UFO

Orthographic borrowing from English UFO, but pronounced like an acronym rather than a mere initialism.

未確認飛行物体 未確認飛行物体#Japanese

unidentified flying object
unidentified flying object

Synonym of 未確認飛行物体 (mikakunin hikō buttai, “unidentified flying object”); a UFO


SP

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from special + police.


CA

flight attendant
flight attendant#English


漢

From Middle Chinese 漢 (MC xanH), in reference to the Han Chinese ethnic group.
The sense of man arose from usage in Chinese to differentiate between the “civilized” people of the Han Chinese ethnicity versus other ethnic groups.


漢

Daijirin Daijisen Kyūjitai Shinjitai ja:松村明

From Old Japanese, in reference to clans purportedly originating from China. Appears to be cognate with 文 / 紋 / 綾 / 絢 (aya, “a pattern or design; a pattern of diagonally interweaving lines; twill; how something fits together, the reason or background of a thing; skillful expression in color or words; melody, tune”), possibly in distant reference to technologies and cultural practices brought to Japan by the original Chinese immigrants.

short for 漢氏 (Aya uji): name of one of two ancient clans, purportedly descendants from Han Chinese, and notable historically for major achievements in fields including literature, diplomacy, and finance, among others


人

人 (canonical)
人 (canonical)
hito (romanization)
人 (counter)

⟨pi₁to₂⟩ → */pʲitə/ → /fito/ → /hito/ → /çito/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *pitə.
First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE.

someone who is very honest and straightforward


中国人

中国人 (canonical)
Chūgokujin (romanization)

[t͡ɕɨːɡo̞kɯ̟ʑĩɴ]


卿

ja-noun

卿(きょう) • (kyō)

水戸侯、徳川頼房卿

ウインストン・チャーチル卿


兄

From Old Japanese of unclear derivation:
* Probably originally a compound of 吾 (a, Eastern Old Japanese first-person pronoun) + の (no, possessive particle) + 兄 (ye → e, “eldest sibling”, see below):
*: ⟨a no₂ ye⟩ → */anʉʲɨe/ → /ani/
* Alternatively, an apophonic form of 姉 (ane, “elder sister”), itself possibly from the same derivation above.
* Several other theories have also been suggested.


兄

加都賀都母伊夜佐岐陀弖流延袁斯麻加牟

伊夜佐岐陀弖流 いやさきだてる

katsugatsu mo iya sakidateru e o shi makamu

If I have to choose, the one standing there in front―the eldest one I'll wed.


兄

From Old Japanese.
Originally a compound of 子 (ko, “child”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 上 (kami, “upper”).

(archaic) (by extension) an elder sibling


姉

From Old Japanese of unclear derivation:
* Probably originally a compound of 吾 (a, Eastern Old Japanese first-person pronoun) + の (no, possessive particle) + 兄 (ye → e, “eldest sibling”):
*: ⟨a no₂ ye⟩ → */anʉʲɨe/ → /ane/
This word is an apophonic form of 兄 (ani, “elder brother”).
* Several other theories have also been suggested.


妃

妃 (canonical)
妃 (canonical)
kisaki (romanization)
kisai (romanization)

Regina, æ . reina . qisàqi .

1632, Diego Collado, Dictionarium sive thesauri linguae Iaponicae compendium, page 112:


姪

姪 (canonical)
mei (romanization)
mefi (romanization)
めひ (hiragana historical)

Early Middle Japanese
Early Modern Japanese
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Ryūnoshūge

From Old Japanese; attested in the Ryūnoshūge (738) as 売比 ⟨me₁ pi₁⟩.
* ⟨me₁ pi₁⟩ → /mefi/ → /mei/
The initial me- has been frequently associated with 女 (me, “female”).


妻

From 端 (tsuma, “side, edge”), indicating the person who is at the side of someone: a spouse. Compare the English expression better half.
This term originally referred to either a male (husband) or female (wife) spouse. In modern usage, this term refers only to a female spouse.


官

官 (canonical)
kan (romanization)
kwan (romanization)
くわん (hiragana historical)

public; state-owned (use, facility, etc.)


官

(obsolete) short for 太(だい)政(じょう)官(かん) (daijōkan).


孫

Fourth grade kyōiku kanji (romanization)


孫

(rare) descendant (usually of a certain generation)


娘

1996 February 20 [1988 February 15], Mitsuru Adachi, “テイク・オフ (Teiku Ofu, “Take Off”)”, in ショートプログラム (漫(まん)画(が)) (Shōto Puroguramu (manga), “Short Program (manga)”), 25th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 107:

自分で自分の行動に条件をつけちゃうんだよ、この娘—— 例えば、毎年初雪が降るまでモチは食わないとか、霊柩車が通るまで道を渡らないとか、ネコがあくびするまでコタツを出ないとか。

Jibun de jibun no kōdō ni jōken o tsukechaun da yo, kono ko—— Tatoeba, maitoshi hatsuyuki ga furu made mochi wa kuwanai toka, reikyūsha ga tōru made michi o wataranai toka, neko ga akubisuru made kotatsu o denai toka.

This girl, I’m telling you, she sets terms for every of her own actions— Like, not eating mochi until the first snowfall of each year, not crossing the street until the hearse passes by, or not leaving the kotatsu until her cat yawns.


妹

⟨imo₁⟩ → */imʷo/ → /imo/
From Old Japanese 妹 (imo₁). First cited in the Kojiki of 712.
Speculatively, may be related to terms such as 女 (me₁, womi₁na, “woman”), 嫗 (omi₁na, “elderly woman”), and 母 (omo, “mother”), wherein the medial /-m-/ appears to signify woman, female. However, the difference in vowel values presents a difficulty.

(archaic, said from a male speaker) a close female companion

one's sister regardless of age difference

かりごもの思ひ乱れて我恋ふといも知るらめや人し告げずは

karigomo no omoimidarete ware kou to imo shirurame ya hito shi tsugezu wa

one's lover or sweetheart who is the subject of marriage or is already married

(archaic, said from a female speaker) a close female companion


妹

妹 (canonical)
imōto (romanization)
いもっ (alternative hiragana)
imo' (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)

Daijirin
Daijisen#Online_search_engines
The Tales of Ise

/imo ɸito/ → /imowito/ → */imowuto/ → /imoːto/
Originally a compound of 妹 (imo, “sister, close female companion”) + 人 (hito, “person”). First cited in The Tales of Ise of the early 900s.
This is an instance of ウ音便 (u onbin, “u sound shift”), found in terms with bilabial consonants (/m/, /b/, /w/) followed by i; commonly seen in terms such as 玄人 (kurōto, “professional”), 素人 (shirōto, “amateur”), or possibly, 相撲 (sumō, “sumo”).

com

the wife of one's younger brother; one's sister-in-law

(archaic, said from a male speaker) one's sister regardless of age difference


妹

Kōjien
Nihon Shoki
Shinmura Izuru
The Tale of Heiji

Analyzed as a shortening of imōto, itself a compound 妹 (imo, “sister, close female companion”) + 人 (hito, “person”).
Appears in The Tale of Heiji, written around the mid-12th century. May be much older, as this reading is also included in kun'yomi glosses for the Nihon Shoki of 720 (although the manuscripts with the glosses themselves are not as old).


弟

弟 (canonical)
otōto (romanization)
おとっ (alternative hiragana)
oto' (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)

/otopito/ → /otoɸito/ → /otowito/ → /*otowuto/ → /otouto/ → /otoːto/
Originally a compound of 弟 (oto, “younger sibling”) + 人 (hito, “person”).


尊

From Old Japanese.
Derived from 御 (mi-, honorific prefix) + 事 (koto, “thing, matter”).


夫

From Old Japanese. First attested in the Kojiki of 712.
Cognate with 端 (tsuma, “edge, side of something”), from the sense of "person by one's side".
Generally spelled 夫 in reference to a husband and 妻 in reference to a wife.


女

女 (canonical)
onna (romanization)
wonna (romanization)
をんな (hiragana historical)

女の足駄にて造れる笛には秋の鹿寄る

onna no ashida ni te tsukureru fue ni wa aki no shika yoru

女の髪の毛には大象も繫がる

onna no kami no ke ni wa taizō mo tsunagaru

⟨womi₁na⟩ → */womʲina/ → /womʉna/ → /wonːa/ → /onːa/
Shift from Old Japanese womina → omina. See the 女 (omina) entry for further details.
Now one of the standard Japanese words for "a woman".

人の女に手を出すな！

Don't you fuckin' dare touch someone else's girl!


女

⟨me₁⟩ → */mʲe/ → /me/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *mia.
Appears to be distinct from 目 (⟨me₂⟩ → me, “eye”).

女木

female tree; lower or receiving piece of wood in a join

女君: polite term for another person's wife

女滝

in a waterfall with two cataract, the smaller of the two

郎女: an ancient term of endearment for referring to a woman


女

女 (canonical)
jo (romanization)
dyo (romanization)
ぢよ (hiragana historical)

/dɨo/ → /d͡ʑo/
From Middle Chinese 女 (MC nrjoX|nrjoH).

a woman, especially an actress or a prostitute


女

女 (canonical)
-jo (romanization)
-dyo (romanization)
ぢよ (hiragana historical)

(historical) suffixed to names of female figures in the Edo period


梓

梓 (canonical)
Azusa (romanization)
Adusa (romanization)
あづさ (hiragana historical)

/adusa/ → /ad͡zusa/ → /azusa/
From Old Japanese.


