also: はくらく
horse/cattle trader; connoisseur of horses
Historically referred to a person who traded or judged horses/cattle. The term can be sensitive when applied to people, as it may imply treating humans like livestock. In modern usage, it is rare and mostly found in historical or figurative contexts.
His grandfather used to work as a horse trader long ago.
With the eye of a horse connoisseur, he is good at discerning the potential of racehorses.
Standard kanji spelling; also read はくらく in historical contexts.
Historical reading; used in classical contexts referring to the legendary judge of horses.
Alternate spelling; less common than 伯楽.
Rare spelling using 馬 (horse) and 喰 (eat); may be encountered in historical texts.
Originally from Chinese 伯樂 (Bólè), the name of a legendary judge of horses. In Japanese, it came to refer to a horse trader or connoisseur. The reading ばくろう is a Japanese approximation of the Chinese, while はくらく is a more direct on'yomi reading.