Proverb / Kotowaza
坊主丸儲け
Earning a large profit without needing any initial capital or investment.
A monk's pure profit
Quick Answer
Earning a large profit without needing any initial capital or investment.
- Literal Image
- A monk's pure profit
- How to Use It
- Used when describing a business model or situation with zero or minimal initial costs. It is sometimes used with a cynical or ironic nuance regarding how easy it appears to make money.
Meaning
Originally based on the observation that Buddhist priests do not need to purchase stock or inventory, this expression describes making money without overhead. It is used to characterize businesses or situations where income becomes pure profit because there are no material costs involved.
Literal Image
A monk's pure profit
How to Use It
Used when describing a business model or situation with zero or minimal initial costs. It is sometimes used with a cynical or ironic nuance regarding how easy it appears to make money.
Tone
Carries a touch of irony or a cynical perspective regarding the perceived lack of effort or expense in a profession.
Examples
坊主丸儲けとは言うが、実際にはお寺の維持にも相当な費用がかかる。
People say it is all pure profit for a monk, but in reality, maintaining a temple is quite expensive.
初期投資ゼロで始められるなんて、坊主丸儲けのような商売だ。
Being able to start with zero initial investment is like a business that is all pure profit.
坊主丸儲けと揶揄されるが、修行の厳しさを知れば簡単に言えるものではない。
While people mock it as being pure profit for a monk, you would not say that so easily if you knew the severity of the training.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The words themselves are relatively simple, but the compound 'maru-mouke' and the idiomatic usage regarding social roles make it intermediate.
坊主
ぼうず / bozu
Buddhist priest; monk
元手
もとで / motode
capital; funds; initial investment
丸儲け
まるもうけ / marumouke
pure profit; total gain
Usage Profile
Usage note: This phrase can be offensive if used directly to or about a priest, as it implies they do not work for their income.
Misread Risk
It is not just about making money; it specifically refers to situations where there is no cost for materials or stock.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression originates from a cynical observation by commoners that Buddhist priests do not have to purchase inventory or stock, meaning the donations (obuse) they receive are pure profit. While priests actually undergo rigorous training and temples have high maintenance costs, the phrase emphasizes the lack of material overhead compared to conventional commerce.
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Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.