家

家 (canonical)
ie (romanization)
ife (romanization)
いへ (hiragana historical)

⟨ipe₁⟩ → /ipʲe/ → /iɸe/ → /iwe/ → /ie/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *ipia. Possibly cognate with Old Korean 邑勒 (iprʌk, “house”).
Possibly related to 廬 (iho → io, “temporary hut”).


梅

Daijisen
Heian period
Kyūjitai
Shinjitai
Tōkyō
ja:松村明
Ōsaka

⟨me₂⟩ → */mːəɨ/ → *⟨mume₂⟩ → ⟨ume₂⟩ → */uməɨ/ → /ume/
From Old Japanese.
Probably ultimately from Middle Chinese 梅 (MC mwoj), with the borrowed me reading gaining a pronounced kind of initial m- sound, perhaps realized as *mme. The phonetic spelling was often rendered as むめ (*mme, mume) from the Heian period, with *mme/mume and ume apparently existing in free variation. The reading eventually settled on うめ (ume). Compare the similar pattern of phonetic shift for 馬 (ma → *mma → muma → uma, “horse”), likely from Middle Chinese 馬 (MC maeX).


漁

漁 (canonical)
ryō (romanization)
refu (romanization)
れふ (hiragana historical)

From (confusion with) 猟(りょう) (ryō, “hunting”).


星

/posi/ → /ɸoɕi/ → /hoɕi/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *pəsi.

an objective
(slang) the perp, the culprit


星

From Middle Chinese 星 (MC seng).
The Singapore sense derives from the pre-World War Two kanji spelling 星加坡 (modern kanji spelling 新加坡) as borrowed from Chinese, itself a transliteration of Malay Singapura.


母

From Old Japanese. Obsolete and unused in modern Japanese. Appears to be an alteration from amo above.

母家

main residence in a manor; main or central building in a palace; main household in an extended family; main store in a chain

母良

in ancient times, a woman serving at the Ise Grand Shrine

緑児之 為社乳母者 求云 乳飲哉君之 於毛求覧

a woman who breastfeeds and raises a child in place of a parent: a wet nurse


母

Unknown. One theory holds that this is a corrupted and abbreviated form of 御方様 (okatasama), a term to refer to or address someone else's wife (now extremely formal, but much more everyday in the Edo period), possibly influenced by children's speech:
/okatasama/ → /katasama/ → /kakasama/ → /kaka/

Caca. カカ (かか) Faua (母)に同じ. 母. これは子供の言葉である. また、尊敬すべき婦人、あるいは、年長で一家の主婦のような婦人の意に取られる.


爺

ja-noun

爺(じい) or 爺(じじ) or 爺(じゞ) or 爺(じじい) or 爺(じゞい) • (jī or jiji or jijī) ^(←ぢい (dii) or ぢぢ (didi) or ぢぢい (didii)?)

爺 (canonical)
jī (romanization)
dii (romanization)
ぢい (hiragana historical)
爺 (canonical)
爺 (canonical)
爺 (canonical)
爺 (canonical)
jī (romanization)
jiji (romanization)
jijī (romanization)
dii (romanization)
didi (romanization)
didii (romanization)
ぢい (hiragana historical)
ぢぢ (hiragana historical)
ぢぢい (hiragana historical)
じじいじゞい (hiragana)

（お）爺さん

（お）爺ちゃん

（お）爺ちゃん

1990 June 25 [1990 February 17], George Morikawa, “Round(ラウンド) ５(ファイブ) 1965(せんきゅうひゃく
ろくじゅうこ)年(ねん)のアッパーカット [Round 5: 1965’s Uppercut]”, in はじめの一(いっ)歩(ぽ) THE(ザ) FIGHTING(ファイティング)! [The First Step: The Fighting!], 3rd edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 131:

うわぁ すいません

うわぁ すいません


甥

甥 (canonical)
oi (romanization)
wofi (romanization)
をひ (hiragana historical)

From Old Japanese, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *wopUi.
Attested in the Ryūnoshūge of 868 with the phonetic spelling 俗備 (⟨wopi₂⟩).


王

王 (canonical)
ō (romanization)
wau (romanization)
わう (hiragana historical)

/wau/ → /wɔː/ → */woː/ → /oː/
From Middle Chinese 王 (MC hjwang).

越王勾践 ― Etsuō Kōsen ― King Goujian of Yue

a king, especially one who is not East Asian or was East Asian in pre-imperial times; in China and Vietnam, generally a king before Qin Shi Huangdi who invented the title 皇帝 (kōtei, “huangdi; emperor”); in Korea, one of the many kings before the Korean Empire which was modeled after Japan's; in Japan, one of the rulers before Emperor Jinmu

親魏倭王 ― Shingi Waō ― the pro-Wei Queen of Wa

徴(女)王 ― Chō (Jo)ō ― the Trưng Queen

善徳(女)王 ― Zentoku (Jo)ō ― Queen Seondeok

武成王

興道王 ― Kōdō Ō ― Prince Hưng Đạo

a nobility title for a Chinese or Vietnamese prince, bestowed on one of the 皇帝 (kōtei, “huangdi; emperor”)'s adult sons, brothers, or nephews, especially as a coming-of-age title, generally comes with an estate ("principality"); compare 皇子 (ōji, “imperial princes”, especially pre-adult ones) and 公 (kō, “dukes”, an alternative used by certain dynasties)


父

From Old Japanese 父 (titi), from Proto-Japonic *titi.
Still in modern usage.

父上

honourable father; chichiue, term in respect primarily used in writing

父親

father; chichioya, specifically as someone's parent

近代医学の父

(by extension, figurative) a father figure (male initiator or founder of something)


父

Appears in the Nippo Jisho of 1603.
Originally a shift from chichi or tete in baby talk, used by children to refer to their own father.
Still in modern usage.

(by later extension) a husband, master of the house


父

The “father” and “uncle” affixes is from Middle Chinese 父 (MC bjuX).
The “old man” affix is from Middle Chinese 父 (MC pjuX).


紫

From Old Japanese.
Possibly a compound of 群 (mura, “gathering, group”) + 咲き (saki, “blooming”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 咲く (saku), “to bloom”).

com

(historical, colloquial, from 江戸紫 (Edo murasaki, “royal purple”), where the dye is traditionally made in) Edo, the de facto capital of the Tokugawa shogunate


男

男 (canonical)
otoko (romanization)
wotoko (romanization)
をとこ (hiragana historical)

男の目には糸を引け女の目には鈴を張れ

otoko no me ni wa ito o hike onna no me ni wa suzu o hare

⟨woto₂ko₁⟩ → */wotəkʷo/ → /wotoko/ → /otoko/
From Old Japanese.
Derived from おと (oto, “young?”, cognate with Old Japanese 復つ (wotu → otsu, “to become young again”)) + 子 (ko, “child”).
Compare 少女 (otome, “young woman”).

com

cognate with Old Japanese <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ojp">復つ</i> (wotu → otsu, “to become young again”)

男は閾を跨げば七人の敵あり

otoko wa shikii o matageba shichinin no teki ari


男

/dam/ → /damʉ/ → /daɴ/
From Middle Chinese 男 (MC nom).
The 漢音 (kan'on) reading, so likely a later borrowing.

a young man, especially one who reached adulthood


親

Second grade kyōiku kanji (romanization)

親切

kindness, helpfulness, friendliness; kind, helpful


親

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *əya. Cognate with or derived from Old Japanese verb 老ゆ (oyu, “to become old”, modern 老いる oiru), from the idea of one's elders.
First cited in the Kojiki of 712.

the child doesn't know the parent's heart

親の心子知らず: → the child doesn't know the pain they cause their parents

a parent's bright light is seven bright lights

親の光は七光: → a parent's social standing can be a huge influence on a person as they come into adulthood

1988 July 30 [1984 July 25], Fujiko Fujio, “世界名作童話第１巻, みにくいアヒルの子 [World’s Renowned Fairy Tales Book 1: The Ugly Duckling]”, in ポストの中の明日 [Post-Mid-Tomorrow] (藤子・F・不二雄のSF短編; 2), 10th edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 112:

ぼくのほんとのおやはだれかしら。

the larger one of several objects of the same kind

(hanafuda, card games, by extension, board games) the dealer, (gambling) the banker


連

Old Japanese [Term?], from 村 (mura, “village”) + 主 (nushi, “chief”)

af

(historical) the second-lowest of the 八色の姓 (Yakusa no Kabane, “eight hereditary titles promulgated by Emperor Tenmu”)


鷲

鷲 (canonical)
鷲 (canonical)
washi (romanization)

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *wasi.

荒鷲 (arawashi)

若鷲 (wakawashi)

海鷲 (umiwashi)

(figurative, historical, Empire of Japan) aviator


オタク

desc

→ Arabic: أُوتَاكُو (ʔūtākū)

→ Arabic: أُوتَاكُو (ʔūtākū)

→ Bengali: ওতাকু (ōtaku)

⇒ Chinese:

Mandarin: 御宅族 (yùzháizú)

⇒ Mandarin: 宅男 (zháinán)

⇒ Mandarin: 宅女 (zháinǚ)

→ English: otaku

→ German: Otaku

→ Greek: οτάκου (otákou)

→ Hebrew: אוֹטָאקוּ (otáku)

→ Italian: otaku

→ Korean: 오타쿠 (otaku), 오덕후 (odeokhu)

→ Marathi: ओताकु (otāku)

→ Persian: اتاکو (otâku)

→ Russian: ота́ку (otáku)

→ Spanish: otaku

→ Thai: โอะตะกุ (ò-dtà-gù)

From お宅 (otaku), the honorific version of 宅 (taku, “home”), referring to 1982–1983 Macross fans, or perhaps earlier; see Wikipedia discussion.

