unexpected windfall; godsend; stroke of luck
Abbreviation of 棚から牡丹餅 (a botamochi falling from a shelf), referring to a sudden, unearned piece of good fortune. Casual and often used in everyday conversation.
See also: 棚からぼた餅
Winning the lottery is a real windfall.
My senior gave me a computer he wasn't using. What a lucky break!
Most common spelling; usually written in kana.
Katakana spelling; sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling; less common than the hiragana form.
Full kanji spelling; rarely used.
Abbreviation of the proverb 棚から牡丹餅 (a botamochi falling from a shelf), meaning an unexpected piece of luck.