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待ち惚ける (まちぼうける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
ichidan verb
wait in vain ; be stood up
Describes waiting for someone who never shows up, often with a sense of disappointment or frustration. Commonly used when someone is stood up for a date or meeting.
間かん
に
友とも
達だち
が
来こ
なく
て
、
待ま
ち
惚ぼう
け
て
しまっ
た
。
My friend didn't show up at the promised time, and I ended up waiting in vain.
Written forms 待ち惚ける
まちぼける
Kana spelling for the alternate reading; less common.
Kanji 惚 fall in love with, admire, grow senile Etymology Compound of 待ち (machi, continuative form of 待つ 'to wait') and 惚ける (bokeru/hōkeru, 'to become senile' or 'to be absent-minded'), literally 'to wait absent-mindedly'. The reading まちぼうける is standard; まちぼける is a variant.