2002, 山田裕康 [Yamada Hiroyasu], LDの可能性を広げる, page 11:

しかし、多くの友達にとってはそんなことにはまったく興味はなく、「またかよ〜」と飽き飽きしているのですが、「電車の時刻表」、「ポットン便所」、「明智光秀」、「テレビ番組の細かすぎるオタク」と、どんな話題からもルド君はそちらに持って行ってしまうのです。

Shikashi, ōku no tomodachi ni totte wa sonna koto ni wa mattaku kyōmi wa naku,“mata ka yo~” to akiaki shiteiru no desu ga,“densha no jikokuhyō”,“potton benjo”,“Akechi Mitsuhide”,“terebi bangumi no komakasugiru otaku” to, donna wadai kara mo Rudo-kun wa sochira ni motte itte shimau no desu.

2004, Jim Albert, Jay Bennett, translated by 加藤貴昭 [Katō Yoshiaki], メジャーリーグの数理科学 (上) [Major league mathematical science (first part)], page 58:

Statisticians are after all liable to be thought of as number geeks and graph makers, but that is obviously a mistaken interpretation.

統計学者は所詮、数字オタクやグラフ作成者と思われがちだが、それは明らかに間違った解釈である。

Tōkeigakusha wa shosen, sūji otaku ya gurafu sakuseisha to omoware gachi da ga, sore wa akiraka ni machigatta kaishaku dearu.

And now in Japan as well tea houses have come to be enjoyed not by eccentric geeks but by stylish women.

今や日本でも茶芸館が、エキセントリックなオタクではなく、おしゃれな女性たちに楽しまれるようになった。

Ima ya Nihon de mo chageikan ga, ekisentorikku na otaku de wa naku, oshare na josei-tachi ni tanoshimareru yō ni natta.

(chiefly derogatory) geek, nerd, freak, no-lifer; one who is obsessed with something to the exclusion of such things as social interaction.

Otaku#Etymology
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
ja:オタク


少年

ja-noun

少(しょう)年(ねん) • (shōnen) ^(←せうねん (seunen)?)

少年 (canonical)
shōnen (romanization)
seunen (romanization)
せうねん (hiragana historical)

/seunen/ → /ɕeunen/ → /ɕoːnen/
Borrowing from Middle Chinese 少年 (syewᴴ nen, literally “young + years”). Compare modern Cantonese 少年 (siu³ nin⁴), Mandarin 少年 (shàonián), Korean 소년 (sonyeon), Vietnamese thiếu niên.
Originally referred to young people of either gender. The meaning has narrowed in modern usage to more commonly refer to boys of elementary school or middle school age.

bor

少年時代

少年はこの漫画が大好きで、もう売り切れになっています。

Shōnen wa kono manga ga daisuki de, mō urikire ni natte imasu.

Boys really like this manga, and it's already sold out.

2011 February 9, Hideaki Sorachi, “第(だい)三(さん)百(びゃく)三(さん)十(じゅう)四(よん)訓(くん) 銭(せん)湯(とう)では身(み)も心(こころ)も丸(まる)裸(はだか) [Lesson 334: Our Bodies and Souls Are All Naked in the Public Baths]”, in 銀(ぎん)魂(たま) [Silver Soul], volume 38 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN:

Granny, I’m still a boy at heart, so make it 200 yen for two.

バーさん 俺は心は少年だから二人で200円で頼むわ

Bā-san ore wa kokoro wa shōnen da kara futari de nihyaku-en de tanomu wa

2017 April 15, “星(せい)杯(はい)に選(えら)ばれし者(もの) [Chosen by the Star Chalice]”, in CODE(コード) OF(オブ) THE(ザ) DUELIST(デュエリスト), Konami:

An upright boy armed with the remains of Mechstrosities.

機怪の残骸で武装する、真っ直ぐな心の少年。

Kikai no zangai de busō suru, massugu na kokoro no shōnen.

少年院

reform school, juvenile reformatory, juvie

少年鑑別所

juvenile hall, Juvenile Classification Office

少年犯罪者

juvenile delinquent, juvenile offender (male)


いとこ

⟨ito₁ko₁⟩ → */itʷokʷo/ → /itoko/
Cognate with and by extension of Old Japanese いとこ (ito₁ko₁, “close, familial, or beloved person”). Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *itoko.
First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE.


パン屋

Compound of パン (pan, “bread”) + 屋 (-ya, “a shop; a shopkeeper”).


忍者

Chinese:

→ Mandarin: 忍者 (rěnzhě)

→ Cantonese: 忍者 (jan² ze²)

→ Danish: ninja

→ English: ninja

→ French: ninja

→ German: Ninja

→ Korean: 닌자 (ninja)

→ Macedonian: нинџа (nindža)

→ Portuguese: ninja

→ Russian: ни́ндзя (níndzja)

→ Vietnamese: nhẫn giả

[ɲ̟ĩɲ̟d͡ʑa̠]

Uncertain.
The most consistent term in the historical record appears to be 忍び (shinobi, “sneaking, hiding”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 忍ぶ (shinobu, “to endure, to bear; to hide, to conceal oneself; to sneak into or out of a place”). This in turn was extended into 忍びの者 (shinobi no mono, “sneaking person, person of sneaking”), cited to a text from 1689.
This ninja reading became more common in Japanese in the modern era, possibly due to a number of popular manga series after World War Two. This reading may have arisen as a shift in reading of the kun'yomi phrase 忍びの者 (shinobi no mono), applying the on'yomi to the kanji alone to create a kanji-compound term.
The sha changes to ja as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

2011 April 9, Hideaki Sorachi, “第(だい)三(さん)百(びゃく)三(さん)十(じゅう)七(なな)訓(くん) だいじょぶだ〰 (Dai-sanbyakusanjūnana-kun Daijobu Da~, “Lesson 337: It’s Gonna Be Okay~”)”, in [銀](ぎん)[魂](たま) [Silver Soul], volume 39 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN:

忍者にそんなす早さいらねーだろ‼

忍者にそんなす早さいらねーだろ‼

a ninja (person trained in stealth, espionage, assassination and ninjutsu)

忍者烏鮫

ninja lanternshark (Etmopterus benchleyi)


くノ一

From the three strokes of the kanji 女 (“woman”). The first character is a hiragana, the second character is a katakana, the third character is a kanji.


変態

desctree

→ English: hentai (“pornographic anime or manga”)
→ Cebuano: hentai
→ Finnish: hentai
→ French: hentai
→ German: Hentai
→ Indonesian: hentai
→ Italian: hentai
→ Japanese: ヘンタイ (hentai)
→ Korean: 헨타이 (hentai)
→ Polish: hentai
→ Portuguese: hentai
→ Russian: хентай (xentaj)
→ Spanish: hentai
→ Swedish: hentai
→ Tagalog: hentai
→ Ukrainian: хента́й (xentáj)

この変態！

2016, Aluda, 【毎月七日はルーミアの日】ルーミアちょっとスカートの中見せろ:

「そんな事よりルーミア、勝ったんだからちょっとスカートの中見せろ。」
「いきなり何言ってんだこいつ？ 変態か？」
「安心しろ、私は変態じゃない。ちょっと妖怪のスカートの中がどうなっているか知りたいだけだ。」
「そ～なのか～ って、やっぱり変態じゃねぇか！」

“Sonna koto yori Rūmia, katta n da kara chotto sukāto no naka misero.”
“Ikinari nani itten da koitsu? Hentai ka?”
“Anshin shiro, watashi wa hentai ja nai. Chotto yōkai no sukāto no naka ga dō natte iru ka shiritai dake da.”
“So~ na no ka~ tte, yappari hentai ja nē ka!”

“That aside, Rumia, since I won, let me see what's under your skirt.”
“What are you saying all of a sudden? Are you a pervert?”
“Rest assured, I'm not a pervert. I just want to know what's under the skirt of a yōkai.”
“Is that so... Hey, so you really are a pervert!”


女帝

ja-noun

女(じょ)帝(てい) or 女(にょ)帝(たい) • (jotei or nyotai) ^(←ぢよてい (dyotei)?)

女帝 (canonical)
女帝 (canonical)
jotei (romanization)
nyotai (romanization)
dyotei (romanization)
ぢよてい (hiragana historical)

Jinnō Shōtōki
Kitabatake Chikafusa
ja:女帝


フランス人

フランス人 (canonical)
Furansu-jin (romanization)


将軍

将(しょう)軍(ぐん) • (shōgun) ^(←しやうぐん (syaugun)?)

将軍 (canonical)
shōgun (romanization)
syaugun (romanization)
しやうぐん (hiragana historical)

→ Danish: shogun c

→ English: shogun

→ French: shogun m

→ Indonesian: syogun

→ Italian: shogun m

→ Polish: siogun m

→ Portuguese: xogum

/sʲaːᵑ kun/ → /ɕauɡun/ → /ɕɔːɡun/ → /ɕoːɡun/
From Middle Chinese compound 將軍 (MC tsjang kjun). Compare modern Min Nan 將軍／将军 (chiong-kun), Eastern Min 將軍／将军 (ciŏng-gŭng).
The “shogun” sense is originally short for 征夷大将軍 (seii taishōgun, literally “commander in chief of the expeditionary force to expel barbarians”).

*The abbreviations are only used as a typographical convention. They are pronounced the same as their full names.

