ぼったくり

noun

rip-off, overcharging, price gouging

informalbusiness money

1. rip-off, overcharging, price gouging

The practice of charging excessively high prices, or a business that engages in such practices.

この店(みせ)はぼったくりだ。

This shop is a rip-off.

ぼったくりバーに気(き)をつけて。

Be careful of rip-off bars.

観光地(かんこうち)でぼったくりに遭(あ)った。

I got ripped off at a tourist spot.

3000円(えん)のドリンクはぼったくりだと思(おも)う。

I think a 3000 yen drink is a rip-off.

ぼったくり comes from the verb ぼったくる (to overcharge, rip off), which is related to 引(ひ)っ叩(たた)く (to strike, hit)—metaphorically "hitting" customers with high prices.

Common collocations

ぼったくりバー: rip-off bar (typically in entertainment districts)
ぼったくり価格(かかく): rip-off prices
ぼったくりに遭(あ)う: to get ripped off

This is informal vocabulary used to criticize unfair pricing practices.

general

Added 2026.2.1 17:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

09000/09372_bottakuri