Where does “坊主” come from?
坊主 (Japanese) comes from Japanese 主, from Middle Chinese 主.
坊主 (Japanese): A Buddhist monk; A bald head, bald person; A...
Definitions
- A Buddhist monk; A bald head, bald person; A...
Ancestry of “坊主”, step by step
坊主 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Japanese 主
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 主 | head of the family; master, mistress; one's... |
| 2 | Middle Chinese | 主 | — |
via Japanese 坊
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 坊 | monk; boy, monk; dear, beloved |