ばくち打うち

ば

く

ち

う

ち

Meanings

Refers to a person who makes a living through gambling, often with a connotation of being a habitual or skilled gambler. Can carry a slightly old-fashioned or underworld nuance.

彼かれは若わかい頃ころ、ばくち打うちとして生せい計けいを立たてていた。
When he was young, he made a living as a professional gambler.
あの男おとこはただのばくち打うちだ。
That man is nothing but a gamester.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Kanji

博Dr., command, esteem
奕large
打strike, hit, knock

Related words

博ばく徒と
博徒 is a more formal or literary term for a gambler, often used in historical contexts, while ばくち打ち is more colloquial and vivid.
ギャンブラー
ギャンブラー is a modern loanword for a gambler, neutral and common in contemporary contexts, whereas ばくち打ち has a traditional, sometimes shady nuance.

Written forms

ばくち打うち
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling; avoids the less common kanji 博奕.
博奕ばくち打うち
Full kanji form using 博奕 (gambling); less common but still seen.
博打ばくち打うち
Alternate kanji form using 博打 (gambling).
博打ばくち打うち
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; dropping the final ち is nonstandard.
博奕ばくち打うち
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; dropping the final ち is nonstandard.

Etymology

Compound of ばくち (gambling) and 打ち (hitting, doing), literally 'one who engages in gambling'. The word ばくち itself is of uncertain origin, possibly from 博 (gambling) + 打ち (hitting), or from a gambling term.