(military) Synonym of 将官 (shōkan): a general officer


私生子

私生子 (canonical)
shiseishi (romanization)

bastard (person born to unmarried parents)


友達

From 友 (tomo, “friend”) + 達 (-tachi, pluralizing suffix). Originally plural, but also used in the singular sense in modern Japanese.


日本人

ja-noun

日(に)本(ほん)人(じん) or 日(にっ)本(ぽん)人(じん) • (nihonjin or nipponjin)

日本人 (canonical)
日本人 (canonical)
nihonjin (romanization)
nipponjin (romanization)

[ɲ̟ihõ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑĩɴ]

[ɲ̟ip̚põ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑĩɴ]


少女

From Old Japanese. Originally a compound of 乙 (oto, “young, little”) + 女 (me, “female, girl”). Compare 男 (otoko, “man”), originally meaning "young boy".

少女さび

behavior appropriate to an adult unmarried woman

a type of sea vegetable in order Ectocarpales

young woman who dances kagura at a shrine

少女文楽

少女文楽 おとめぶんらく

a kind of one-person puppet show performed by girls or young women


ハム

Daijisen
ja:ハム (曖昧さ回避)
ja:ハム (聖書)
ja:松村明


家族

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 家族 (MC kae dzuwk). However, not attested until 1808, so possibly a borrowing from modern written Chinese 家族 (jiāzú) with the expected Japanese reading applied.

2015 July 27, Åsa Ekström, “第１話 (Daiichiwa)　ようこそ、ここへ (Yōkoso, Koko E) [Chapter 1: Welcome Here]”, in さよならセプテンバー (Sayonara Seputenbā) [Goodbye September], volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Creek & River:

ぼくらは幸せな家族になるよぜったい！

Bokura wa shiawase na kazoku ni naru yo zettai!


首相

ja-noun

首(しゅ)相(しょう) • (shushō) ^(←しゆしやう (syusyau)?)

首相 (canonical)
shushō (romanization)
syusyau (romanization)
しゆしやう (hiragana historical)

ドイツの首相


お姉さん

[o̞ne̞ːsã̠ɴ]

姉:: Used to refer to one's own older sister when talking to someone else

1994 January 20 [1988 December 17], Akira Oze, “第４話 兄の命 [Chapter 4: Brother’s Life]”, in 夏子の酒 [Natsuko’s Saké], 14th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tōkyō: Kōdansha, →ISBN, page 93:

Sister!
Natchan!
Why are you working, sister? You should be resting.
I needed a distraction… Besides, there aren’t enough hands around here.

義姉さん
夏ちゃん
なんで義姉さんが働いてるの？休んでればいいのに
いいのこのほうが気がまぎれるし……手が足りないの

Nē-san
Natchan
Nan de nē-san ga hataraiteru no? Yasundere ba ii no nī
I no kono hō ga ki ga magireru shi…… Te ga tarinai no

(honorific) elder sister: used as term of address to one's own older sister, and to refer to other people's older sisters


お母さん

Min Nan: 卡桑 (khà-sàng) (Taiwanese)

[o̞ka̠ːsã̠ɴ]

お (o-, honorific prefix) + 母 (kā, “mother”) + さん (-san, honorific suffix).
/okakasama/ → /okkasama/ → /okaːsama/
/okakasan/ → /okkasama/ → /okaːsan/
Attested in Osaka and Kyoto, with rare use in Edo (Tokyo), from the late Edo period, especially among upper-middle class households in Osaka.
Usage became widespread in the 20th century after the Ministry of Education adopted お父(とう)さん (otōsan, “father”) and お母(かあ)さん for use in 尋常小学読本 (Jinjō shōgaku dokuhon “Standard elementary school reader”, 1903).


お父さん

Min Nan: 多桑 (tò-sàng) (Taiwanese)

[o̞to̞ːsã̠ɴ]

Originally a compound of 御 (o-, “honorific prefix”) + 父 (toto, “father”) + 様 (-sama, “honorific suffix”).
/ototosama/ → /otottsan/ → /otossan/
The /otossan/ → /otoosan/ progression was artificial; regular Japanese sound changes generally would not allow this shift. The /otoosan/ form first appears in the early Meiji period in educational materials mandated by the 文部省 (Monbushō, “Ministry of Education”).

父

only used to talk about one's own father


二人

From Old Japanese.
* The most likely derivation is from 二 (futa, “2, two”) + 人 (-ri, counter for persons).
* Alternatively, from 二 (fu, “2, two”, short-form) + 人 (-tari, counter for persons).
* Yet another probable derivation would be a shift from 二 (futa, “2, two”) + 人 (-tari):
*: /puta tari/ → */put̚tari/ → /putari/ → /futari/

suffix

私と二人きり

二人とも凄いですね

those two are remarkable, aren't they / you two are remarkable, aren't you


坊主

Wasei kango (和製漢語), from 坊(ぼう) (bō, “section of a town and its streets”) + 主(ず) (zu, “lord, master”). The kanji 坊 originally referred to, in Sinitic, a division of a town and the lanes surrounding it, and gradually shifted to refer to the workshops and other buildings that might be found in such a section, including temples. Thus, the term literally refers to a "temple master", i.e. a head (Buddhist) monk, eventually coming to refer to Buddhist monks in general in Japanese.
The "bald head" sense comes from the traditional shaved heads of Buddhist monks (known as 坊主刈(ぼうずが)り (bōzugari)), while the "kiddo" sense comes from the custom for young boys to have shaved heads à la said monks in traditional Japanese society.
The "monk" and "kiddo" meanings have been applied back to the constituent kanji 坊 in Japanese; see also 坊(ぼう)や (bōya) for an example.

ja-r

三日坊主: someone who cannot stick to anything

腕白坊主

腕白坊主 わんぱくぼうず


子供

子供 (canonical)
kodomo (romanization)
人 (counter)

From Old Japanese, though at the time it was exclusively plural. From 子 (ko, “child”) + 共 (-domo, plural suffix).

suf

2003 September 22, Akinobu Uraku, “第(だい)63(ろくじゅうさん)話(わ) 幼(おさな)い記(き)憶(おく) [Chapter 63: Childish Memories]”, in 東(とう)京(きょう)アンダーグラウンド [Tokyo Underground], volume 11 (fiction), Square Enix, →ISBN, page 100:

そうね…まさに目も耳も塞いで怯えた子供

Sō ne… Masa ni me mo mimi mo fusaide obieta kodomo

Yeah… a child who shut her eyes and covered her ears every time she got scared.

そうね…まさに目も耳も塞いで怯えた子供

そうね…まさに目も耳も塞いで怯えた子供

そうね…まさに目も耳も塞いで怯えた子供

そうね…まさに目も耳も塞いで怯えた子供

2003 September 22, Akinobu Uraku, “第(だい)63(ろくじゅうさん)話(わ) 幼(おさな)い記(き)憶(おく) [Chapter 63: Childish Memories]”, in 東(とう)京(きょう)アンダーグラウンド [Tokyo Underground], volume 11 (fiction), Square Enix, →ISBN, pages 109–110:

That’s why I could never forget them, the subjects! At the time, we set up medical checks all over the Underground. And we managed to gather ten children that met the original requirements. They helped guide our project to the success we had hoped.

だからこそ私は忘れない被験者の存在を！当時地下世界で広く実施されていたメディカルチェックを基に条件を満たす10人の子供を集めた 彼等は我々の期待に応えプロジェクトを成功に導いた

地下世界 アンダーグラウンド

Dakara koso watashi wa wasurenai hikensha no sonzai o! Tōji Andāguraundo de hiroku jisshi sarete ita medikaru chekku o moto ni jōken o mitasu jū-nin no kodomo o atsumeta Karera wa wareware no kitai ni kotae purojekuto o seikō ni michibiita

2011 August 13, “ベビードラゴン [Baby Dragon]”, in Beginner's Edition 1, Konami:

He’s not just a baby dragon, as his potentials are immeasurable.

こどもドラゴンとあなどってはいけない。うちに秘める力は計り知れない。

Kodomo doragon to anadotte wa ikenai. Uchi ni himeru chikara wa hakarishirenai.


赤ん坊

ja-noun

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう) • (akanbō) ^(←あかんばう (akanbau)?)

赤ん坊 (canonical)
akanbō (romanization)
akanbau (romanization)
あかんばう (hiragana historical)

Attested from the 19th century. Sound shift from slightly earlier 赤坊 (akabō), from 赤 (aka, “red”) + 坊 (-bō, “little”). Compare 赤ちゃん (aka-chan) and 赤子 (akago), both of which also allude to the reddish complexion of a newborn.


文盲

文盲 (canonical)
monmō (romanization)
monmau (romanization)
もんまう (hiragana historical)

(dated) person unable to read; an illiterate


アナウンサー

アナウンサー • (anaunsā)

[a̠na̠ɯ̟̃ɰ̃sa̠ː]

a media announcer, a TV or radio presenter

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
ja:NHK出版
ja:NHK放送文化研究所
ja:松村明


医者

→ Ainu: イサ


地下

(history) a common courtier (a courtier who didn't get access to the imperial palace)

地下に潜る

go underground (as in a political movement)


外人

外(がい)人(じん) • (gaijin) ^(←ぐゎいじん (gwaizin)?)

外人 (canonical)
gaijin (romanization)
gwaizin (romanization)
ぐゎいじん (hiragana historical)

/gwaizin/ > /gaizin/ [gaidʑin]. Literally outside person. From the late 19th on also used for foreigners.

