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放浪 (ほうろう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
wandering ; roaming ; drifting
Describes moving from place to place without a fixed destination, often with a sense of aimlessness or freedom. Can be used literally for travel or figuratively for a lifestyle.
I want to go on a wandering journey.
Kanji 浪 wandering, waves, billows Similar words 流る 浪ろう 流浪 also means wandering, but often implies a more destitute or displaced state, like a refugee or exile, whereas 放浪 can be more neutral or even romantic.
彷ほう 徨こう 彷徨 emphasizes wandering in confusion or without purpose, often with a darker or more literary nuance than 放浪.
Etymology Composed of 放 (release, set free) and 浪 (wave, wandering). The combination suggests being adrift like waves, conveying aimless movement.
