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でくの坊 (でくのぼう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, noun
doll ; puppet
usually written using kana alone
Literally a wooden doll or puppet; used in the set phrase 木偶の坊 to describe a useless person.
Written forms でくの 坊ぼう Usage 18%
Common kana-kanji mixed spelling; usually written in kana.
木偶でく の 坊ぼう Usage 55%
Full kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
でくのぼう Usage 27%
Kana-only spelling; usually written in kana.
木偶でく の 棒ぼう
Variant kanji spelling with 棒 instead of 坊; less common.
usually written using kana alone derogatory
Derogatory term for someone who is incompetent or contributes nothing; often used in the set phrase 木偶の坊.
Kanji 偶 accidentally, even number, couple 坊 boy, priest's residence, priest Similar words 役やく 立た たず 役立たず is a more general term for a useless person or thing, while 木偶の坊 specifically evokes the image of a lifeless wooden doll.
人にん 形ぎょう 人形 is the standard word for doll or puppet, without the derogatory nuance of 木偶の坊.
Etymology From 木偶 (でく, wooden doll) + の + 坊 (ぼう, boy/monk). Literally 'wooden doll boy', originally referring to a carved wooden figure, later extended to mean a useless person.