口畔懸河渉漢深。春杉拭盞就花陰。外人傾耳猶添愛、況是堂中父母心。

995-999: Fusōshū (volume 9; Gunsho Ruijū volume 8, page 578)

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

しかるに其恩をわすれて、外人もなき所に兵具をとゝのへ、軍兵をかたらひをき、其營みの他は他事なし。

c. 13th century: Heike Monogatari (volume 1, page 123)

但、外人など上手おほからむ座にては、聊か斟酌すべし

外人 (グワイジン)

Guaijin, グヮイジン(外人) Focano fito. (他の人) 他国の人、すなわち、土着の人ではない者.

外人 (グワイジン) 他人也

(obsolete) outsider; an estranged, unfamiliar person

譬えば頑固なる士民は外国人を悪むを以て常とせり。又学者流の人にても少しく見識ある者は外人の挙動を見て決して心酔するに非ず，之を悦ばざるの心は彼の頑民に異なることなしと云うも可なり。

(sometimes derogatory) alien, foreigner; especially foreigner in Japan


いろ

倚廬: temporary housing in which an emperor resides during the period of mourning following the death of the emperor's father


妊娠

The "Nintendo fanboy" sense is from a shortening of 任天堂(にんてんどう)信者(しんじゃ) (nintendō shinja, “Nintendo believer”), written with the kanji for "pregnancy" to carry an infantile nuance.

ja-r

にんてんどう% しんじゃ

(slang, derogatory, video games) a Nintendo fanboy, Nintendrone


しゅく

shuku (romanization)
syuku (romanization)
しゆく (hiragana historical)

(historical) shuku, a class of outcast in medieval and pre-modern Kinki region


外国人

ja-noun

外(がい)国(こく)人(じん) • (gaikokujin) ^(←ぐゎいこくじん (gwaikokuzin)?)

外国人 (canonical)
gaikokujin (romanization)
gwaikokuzin (romanization)
ぐゎいこくじん (hiragana historical)

→ English: gaikokujin

[ɡa̠iko̞kɯ̟ʑĩɴ]

gwaikokujin > gaikokujin. Literally 外国 (“foreign country”) + 人 (“person”).

予、在宋ノ時、天童淨和尚、侍者ニ請ズルニ云ク、「外國人タリトイヘドモ、元子器量人ナリ。」ト云テコレヲ請ズ。予、堅ク是ヲ辭ス。其故ハ、「和國ニキコヱンタメモ、學道ノ稽古ノタメモ大切ナレドモ、衆中ニ具眼ノ人アリテ、外國人トシテ大叢林ノ侍者タランコト、國ニ人ナキガ如シト難ズルコトアラン、尤モハヅベシ。」トイヽテ[...]

a foreigner, a person from a foreign country; an alien, a foreign national


天女

From Middle Chinese 天女 (MC then nrjoX|nrjoH, literally “heavenly female; deva female”).

ltc-l

(Chinese god, Japanese mythology) a female inhabitant of heaven; a heavenly female


アイルランド人

アイルランド人 (canonical)
Airurando-jin (romanization)

アイルランド (Airurando, “Ireland”) + 人(じん) (jin, “person”)


馬鹿

馬鹿 (canonical)
馬鹿 (canonical)
-baka (romanization)

Kōjien
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Shinmura Izuru
ja:馬鹿

Probably originally a transcription of Sanskrit मोह (moha, “folly”), used as a cant term among monks.
Alternatively, may have arisen from the same root as Old Japanese 痴 (woko, modern oko, “stupidity, ridiculousness”). However, this theory is problematic phonologically, as the /b/ ↔ /w/ shift is difficult to explain.
The characters 馬鹿 (literally “horse + deer”) are ateji (当て字), probably chosen as an allusion to Literary Chinese 指鹿為馬 (“to deliberately misinterpret and invert right and wrong”, literally “to point to a deer and call it a horse”) (see that entry for more).


狐狸

安んぞ狐狸を問わん

sairō michi ni atareri, izukunzo kori o towan


探偵

→ Korean: 탐정 (tamjeong)

探偵業務

探偵業務 たんていぎょうむ

2007 March 15, Gosho Aoyama, “ブラック・スターの巻(まき)【前(ぜん)編(ぺん)】 [Black Star [First Chapter]]”, in まじっく快(かい)斗(と) [Magic Kaito], volume 4 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 84:

工藤新一…探偵ですよ…

工藤新一…探偵ですよ…

a detective (person employed to find information)


ちょん

ちょん (canonical)
チョン (canonical)
chon (romanization)

(derogatory, ethnic slur) Korean person; kimchi


彼女

ja-pos

彼(かの)女(じょ) • (kanojo) ^(←かのぢよ (kanodyo)?)

彼女 (canonical)
kanojo (romanization)
kanodyo (romanization)
かのぢよ (hiragana historical)

Daijirin
Daijisen
Edo period
Taishō period
ja:彼女
ja:松村明

First appears in writing in the late Edo period as a compound of 彼の (kano, ano, “that”) + 女 (onna, “woman”) with the reading kano onna or ano onna, simply meaning “that woman”. The kanojo reading arose by replacing the kun'yomi reading of onna for the second character with its on'yomi of jo. The first written appearance of the kanojo reading is in 1876, in the 改正画引小学読本 (Kaisei Gakubiki Shōgaku Dokuhon, “Revised Stroke-ordered Elementary-school Reader”). The first clear use of this term as a pronoun is around 1888, arising out of influence from Western works. The kanojo reading became more common and replaced kano onna and ano onna during the Taishō period (1912-1926).

com

彼氏彼女の事情

1988 July 30 [1984 July 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “ふたりぼっち [Altwo]”, in ポストの中の明日 [Post-Mid-Tomorrow] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 2), 10th edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 191:

“She showed interest in my ‘History of Cosmic Reclamation’”

「彼女はぼくの『宇宙開拓史』に興味を示した」

“Kanojo wa boku no ‘Uchū Kaitakushi’ ni kyōmi o shimeshita”

やはり彼(かの)女(じょ)が大(だい)事(じ)な実(じっ)験(けん)体(たい)だからか？裂き喰らう城(ピルム・ムーリアリス)

Kore Yamazaki, “第(だい)5(ご)篇(へん) Misfortunes seldom come singly. [Composition 5: Misfortunes seldom come singly.]”, in 魔法使いの嫁(The Ancient Magus Bride) [The Ancient Magus’ Bride], volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Mag Garden, page 174:

After all, she’s your indispensable specimen, right? Pilum murialis

Yahari kanojo ga daiji na jikkentai dakara ka? Pirumu mūriarisu

2004 February 6, “レオニンのシカール [Leonin Shikari]”, in ダークスティール [Darksteel], Wizards of the Coast:

彼女の本能は、その刃ほども鋭い。

Kanojo no honnō wa, sono yaiba hodo mo surudoi.

2016 July 22, “エムラクールの加(か)護(ご) [Boon of Emrakul]”, in 異界月 [Eldritch Moon], Wizards of the Coast:

All around Emrakul, life re-formed in her image.

エムラクールの周囲では、彼女の想像に合わせて生命が形を変える。

Emurakūru no shūi de wa, kanojo no sōzō ni awasete seimei ga katachi o kaeru.

(formal) Female third-person singular pronoun; she, her


彼女

ja-noun

彼(かの)女(じょ) or 彼女(カノジョ) • (kanojo) ^(←かのぢよ (kanodyo) or カノヂヨ (kanodyo)?)

彼女 (canonical)
彼女 (canonical)
kanojo (romanization)
kanodyo (romanization)
かのぢよ (hiragana historical)
カノヂヨ (hiragana historical)

→ Korean: 그녀(女) (geunyeo) (calque)

あぁ、彼女がほしいなぁ…

2004 September 8, Hideaki Sorachi, “第(だい)十(じゅう)六(ろく)訓(くん) 考(かんが)えたら人(じん)生(せい)ってオッさんになってからの方(ほう)が長(なが)いじゃねーか！ 恐(こわ)っ‼ [Lesson 16: Come to Think of It, Life Gets Longer When You’re Old! Spooky!!]”, in 銀(ぎん)魂(たま) [Silver Soul], volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN:

てめーは彼女かぁぁ‼

てめーは彼女かぁぁ‼

これって……コムギさん⁉自(じ)分(ぶん)の彼(かの)女(じょ)がやられてるのにその恍(こう)惚(こつ)の表(ひょう)情(じょう)は……ナニ⁉
コムギは寝(ね)取(と)られ(ＮＴＲ)フェチなのさ

2008 July 23, TAGRO, “#05”, in 変ゼミ [Abnormal Physiology Seminar], volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 83:

That is… Komugi-san!? His girlfriend’s cheating on him, and yet he has that satisfied look on his face… What the heck⁉
Komugi has a cuckold’s fetish

Kore tte…… Komugi-san⁉ Jibun no kanojo ga yararete ru no ni sono kōkotsu no hyōjō wa…… nani⁉
Komugi wa netorare fechi na no sa

2013 August 7, ONE with Murata, Yusuke, “21(にじゅういち)撃(げき)目(め) 巨(きょ)大(だい)隕(いん)石(せき) [21st Hit: Giant Meteorite]”, in ONEPUNCH-MAN(【ワンパンマン】) [One-Punch Man], volume 4 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 25:

死ぬ前に彼女欲しかったなあ…………

(colloquial) a girlfriend (a female partner in a romantic relationship)


裁判官

裁判官 (canonical)
saibankan (romanization)

[sa̠ibã̠ŋkã̠ɴ]

From 裁判 (“trial; court”) + 官 (“government official”).


