Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

出で歯ば亀かめ

で

ば

か

め

Meanings

1

noun

voyeur; Peeping Tom

Derived from a notorious Meiji-era criminal; now a general term for a voyeur, especially one who spies on women.

公こう園えんで出で歯ば亀かめが捕つかまった。
A voyeur was caught in the park.
彼かれは出で歯ば亀かめ行こう為いで逮たい捕ほされた。
He was arrested for voyeurism.

Written forms

出歯亀
- でばかめ
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading でばがめ is also possible but less common.
- でばがめ
出で歯ばかめ
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; sometimes used to clarify the reading.
でばがめ

Kanji

出exit, leave, go out
歯tooth, cog
亀tortoise, turtle

Similar words

のぞき魔ま
More colloquial and direct, meaning 'peeping addict'; 出歯亀 is the established term with historical origin.

Etymology

From the nickname of a Meiji-era criminal known for voyeurism; the kanji 出 (protruding) 歯 (tooth) 亀 (turtle) are ateji and do not reflect the original meaning.