べらぼう
べらぼう
na-adjective, adverb
ridiculously; absurdly (Edo dialect origin)
1.
ridiculously; absurdly; outrageously
Expresses that something is extreme, unreasonable, or beyond normal bounds.
べらぼうに高い。
It's ridiculously expensive.
べらぼうな値段だ。
That's an absurd price.
2.
idiot; fool (archaic)
Originally a word meaning fool or simpleton, now mostly used as an intensifier.
べらぼうめ！
You fool! / That's outrageous!
ORIGIN:
Edo (江戸) dialect, originating from the Tokyo area during the Edo period. べらぼう was originally an insult meaning "fool."
ETYMOLOGY:
Several theories exist:
- From a deformed person named 便良坊 (Benrabō) displayed as a sideshow attraction
- From べら棒 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 EXPRESSIONS:
- とんでもない - outrageous
- 馬鹿げた - absurd
- 途方もない - extraordinary
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).