無ぶ頼らい

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

villainous; rascally; knavish

Describes a person or behavior that is lawless, unscrupulous, or ruffian-like. Often used in compounds like 無頼漢 (scoundrel) or 無頼の徒 (ruffians).

• 彼かれは無ぶ頼らいな生いき方かたを選えらんだ。

  He chose a lawless way of life.

• その町まちは無ぶ頼らいの徒とで溢あふれていた。

  The town was full of ruffians.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

independent; self-reliant

Archaic sense for a person who relies on their own strength and does not submit to authority. Rare in modern Japanese; the villainous sense is now dominant.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、無ぶ頼らいを「独どく立りつ独どっ歩ぽの気き概がい」と解かいすることがある。

  In old texts, 無頼 is sometimes interpreted as a spirit of independence and self-reliance.