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木偶の坊. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
木偶の坊, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
木偶の坊 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
木偶の坊 you have here. The definition of the word
木偶の坊 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
木偶の坊, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Japanese
| Alternative spelling
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| でくの坊
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Etymology
Phrase consisting of 木偶 (deku, “wooden puppet”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 坊 (bō, term of endearment). The deku portion is of unknown origin and may have arisen as a standalone term later than as a part of a compound. Theories include:
- Alteration from 出狂坊／出来坊 (dekurubō), used synonymously, in turn from 出狂坊 (dekuruibō), literally "little one who has gone mad".
- From 手 (te, “hand”) + 傀儡 (kugutsu, “puppet”) + の + 坊, through dekurubō.
- From Sino-Japanese 泥偶 (deigū, “clay doll”) + の + 坊.
The third theory is problematic semantically and does not account for the intermediary dekurubō pronunciation.
Pronunciation
Noun
木偶の坊 • (dekunobō)
- doll, puppet
- useless person
- 彼は木偶の坊にすぎない。
- Kare wa dekunobō ni suginai.
- He is no better than a fool.
References
- ^ 語源由来辞典 Gogen Yurai Jiten
- ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK Publishing, →ISBN