作者

→ Chinese: 作者 (zuòzhě)

→ Korean: 작자 (jakja)

→ Vietnamese: tác giả

[sa̠kɯ̟̊ɕa̠]

1993 November 25 [1989 May 20], Mitsuru Adachi, “第(だい)27(にじゅうしち)話(わ) 直(なお)人(と)の想(おも)い [Chapter 27: What Naoto Wants]”, in スロー(SLOW)ステップ(STEP) [Slow Step], 11th edition, volume 4 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 74:

……作者思いだね

……作者思いだね

……作者思いだね

……作者思いだね

……作者思いだね

……作者思いだね

the creator of a work, such as an author, writer, poet, or artist


姉妹

ja-noun

姉妹(きょうだい) • (kyōdai) ^(←きやうだい (kyaudai)?)

姉妹 (canonical)
kyōdai (romanization)
kyaudai (romanization)
きやうだい (hiragana historical)

Rare spelling of 兄弟 (“siblings”, literally “brothers”). (sisters)


祖父

From Middle Chinese 祖父 (MC tsuX bjuX). The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing.


ひも

himo (romanization)
fimo (romanization)
本 (counter)
ひも (hiragana historical)

ヒモ男

a husband financial dependent upon his wife

ヒモ生活

freeloader (one who financially relies on another person)


叔母

叔母 (canonical)
oba (romanization)
woba (romanization)
をば (hiragana historical)

From Old Japanese. Attested in a text from 701. In turn, reconstructed as descending from Proto-Japonic *wonpa.
Likely a compound of 小 (o-, “small, young”) + 母 (ha, “mother”). Compare 叔父 (oji, “grandfather”), also likely from 小 (o-) + 父 (chi, “father”).


伯母

From 小 (o, “little”) + 母 (ha, “mother”). The kanji is jukujikun (熟字訓). Compare 小母 (oba).

an aunt (parent’s sister or sister-in-law) older than one's parent


伯母

From Chinese 伯母 (bómǔ, “paternal aunt”).

an aunt (a parent’s sister or sister-in-law)


売春婦

売春婦 (canonical)
baishunfu (romanization)

[ba̠iɕɨ̃ɰ̃ɸɯ̟]

売春 (baishun, “prostitution”) + 婦 (fu, “woman”).


兄弟

ja-noun

兄(きょう)弟(だい) • (kyōdai) ^(←きやうだい (kyaudai)?)

兄弟 (canonical)
kyōdai (romanization)
kyaudai (romanization)
けいてい (alternative hiragana)
keitei (Rōmaji)
きやうだい (hiragana historical)

From 兄 (kyō, “elder brother”, Go-on) + 弟 (dai, “younger brother”, Go-on), from Middle Chinese 兄弟.
Alternatively, from 兄 (kei, “elder brother”) (Kan-on) + 弟 (tei, “younger brother”) (Kan-on), from Chinese 兄弟. Compare 兄妹 (keimai, “elder brother and younger sister”), 姉弟 (shitei, “elder sister and younger brother”), and 姉妹 (shimai, “elder and younger sisters”).

af

男兄弟

女兄弟

兄妹

siblings, an elder brother and a younger sister

姉弟

siblings, an elder sister and a younger brother


イケメン

Chinese: 池面

From イケてる (iketeru, “cool”) and メンズ (menzu, “men”).


国民

Compound of native Japanese words: 国 (kuni, “country”) + 民 (tami, “people”)


奥さん

[o̞kɯ̟̊sã̠ɴ]

From 奥様(おくさま) (okusama); equivalent to 奥(おく) (oku) + さん (san).

(honorific) wife (referring to someone else's wife, not one's own)


ドイツ人

ドイツ人 (canonical)
Doitsujin (romanization)


スペイン人

スペイン人 (canonical)
Supein-jin (romanization)

[sɨ̥pe̞ĩɲ̟d͡ʑĩɴ]

スペイン (“Spain”) + 人 (-jin, “citizen; native”)


アメリカ人

アメリカ人 (canonical)
Amerika-jin (romanization)

[a̠me̞ɾʲika̠ʑĩɴ]

Compound of アメリカ (Amerika, “America”) + 人 (-jin, “person”).
First cited to a text from circa 1870.


お婆さん

→ Hokkien: 歐巴桑／欧巴桑 (o͘-bá-sáng)

→ Mandarin: OBS (ōubāsāng)

→ Mandarin: 歐巴桑／欧巴桑 (ōubāsāng)


孟子

孟子 (canonical)
Mōshi (romanization)
Mausi (romanization)
まうし (hiragana historical)

Four Books
w:Four Books and Five Classics


神父

(Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy) a father, a priest


警察官

ja-noun

警(けい)察(さつ)官(かん) • (keisatsukan) ^(←けいさつくわん (keisatukwan)?)

警察官 (canonical)
keisatsukan (romanization)
keisatukwan (romanization)
けいさつくわん (hiragana historical)

[ke̞ːsa̠t͡sɨ̥kã̠ɴ]

From 警察(けいさつ) (keisatsu, “police”) + 官(かん) (-kan, “government official”).

ja-com

男性警察官

女性警察官


軍曹

軍曹 (canonical)
gunsō (romanization)
gunsau (romanization)
ぐんさう (hiragana historical)

[ɡɯ̟̃ɰ̃so̞ː]

(Kawanakajima shogi) A piece in Kawanakajima shōgi


伍長

伍長 (canonical)
gochō (romanization)
gotyau (romanization)
ごちやう (hiragana historical)


曹長

ja-noun

曹(そう)長(ちょう) • (sōchō) ^(←さうちやう (sautyau)?)

曹長 (canonical)
sōchō (romanization)
sautyau (romanization)
さうちやう (hiragana historical)

[so̞ːt͡ɕo̞ː]

曹長は攻撃を命令した。


宇宙人

宇(う)宙(ちゅう)人(じん) • (uchūjin) ^(←うちうじん (utiuzin)?)

宇宙人 (canonical)
uchūjin (romanization)
utiuzin (romanization)
うちうじん (hiragana historical)

[ɯ̟t͡ɕɨːʑĩɴ]

宇宙 (uchū, “outer space”) + 人 (-jin, “person”)

suf

宇宙飛行士 宇宙飛行士#Japanese

Synonym of 宇宙飛行士 (uchū hikōshi, “astronaut”) (member of the crew of a spaceship or other spacecraft, or someone trained for that purpose)


女人

女人禁制

女人禁制 にょにんきんせい


配偶者

[ha̠iɡɯ̟ːɕa̠]


夫妻

山田夫妻は来月帰国します

Mr. and Mrs. Yamada will come home next month

a married couple, husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs.


女性

ja-noun

女(じょ)性(せい) • (josei) ^(←ぢよせい (dyosei)?) (counter 人)

女性 (canonical)
josei (romanization)
dyosei (romanization)
人 (counter)
ぢよせい (hiragana historical)

Spelling repurposed from nyoshō below during the Meiji period (1868–1912), using the relatively newer kan'on readings of the characters.

1993 December 15 [1990 March 25], Sasaki, Noriko, 動(どう)物(ぶつ)のお医(い)者(しゃ)さん [The Veterinarian], 36th edition, volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Hakusensha, →ISBN, page 19:

Is it okay for a woman of marriageable age to stare at her own guts?

年頃の女性が自分の腸なんか見ていていいのだろうか

Toshigoro no josei ga jibun no chō nan ka mite ite ii no darō ka

1999 August 26, “誕(たん)生(じょう)の天(てん)使(し) [Angel of Birth]”, in BOOSTER 4, Konami:

Legend has it that it can tell you when a woman gets with child.

女性のおなかに命が宿った事を知らせてくれると言われている。

Josei no onaka ni inochi ga yadotta koto o shirasete kureru to iwarete iru.

2000 January 27, “アルラウネ [Alraune]”, in Vol.7, Konami:

A flower-dwelling woman who spreads poisonous pollen. Never get anywhere near her.

花の中の女性が毒花粉をまき散らす。近づいてはいけない。

Hana no naka no josei ga doku kafun o makichirasu. Chikazuite wa ikenai.

これで興(こう)福(ふく)寺(じ)学園を処分する理由が出来ました 多勢で一人の女性を暴行した罪は重く…その償いは死

2015 March 10 [2014 December 10], Yūji Shiozaki, “第百五拾参話 [Chapter 153]”, in 一騎当千 [One vs. Thousands], 2nd edition, volume 23 (fiction), Tokyo: Wani Books:

I now have a justification to dispose of Kōfukuji Academy. Ganging up on a lone woman, that shall not go unpunished… And the punishment is death.

Kore de Kōfukuji Gakuen o shobun suru riyū ga dekimashita Tazei de hitori no josei o bōkō shita tsumi wa omoku… Sono tsugunai wa shi


従姉妹

From 従 (jū-, “secondary”) + 姉妹 (shimai, “sisters”).


従兄弟

[d͡ʑɨːke̞ːte̞ː]

From 従 (jū-, “secondary”) + 兄弟 (keitei, “brothers”).


花魁

→ English: oiran

/oira no/ → /oiran/
A contraction of 己等 (oira, first-person pronoun) + の (no, possessive particle). Young assistants used to call their elder courtesans 己等の (oira no), an ellipse for 己等の姉さん (oira no nēsan, literally "my elder sister").
The kanji spelling is jukujikun (熟字訓), borrowed from Chinese 花魁 (huākuí).

