Japanese word

侮辱

Pronunciation

Romajibujoku

Meaning

  • nouninsult

Example

彼の言葉は私への侮辱でした。kare no koto ba wa watashi e no bu joku de shi ta

His words were an insult to me.

Illustration for 侮辱 (insult)

More examples

冗談のつもりでも、相手には侮辱に聞こえることがあります。jō dan no tsu mo ri de mo ai te ni wa bu joku ni ki ko e ru ko to ga a ri ma su

Even if you mean it as a joke, it may sound like an insult to the other person.

Core concept

It conveys treatment that places another person beneath the respect due to them.

Common phrases

  • 侮辱を受けるbu joku o u ke ru

    be insulted

  • 侮辱と受け取るbu joku to u ke to ru

    take it as an insult

  • 侮辱に当たるbu joku ni a ta ru

    constitute an insult

Similar words

悪口waruguchi: Words that speak badly of or offend another person.
無礼burei: Words or behavior that fail to show the respect due to another person.
罵倒batō: Strongly abusive language aimed at another person.
軽蔑keibetsu: A judgment that another person is beneath one's respect.

Definition in Japanese

言葉や態度で相手を低く扱い、名誉や尊厳を傷つけること。koto ba ya tai do de ai te o hiku ku atsuka i mei yo ya son gen o kizu tsu ke ru ko to

Word origin

侮辱 (bujoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 侮 (bu, "to despise") and 辱 (joku, "shame"), expressing contempt that humiliates another person.

Usage tips

  • English uses insult as both a noun and a verb, whereas Japanese uses 侮辱 (bujoku) as a noun and 侮辱する (bujoku suru) for the verb.

Other meanings

  • affrontnoun
  • slightnoun
  • contemptnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 侮辱するbujokusuruinsultverb
  • 侮辱的bujokutekiinsultingna-adjective

Word lists with this word