formal term for a prodigal or debauched son, whereas ドラ息子 is colloquial and often used with a tone of exasperation.

Etymology

The prefix ドラ is an abbreviation of 道楽 (どうらく, 'dissipation, hobby'), implying a son who is a 'hobby' or 'indulgence' rather than a responsible person. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is well-established in colloquial Japanese.