(archaic, slang) an oiran (elder courtesan in Edo-period Yoshiwara)


ゴキブリ

ゴキブリ (canonical)
ごきぶり (canonical)
gokiburi (romanization)
匹 (counter)

[ɡo̞kʲibɯ̟ɾʲi]

From 御器噛り (gokikaburi), a compound of 御器 (goki, “dish”) + 齧り (kaburi, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of classical verb 齧る (kaburu), “to bite, nibble”). This original form persisted up until the Meiji period.
Due to typographical errors, the か (ka) was omitted, while its original form still exists today in certain dialects. Variations of the word across dialects exist as well.
The "Sony fanboy" sense originates from "GK", an initialism of "Gate Keeper", a proxy server used by Sony and its various companies. Overzealous Sony fans were thus referred to as "GK-buri", or "GK-esque", which was ultimately corrupted into "gokiburi".

com

(slang, derogatory, video games) a Sony fanboy, Sony pony


アイヌ

→ English: Ainu

Borrowed from Ainu アイヌ (aynu, “person, human being”).

bor+

Ainu language
Ainu people
Ainu-ken
Daijirin
Daijisen
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Shiraoi, Hokkaido
ja:アイヌ
ja:松村明


公子

Literary Chinese 公子 (gōngzǐ, literally “duke's son”)

der

(historical) the son of a duke in China or Vietnam; compare 王子 (son of a king) and 皇子 (son of an emperor)


大統領

ja-noun

大(だい)統(とう)領(りょう) • (daitōryō) ^(←だいとうりやう (daitouryau)?)

大統領 (canonical)
daitōryō (romanization)
daitouryau (romanization)
だいとうりやう (hiragana historical)

→ Korean: 대통령 (daetongnyeong)

→ Palauan: Daitorio, Daitoro

大 (dai-, “great”) + 統領 (tōryō, “leader”)

pre

1999 September 16, Motohiro Katou, “ヤコブの階(かい)段(だん) [Jacob’s Ladder]”, in Ｑ.Ｅ.Ｄ. 証(しょう)明(めい)終(しゅう)了(りょう) [Q.E.D.], volume 4 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 176:

For example, former President Tito was known for having united the peoples of Yugoslavia

例えばユーゴスラビアには以前チトー大統領という指導者がいて民族をまとめていた

Tatoeba Yūgosurabia ni wa izen Chitō Daitōryō to iu shidōsha ga ite minzoku o matometeita

2003 August 31 [2001 December 24], Reiko Shimizu, “秘密 THE TOP SECRET(トップ・シークレット) 1999 [THE TOP SECRET 1999]”, in 秘密 -トップ・シークレット- [Himitsu – Top Secret], 12th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Hakusensha, →ISBN, page 9:

Washington. Lincoln. Kennedy. Bill Clinton. And now, John B. Reed!! The man of impartiality, uprightness and justice. — When talking about the 57th President of the United States, it’s no exaggeration to say that his only flaw is that he has none.

ワシントン リンカーン ケネディ ビル・クリントン そして今 ジョン・Ｂ・リード‼ 清廉潔白正義の人————汚点のない所が最大の汚点といわれる程クリーンな第57代アメリカ大統領

Washinton Rinkān Kenedi Biru Kurinton Soshite ima Jon Bī Rīdo‼ Seiren keppaku seigi no hito————Oten no nai tokoro ga saidai no oten to iwareru hodo kurīn na daigojūshichi-dai Amerika Daitōryō

a president (the head of state of a republic)


胡志明

[ho̞ː t͡ɕi mʲĩɴ]


成人

成人の平均身長

平均身長 へいきんしんちょう

成人向けゲーム

video game for adults; pornographic video game

成人済み


成人

成人する (canonical)
seijin suru (romanization)
成人し (stem)
成人した (past)
成人し
せいじんし
seijin shi
成人する
せいじんする
seijin suru
成人すれ
せいじんすれ
seijin sure
成人せよ (imperative literary)
成人しろ (colloquial imperative)
せいじんせよ (imperative literary)
せいじんしろ (colloquial imperative)
seijin seyo (imperative literary)
seijin shiro (colloquial imperative)
成人される (passive)
せいじんされる (passive)
seijin sareru (passive)
成人させる (causative)
成人さす (causative)
せいじんさせる (causative)
せいじんさす (causative)
seijin saseru (causative)
seijin sasu (causative)
成人できる (potential)
せいじんできる (potential)
seijin dekiru (potential)
成人しよう (volitional)
せいじんしよう (volitional)
seijin shiyō (volitional)
成人しない (negative)
せいじんしない (negative)
seijin shinai (negative)
成人せず (continuative negative)
せいじんせず (continuative negative)
seijin sezu (continuative negative)
成人します (formal)
せいじんします (formal)
seijin shimasu (formal)
成人した (perfective)
せいじんした (perfective)
seijin shita (perfective)
成人して (conjunctive)
せいじんして (conjunctive)
seijin shite (conjunctive)
成人すれば (conditional hypothetical)
せいじんすれば (conditional hypothetical)
seijin sureba (conditional hypothetical)


大祖父

ja-noun

大(おお)祖父(おおじ) • (ōōji) ^(←おほおほぢ (ofoofodi)?)

大祖父 (canonical)
ōōji (romanization)
ofoofodi (romanization)
おほおほぢ (hiragana historical)

曾祖父 尔雅云、曾祖父之父爲曾祖父 和名於保於保知

938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō, volume 1, page 111:

曾祖伯父

曾祖伯父 おおおおじおじ


高祖母

高(こう)祖(そ)母(ぼ) • (kōsobo) ^(←かうそぼ (kausobo)?)

高祖母 (canonical)
kōsobo (romanization)
kausobo (romanization)
かうそぼ (hiragana historical)

great-great-grandmother, a grandparent's grandmother


外祖母

外(がい)祖(そ)母(ぼ) • (gaisobo) ^(←ぐわいそぼ (gwaisobo)?)

外祖母 (canonical)
gaisobo (romanization)
gwaisobo (romanization)
ぐわいそぼ (hiragana historical)

maternal grandmother
maternal grandmother

(rare) maternal grandmother, mother's mother


酔っ払い

酔っ払い (canonical)
yopparai (romanization)

連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 酔(よ)っ払(ぱら)う (yopparau).


本屋

[hõ̞ɰ̃o̞kɯ̟]


乙姫

乙 (oto, “young girl; youngest girl”) + 姫 (hime, “daughter or young lady of noble or gentle birth; princess”)

compound

Otohime, princess of Ryūgū Castle in the tale of Urashima Tarō

リュウグウノオトヒメノモトユイノキリハズシ

Zostera marina; cutting of the hairtie of Otohime of Ryūgū

浦島太郎: Urashima Tarō

浦島太郎 うらしまたろう


仕事

From し (shi, “doing”, continuative form of する (suru, “to do”)) + 事 (koto, “thing; stuff”). The koto reading for 事 changes to goto as an instance of rendaku (連濁). 仕 is ateji (当て字).

com

continuative form of <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">する</i> (suru, “to do”)

仕事を辞めたい。


酒色

alcohol and beautiful women; drinking and womanizing


家内

Literally ‘inside the house’ from the Sino-Japanese (on'yomi) readings of
家 (か, ka, “house”)
+ 内 (ない, nai, “inside”).


宇宙飛行士

ja-noun

宇(う)宙(ちゅう)飛(ひ)行(こう)士(し) • (uchū hikōshi) ^(←うちうひかうし (utiufikausi)?)

宇宙飛行士 (canonical)
uchū hikōshi (romanization)
utiufikausi (romanization)
うちうひかうし (hiragana historical)

[ɯ̟t͡ɕɨː çi̥ko̞ːɕi]

From 宇(う)宙(ちゅう) (uchū, “universe, space”) + 飛(ひ)行(こう)士(し) (hikōshi, “pilot”).

ja-compound

an astronaut (member of the crew of a spaceship or other spacecraft, or someone trained for that purpose)


作曲家

ja-noun

作(さっ)曲(きょく)家(か) • (sakkyokuka) (counter 人)

作曲家 (canonical)
sakkyokuka (romanization)
人 (counter)


棋士

professional shogi player; professional go player


太子

(shogi) crown prince (promoted drunk elephant, 醉象/酔象)


天皇

天(てん)皇(のう) • (tennō) ^(←てんわう (ten'wau)?)

天皇 (canonical)
tennō (romanization)
ten'wau (romanization)
てんわう (hiragana historical)

→ English: tenno, Tenno, Tennou

→ English: God Emperor (calque)

→ German: Tenno, Tennou

→ Italian: tenno

/ten wau/ → /tenwɔː/ → /tenːɔː/ → /tenːoː/
From Middle Chinese 天皇 (MC then hwang) with the original sense of “heavenly sovereign”.
The 呉音 (goon, literally “Wu sound”) pronunciation, so likely the initial borrowing from Middle Chinese. The ō reading for 皇 changes to nō as an instance of renjō (連声).

ja-renjō

天皇陛下

Your/His Majesty the Emperor/Her Majesty the Empress (Regnant)

明治天皇

1889, Imperial Diet of Japan, “1, article 1”, in Meiji Constitution:

大日本帝國ハ萬世一系ノ天皇之ヲ統治ス

大日本帝國 だいにっぽんていこく

萬世一系 ばんせいいっけい

Dainipponteikoku wa banseīkkei no tennō no o tōchi su

The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal.

an Emperor or Empress (regnant) of Japan


天皇

/sumeraɡi/ → /suberaɡi/
Shift from sumeragi below, with the nasal /m/ becoming a plosive /b/.
The kanji spelling is from tennō above.

