べらぼう

べらぼう
na-adjective, adverb
ridiculously; absurdly (Edo dialect origin)
informalcolloquialexpression
1. ridiculously; absurdly; outrageously
Expresses that something is extreme, unreasonable, or beyond normal bounds.
べらぼうに高(たか)い。
It's ridiculously expensive.
べらぼうな値段(ねだん)だ。
That's an absurd price.
あの店(みせ)はべらぼうに量(りょう)が多(おお)い。
That restaurant serves ridiculously large portions.
2. idiot; fool (archaic)
Originally a word meaning fool or simpleton, now mostly used as an intensifier.
べらぼうめ！
You fool!
このべらぼうが！
You idiot!
時代劇(じだいげき)で「べらぼうめ」というセリフをよく聞(き)く。
You often hear the line 'berabou-me' in period dramas.

Etymology

Edo (江戸(えど)) dialect, originating from the Tokyo area during the Edo period. べらぼう was originally an insult meaning "fool."

Several theories exist

  • From a deformed person named 便良坊(べんらぼう) (Benrabō) displayed as a sideshow attraction
  • From べら棒(ぼう) meaning "smooth stick" (implying someone empty-headed)

Modern usage

Mostly used as an intensifier meaning "ridiculously" or "outrageously." The original sense of "fool" is archaic and mainly appears in period dramas or traditional rakugo stories.

Similar words

Cultural note

べらぼうめ！ is a stereotypical exclamation associated with Edo-period commoners and is often heard in historical dramas (時代劇(じだいげき)).

Related Words

Synonym: とんでもない (outrageous)
Compare: 途方(とほう)もない (extraordinary)
general
Added 2026.1.20 17:47 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07500/07548_berabou