ものもらい

も

の

も

ら

い

Meanings

noun

beggar

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a person who begs for money or goods; somewhat old-fashioned or literary in modern usage.

昔むかし、町まちには物ものもらいがよく立たっていた。
In the old days, beggars often stood in the streets.

noun

sty; stye

colloquial

Colloquial term for a sty on the eyelid; the medical term is 麦粒腫 (ばくりゅうしゅ).

Kanji

物thing, object, matter
貰get, have, obtain

Related words

麦ばく粒りゅう腫しゅ
Medical term for a sty; ものもらい is the everyday colloquial word.
乞こ食じき
More common and direct word for 'beggar'; ものもらい is softer and less common.

Built from

物もの+もらう

Written forms

ものもらいUsage75%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 物貰い and 物もらい are less common.
物ものもらいUsage10%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common than pure kana.
物もの貰もらいUsage8%
Kanji spelling; may be encountered but kana is preferred.
モノモライUsage8%

Etymology

Compound of 物 (もの, 'thing') + もらい (continuative form of もらう, 'to receive'), literally 'thing-receiver'. The 'sty' sense is said to come from the old folk belief that a sty could be cured by receiving something from another person.