Japanese word

浮浪者

Pronunciation

Romajifurōsha

Meaning

  • nounhomeless person

Example

駅の近くで浮浪者が寝ています。eki no chika ku de fu rō sha ga ne te i ma su

A homeless person is sleeping near the station.

Illustration for 浮浪者 (homeless person)

More examples

自治体は浮浪者に無料の食事を提供しています。ji chi tai wa fu rō sha ni mu ryō no shoku ji o tei kyō shi te i ma su

The local government provides free meals to homeless people.

Core concept

Describes a person who lacks a stable home and may live by moving from place to place or staying in public spaces.

Common phrases

  • 浮浪者支援fu rō sha shi en

    support for homeless people

  • 浮浪者対策fu rō sha tai saku

    measures for homeless people

  • 浮浪者の保護fu rō sha no ho go

    protection of homeless people

Similar words

ホームレスhōmuresu: A widely used present-day term for a person lacking a stable home.
野宿者nojukusha: A person who sleeps outside or in a place not meant to serve as a home.
宿無しyadonashi: A person left without a place to lodge, whether briefly or for a longer period.

Definition in Japanese

定まった住居を持たず、路上や公共の場所などで生活する人。sada ma tta jū kyo o mo ta zu ro jō ya kō kyō no ba sho na do de sei katsu su ru hito

Word origin

It combines 浮浪 (furō, "wandering without a settled home") and 者 (sha, "person"), forming a Sino-Japanese noun for a person without a fixed residence.

Usage tips

  • In contemporary English, homeless person is usually more neutral than hobo or vagrant, which can sound old-fashioned or judgmental depending on context.

Other meanings

  • vagrantnoun
  • hobonoun

Word lists with this word