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極楽とんぼ (ごくらくとんぼ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
happy-go-lucky person ; carefree optimist
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
Describes someone who is easygoing to the point of being indifferent or unconcerned, often with a slightly negative connotation of irresponsibility. A yojijukugo expression.
No matter how much you warn that carefree fellow, it's useless.
Written forms 極ごく 楽らく とんぼ
Most common spelling; mixes kanji and kana.
極ごく 楽らく トンボ
Katakana variant of とんぼ, sometimes used for stylistic effect.
極ごく 楽らく 蜻蛉とんぼ
Full kanji spelling using 蜻蛉 for とんぼ; rarely used.
Kanji 極 extreme, pole, extremely Similar words のんき 者もの のんき者 is a more neutral term for an easygoing person, while 極楽とんぼ often implies a lack of seriousness or responsibility.
楽らく 天てん 家か 楽天家 is a positive term for an optimist, whereas 極楽とんぼ can carry a nuance of being too carefree or indifferent.
Etymology Literally 'paradise dragonfly', combining 極楽 (paradise) and とんぼ (dragonfly). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from the image of a dragonfly flitting about carefreely in paradise, symbolizing a person who lives without worry or concern.
