ぼろ

ぼろ
noun
rag, tattered clothes
1. rag, tattered cloth
Old, worn-out cloth or clothing.
ぼろを着(き)ている。
I'm wearing rags.
ぼろで床(ゆか)を拭(ふ)く。
I wipe the floor with a rag.
ぼろ切(き)れで窓(まど)を拭(ふ)いた。
I wiped the window with a rag.
ぼろぼろの服(ふく)を着(き)ていた。
He was wearing tattered clothes.
古(ふる)いぼろを捨(す)てた。
I threw away the old rags.
ぼろ同然(どうぜん)の家(いえ)に住(す)んでいた。
They lived in a house that was practically in ruins.
2. flaw, fault
A defect or weakness that becomes apparent.
ぼろが出(で)ないように気(き)をつける。
I'm careful not to let my faults show.
質問(しつもん)されてぼろが出(で)た。
When questioned, my faults became apparent.
嘘(うそ)をつくとぼろが出(で)る。
If you lie, your flaws will show.
長(なが)く話(はな)すとぼろを出(だ)す。
If I talk too long, I'll reveal my weaknesses.

ぼろ refers to rags or tattered items, and figuratively to flaws.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • ぼろを着(き)る: to wear rags
  • ぼろが出(で)る: one's faults/weaknesses become apparent
  • ぼろを出(だ)す: to reveal one's flaws
  • ぼろ切(き)れ: a rag, a scrap of cloth

ADJECTIVE FORM:

  • ぼろぼろ: worn out, tattered, falling apart

例(れい): 服(ふく)がぼろぼろだ (The clothes are in tatters)

IDIOM:
ぼろが出(で)る is commonly used to mean that someone's true (negative) nature or incompetence becomes visible.

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Added 2026.1.13 9:40 · Revised 2026.2.2 16:51
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