"Bocchandere" is a term for a young male character who is the son of a wealthy and high-class family who at first is very spoiled and entitled, before eventually becoming cute, loving, and deredere for their love interest. At first they like to flaunt their status in front of others and think they are superior to everyone else. However, after becoming closer to their love interest they will start to become very caring for them and they will use their status or wealth to help their love interest in any way possible.
It is the male counterpart of ojoudere.
Etymology
Meaning of the Term
Bocchandere comes from the words "bocchan" (坊ちゃん), a nickname used for the son/heir of a wealthy family meaning "young master", and "deredere" (デレデレ), a mimetic word for "being lovestruck (overly affectionate, lovey-dovey, not hiding one's romantic feelings)".
Origin
Bocchandere was created on the internet in the Western community.[1]
History
Media
One of the best examples of a bocchandere character is Hijiri Koganei from the 2019 harem romance manga series Romantic Killer. Hijiri is a wealthy boy who is not in touch with the lives of "peasants", as he puts it. After he is set up with Anzu Hoshino by Riri he quickly begins to try to win her affection using lavish gifts using his daddy's money, limousine rides, and his personal butler. However, despite his best efforts Anzu considers him to be "inconsiderate and obnoxious" so she continuously rejects his advances. This puzzles him as he is used to getting every girl to immediately fall for him because of his beautiful looks. He soon realizes that if he is going to win over her heart he's going to have to put in the week. He decides to get a part-time job at a convenience store so that he can save up enough money to buy a gift for her using his own money. This sudden change in his behavior from entitled, to working so hard for another person makes Anzu start to develop some feelings for him.
Characteristics
Status
Bocchandere characters are high-ranking members of society. This could include being the son of a wealthy and important business family, or even the heir to a major yakuza organization. They grew up never knowing hardship and almost always have a personal butler to do everything for them.[2]
Personality
Bocchan Period
Hijiri Koganei trying to impress Anzu Hoshino with his limousine from Romantic Killer
The high status of bocchandere characters causes them to become very arrogant and entitled. They overestimate their own self-worth and think they are better than everyone else. They could be described as "spoiled rich kids".
Bocchandere are incredibly spoiled and pampered. Often they are out of touch with the ways that "commoners" live due to being raised having butlers to do everything for them. They may feel surprised to learn that they can't get whatever they want just because they have money.
Bocchandere characters have power and they are not afraid to show it off. They like to boss other people around as if they are their personal servants and may even manipulate them into doing what they want.
Dere Period
Bocchandere characters might be surprised to realize that their love interest won't date them just because they're important. They may try to buy their affection with lavish gifts, but after realizing what's important they will start to humble themselves. They will realize that material items aren't what is important, but rather the way they treat others. They may even take up working at a minimum wage job to buy their love interest a present that they can say came from their own money, and not their father's money. Their change in behavior will be very noticable after truly falling in love and becoming deredere for their love interest.
Despite the initial arrogant exterior of a bocchandere, when they become fond of someone they will become very protective of them and start to use their status or wealth to help their love interest in any way possible. After enough time of being with their love interest they start to realize that their status isn't everything and begin to lose the egotistical behavior.
Differences From Other Archetypes
Bocchandere is sometimes confused with kanedere—characters who are only attracted to someone if they have money or high status—but the difference is bocchandere are characters who have a lot of wealth and power while kanedere are characters who want a lot of wealth and power. Bocchandere characters could be considered the ideal love interest for a kanedere.
Bocchandere are similar to oujidere in that both are entitled, but oujidere characters will simply demand to be treated like a prince and will not necessarily be spoiled or flaunt their status. Bocchandere also must be a high-ranking member of society, whereas oujidere often just 'think' they are.
Similar Archetypes
- Ojou-sama: A term for a young female character who is the daughter of a wealthy high-class family. This is the female counterpart of "bocchan".
- Oujidere: A term for a character who wishes to be treated like a prince by their love interest.
List of Characters
Gallery
 Hijiri Koganei with Anzu Hoshino from Romantic Killer  Hijiri Koganei with Anzu Hoshino from Romantic Killer  Hijiri Koganei with Anzu Hoshino from Romantic Killer  Damian Desmond from SPY×FAMILY  Damian Desmond from SPY×FAMILY  Ciel Phantomhive from Kuroshitsuji |
References
- ↑ Dere Types - Bocchandere. Wattpad. “Bocchan means something like young master, they have a high rank and consider themselves better than the others.”
- ↑ 36 Types of Dere. VK (2020/05/11). “Bocchandere are spoiled characters who think they are better than everyone else. The definition of bocchandere varies in different languages, but the gist is the same: such characters are of high rank, but they overestimate their achievements and think they are the best.”
| v • eWestern Archetypes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dere |
Ahodere ♡ Bocchandere ♡ Byoukidere ♡ Kamidere ♡ Kanedere ♡ Kidere ♡ Kekkondere ♡ Mayadere ♡ Megadere ♡ Nemuidere ♡ Nipadere ♡ Oujidere ♡ Oujodere ♡ Smugdere ♡ Teasedere ♡ Thugdere | |
| Other | ||