Meaning of ぼっち (Bocchi) and クリぼっち (Kuri Bocchi) in Japanese Slang

Meaning of ぼっち (bocchi)

ぼっち (bocchi) is a Japanese slang word that means “be always all alone or isolated” (or such people). This word also describes the state of being alone, as in “パーティーでぼっちだった” meaning “I was all alone at the party”.

Meaning of クリぼっち (Kuri Bocchi)

クリぼっち (kuri bocchi) is another slang word that means “a person who spends Christmas Eve/Day without company”. It is an abbreviation of “クリスマスぼっち (Christmas bocchi)”, a bocchi on Christmas Day. Every year on Christmas Eve/Day, there are a great number of Japanese people on social media who call themselves “Kuri bocchi” and lament not having a girlfriend/boyfriend. (In Japan, young people usually spend Christmas Eve/Day with their partner rather than their family.)

Word Usage

People often describe themselves as bocchi (or kuri bocchi) to make fun of their pathetic situation by themselves. They also combine ぼっち with another word, as in “ぼっち飲のみ” (bocchi nomi) meaning “drinking alone“ and “ぼっちラーメン” (bocchi ramen) meaning “eating ramen alone”. In particular, “ぼっち飯めし” (bocchi meshi), where “飯めし” (meshi) means a meal or rice, is a general slang term that describes the act of eating alone.

Word Origin

ぼっち (bocchi) is an abbreviation of the word “一人ぼっち (hitori bocchi)”. Both “ぼっち” and “一人ぼっち” mean “loner”, but ぼっち sounds much more casual.  The word “一人ひとり (hitori)” means “one person” or “alone”, and “ぼっち” (bocchi) is said to originate from 法師ほうし (houshi), meaning “a Buddhist priest”. (Originally, “一人ぼっち” used to indicate a Buddhist priest who does not belong to any branch of Buddhism, but the meaning has been completely lost.)

Example Sentences

Ex1

A: クリスマスは何なにするの？
B: クリぼっちだから何もすることないよ。
A: What are you gonna do at Christmas?
B: I have nothing to do because I’m a kuri bocchi (a loner on Christmas Day).

Ex2
A:　昨日きのうのパーティーはどうだった？
B:　ずっとぼっちだったよ
A:　How was the party yesterday?
B:　I was all alone.

Ex3

ぼっち誕生たんじょう日び会かいを満喫まんきつしている

I’m fully enjoying bocchi birthday party (lonely birthday party)

Ex4

大学だいがくではいつもぼっち飯めしだ

At university, I always do bocchi meshi (eating alone).

Synonym

Synonyms: 一人ぼっち (hitori bocchi)

Synonyms in English: loner, isolated, all alone, Billy no mates

Related words and phrases: 一人 (one person)