放浪者
hōrōsha[ho̞ːɾo̞ːɕa̠]
The English word "wanderer" is translated into Japanese as 放浪者 (hōrōsha).
放浪者 refers to a person who wanders or roams.
Meaning: one who wanders (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 放浪 (hōrō), meaning 'wandering/roaming' and 者 (sha), meaning 'person'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
放浪者 is a formal, written noun often used in literature or historical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
hōrōsha
Did you know?
- The word 放浪 (hōrō) can be broken down into characters that imply 'letting go' and 'waves', visually suggesting a person who is being carried away by the currents of life.
- In Japanese pop culture, the concept of the 放浪者 is often linked to the 'ronin', a masterless samurai who wandered the countryside after their lord's death.
- While 放浪者 describes a land-based wanderer, Japanese uses the specific term 漂流者 (hyōryūsha) for those drifting at sea. This distinction is much more rigid than the English use of 'wanderer' or 'drifter'.
Examples in context
- 彼は孤独な放浪者です。Kare wa kodoku na hourousha desu.He is a lonely wanderer.
- かつて、この街には放浪者がいた。Katsute, kono machi ni wa hourousha ga ita.Once, there was a wanderer in this town.
- 放浪者の物語を読んでいます。Hourousha no monogatari o yonde imasu.I am reading a story about a wanderer.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a character in a novel.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの小説の主人公は放浪者なんだ。Kono shousetsu no shujinkou wa hourousha nan da.The protagonist of this novel is a wanderer.
- 美咲 Misaki彼はどこへ行くの？Kare wa doko e iku no?Where is he going?
- 大翔 Hiroto目的地はないみたいだよ。Mokutekichi wa nai mitai da yo.It seems he has no destination.
- 美咲 Misaki自由で楽しそうね。Jiyuu de tanoshisou ne.He seems to be enjoying his freedom.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wanderer” translations and entries 放浪者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
