ボッタクリ
Significado: A rip-off; being grossly overcharged for something that is not worth the price.
ボッタクリ refers to being charged an outrageously inflated price, whether at a shady bar, a tourist trap restaurant, or by a dishonest service provider. It comes from the verb ぼったくる (to rip off). The word carries strong negative emotion — a mix of anger, disbelief, and feeling cheated. It is used both as a noun (that place is a ボッタクリ) and adjectivally (ボッタクリ価格, rip-off pricing).
Ejemplos
- あの店ボッタクリだよ、ビール一杯2000円だって。 那家店是黑店,一杯啤酒要2000日元。Ese bar es un timo, cobran 2000 yenes por una cerveza.그 가게 바가지야, 맥주 한 잔에 2000엔이래.
- 観光地はボッタクリが多いから気をつけて。 旅游景点宰客的多,要小心。En las zonas turísticas hay muchos timos, así que ten cuidado.관광지에는 바가지가 많으니까 조심해.
- この修理代ボッタクリじゃない?他の店の倍だよ。 这修理费也太坑了吧?比别家贵一倍。¿Esta factura de reparación no es un robo? Es el doble que en otras tiendas.이 수리비 바가지 아냐? 다른 가게의 두 배야.
Pronunciación
/bot.ta.kɯ.ɾi/
Guía de uso
Contexto: shopping, travel, complaints, restaurants
Tono: angry, indignant, warning
✓ Correcto
- あの居酒屋ボッタクリで有名だから行かないほうがいいよ。 (That izakaya is famous for ripping people off — better not to go.)那家居酒屋宰客出了名的,最好别去。Ese izakaya es famoso por timar a la gente, mejor no vayas.그 이자카야 바가지로 유명하니까 안 가는 게 나아. (그 선술집은 바가지로 유명하니까 안 가는 게 좋아.)
- 旅行先でボッタクリに遭わないようにレビュー確認しとこう。 (Let's check reviews so we don't get ripped off at our travel destination.)出去旅游前先看看评价,免得被宰。Vamos a mirar las reseñas para que no nos timen en el viaje.여행지에서 바가지 안 쓰려면 후기 확인하자. (여행지에서 바가지 안 당하게 리뷰 먼저 확인하자.)
✗ Incorrecto
- 店員に直接「ボッタクリだ」と言うとトラブルになる (Saying 'this is a rip-off' directly to staff can cause a confrontation — complain to friends or leave reviews instead)当面对店员说'你们这是宰客'容易引发冲突——还是跟朋友吐槽或写评价比较好Decirle directamente al personal 'esto es un timo' puede provocar un enfrentamiento; es mejor quejarse con amigos o dejar reseñas.직원에게 직접 '바가지입니다'라고 하면 트러블이 된다 (직원에게 '바가지예요'라고 직접 말하면 충돌이 생길 수 있다 — 친구에게 불평하거나 리뷰로 남기는 게 낫다)
Errores comunes
- Using ボッタクリ for things that are simply expensive — it specifically implies dishonest or unfair pricing, not just high-end goods
Origen e historia
From the verb ぼったくる, which means to rip off or overcharge. The nominalized form ボッタクリ became a widely used standalone term. The word has been in circulation since at least the 1980s, originally associated with shady nightlife establishments.
Contexto cultural
Era: 1980s onward, associated with nightlife and tourist areas
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Especially relevant in entertainment districts like Kabukichō (Tokyo) and Dōtonbori (Osaka) where tourist-targeted overcharging has been a long-standing issue.
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