(archaic) a term of address for an Emperor or Empress (regnant) of Japan


天皇

⟨sume₁ro₂ki₁⟩ → */sumʲerəkʲi/ → */sumeraki/ → /sumeraɡi/
Possibly a shift from Old Japanese 天皇 (sume₁ro₂ki₁).
The kanji spelling is from tennō above.

(honorific, archaic) a term of address for an Emperor or Empress (regnant) of Japan


天皇

天皇 (canonical)
sumeragimi (romanization)

From 皇 (sumera-, prefix of praise and respect) + 君 (kimi, “lord, master → sovereign”). The kimi changes to gimi as an instance of rendaku (連濁).
The kanji spelling is from tennō above.


天皇

天皇 (canonical)
sumeramikoto (romanization)

From Old Japanese.
From 皇 (sumera-, prefix of praise and respect) + 尊 (mikoto, “Highness”).
The kanji spelling is from tennō above.

始馭天下之天皇


弟子

From Middle Chinese 弟子 (MC dejX tsiX). Probably the initial borrowing.

(Buddhism) on a mala or Buddhist rosary, the ten small beads closest to the end of the portion that hangs free from the largest bead


弟子

Appears to be a shift from teishi above. This is now the most common reading for the disciple, apprentice sense.

君(きみ)を魔法使い(ぼく)の弟(で)子(し)として歓(かん)迎(げい)するよ 死の愛し仔(スレイ・ベガ)…いや チセ

Kore Yamazaki, “第1篇 April showers bring May flowers. [Composition 1: April showers bring May flowers.]”, in [魔法使いの嫁](The Ancient Magus Bride) [The Ancient Magus’ Bride], volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Mag Garden, page 20:

You are welcome as my apprentice, Sleih Beggey… I mean, Chise

Kimi o boku no deshi to shite kangeisuru yo Surei Bega… Iya Chise


弟子

Compound of 弟 (oto, “younger”, cognate with 弟 (otōto, “younger brother”), itself from oto + 人 (hito, “person”)) + 子 (ko, “child”). The ko changes to go as an instance of rendaku (連濁).


女子

Compound of 女 (me, “woman”) + 子 (ko, “child”).


女子

ja-noun

女(おみな)子(ご) • (ominago) ^(←をみなご (wominago)?)

女子 (canonical)
ominago (romanization)
wominago (romanization)
をみなご (hiragana historical)


女子

女(おんな)子(ご) • (onnago) ^(←をんなご (wonnago)?)

女子 (canonical)
onnago (romanization)
wonnago (romanization)
をんなご (hiragana historical)

wonnago → onnago. From earlier 女子 (ominago).


女子

女子 (canonical)
onago (romanization)
wonago (romanization)
をなご (hiragana historical)

1984 February 15, Motoka Murakami, “歓(かん)迎(げい)会(かい)の〝突(つ)き〞の巻(まき) [A "Tsuki" at the Welcome Party]”, in 六(ム)三(サ)四(シ)の剣(けん) [Musashi’s Sword], volume 13 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 110:

お…おなごじゃあ‼めんごいおなごさおるぞ！


仏陀

ja-pos

仏(ぶつ)陀(だ) or 仏陀(ブッダ) • (Butsuda or Budda)

仏陀 (canonical)
仏陀 (canonical)
Butsuda (romanization)
Budda (romanization)

Borrowed from Pali buddha or Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddhá). The kanji is ateji (当て字), from Chinese 佛陀 (Fótuó).

2008 July 16 [2008 January 23], Hikaru Nakamura, “その２ 最聖珍道中 [Chapter 2: The Ultimate Holy Journey]”, in [聖](セイント)☆おにいさん [Saint☆Young Men], 6th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha:

Buddha, the Enlightened. Jesus, Son of God. They are widely regarded as the founders of Buddhism and Christianity, respectively.

目覚めた人ブッダ 神の子イエス 言わずと知れた仏教とキリスト教の祖である

Mezameta hito Budda Kami no ko Iesu Iwazu to shireta Bukkyō to Kirisuto-kyō no so de aru


弱者

ja-noun

弱(じゃく)者(しゃ) • (jakusha) ^(←じやくしや (zyakusya)?)

弱者 (canonical)
jakusha (romanization)
zyakusya (romanization)
じやくしや (hiragana historical)

[d͡ʑa̠kɯ̟̊ɕa̠]

2017 January 20, “英(えい)雄(ゆう)的(てき)介(かい)入(にゅう) [Heroic Intervention]”, in 霊気紛争 [Aether Revolt], Wizards of the Coast:

“Whenever the strong would trample over the weak, I will be there.”

「強者が弱者を蹂躙するとき、そこに私がいるだろう。」

“Kyōsha ga jakusha o jūrinsuru toki, soko ni watashi ga iru darō.”


大丈夫

ja-adj

大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) • (daijōbu) ^(←だいぢやうぶ (daidyaubu)?)-na (adnominal 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)な (daijōbu na), adverbial 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)に (daijōbu ni))

大丈夫 (canonical)
daijōbu (romanization)
daidyaubu (romanization)
大丈夫な (adnominal)
大丈夫に (adverbial)

→ Hokkien: lăi-jiò͘-bù

→ Mandarin: 大丈夫 (dàzhàngfū)

→ Yonaguni: 大丈夫 (daidubu)

From Chinese 大丈夫, equivalent to 大 (dai-) + 丈夫 (jōbu).

大丈夫ですか。

1996 February 20 [1988 February 15], Mitsuru Adachi, “なにがなんだか 後編 [What’s What: Last Chapter]”, in SHORT(ショート) PROGRAM(プログラム) [Short Program], 25th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 283:

ほんとに⁉

ほんとに⁉

(of a person) all right; okay; in good health; uninjured


人士

人士 (canonical)
jinshi (romanization)
zinsi (romanization)
じんし (hiragana historical)


編曲者

ja-noun

編(へん)曲(きょく)者(しゃ) • (henkyokusha) (counter 人)

編曲者 (canonical)
henkyokusha (romanization)
人 (counter)

[hẽ̞ŋʲkʲo̞kɯ̟ɕa̠]


作詞家

作詞家 (canonical)
sakushika (romanization)
人 (counter)


作詞者

作(さく)詞(し)者(しゃ) • (sakushisha) (counter 人)

作詞者 (canonical)
sakushisha (romanization)
人 (counter)


弁護士

→ Hakka: 辯護士／辩护士 (phien-fu-sṳ)

→ Jeju: 벤호사 (benhosa)

→ Korean: 변호사 (byeonhosa)

desc

→ Min Nan: 辯護士／辩护士 (piān-hō͘-sū, piǎn-hō͘-sǐr)

→ Mandarin: (Taiwan, dated) 辯護士／辩护士 (biànhùshì)

ニューヨーク弁護士

外国法事務弁護士

foreign legal consultant; foreign attorney admitted to the Japanese bar


会長

ja-noun

会(かい)長(ちょう) • (kaichō) ^(←くわいちやう (kwaityau)?)

会長 (canonical)
kaichō (romanization)
kwaityau (romanization)
くわいちやう (hiragana historical)

会 (kai, “group; society”) + 長 (-chō, “head”)

suf

1990 June 25 [1990 February 17], George Morikawa, “Round(ラウンド) ２(ツー) カメ作(さく)戦(せん) [Round 2: The Turtle Strategy]”, in はじめの一(いっ)歩(ぽ) THE(ザ) FIGHTING(ファイティング)! [The First Step: THE FIGHTING!], 3rd edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 68:

Hey, chief. You’re watching Leonard and Hearns?

おやっ 会長 レナードとハーンズですか？

(of a committee, company, society, etc.) a chairman; a president


社長

ja-noun

社(しゃ)長(ちょう) • (shachō) ^(←しやちやう (syatyau)?)

社長 (canonical)
shachō (romanization)
syatyau (romanization)
しやちやう (hiragana historical)

(business) president; CEO; executive director


市長

市(し)長(ちょう) • (shichō) ^(←しちやう (sityau)?)

市長 (canonical)
shichō (romanization)
sityau (romanization)
しちやう (hiragana historical)

From 市 (shi, “city”) + 長 (-chō, “head”).


部長

A department chief within a company; analogous to a vice president in an American company.


恋人

恋(こい)人(びと) • (koibito) ^(←こひびと (kofibito)?)

恋人 (canonical)
koibito (romanization)
kofibito (romanization)
こひびと (hiragana historical)

From 恋(こい) (koi, “love”) + 人(ひと) (hito, “person”). The hito changes to bito as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

ja-compound

ja:恋人
ja:恋人 (タロット)


お兄さん

[o̞ɲ̟iːsã̠ɴ]

あなたはお兄さんがいますか。


モーツァルト

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer


副大統領

ja-noun

副(ふく)大(だい)統(とう)領(りょう) • (fukudaitōryō) ^(←ふくだいとうりやう (fukudaitouryau)?)

副大統領 (canonical)
fukudaitōryō (romanization)
fukudaitouryau (romanization)
ふくだいとうりやう (hiragana historical)

副 (fuku-, “vice-”) + 大統領 (daitōryō, “president”)


金星人

金星人 (canonical)
kinseijin (romanization)

[kʲĩɰ̃se̞ːʑĩɴ]

金星 (Kinsei, “Venus”) + 人 (-jin, “human”)

suf

(science fiction) a Venusian (inhabitant of Venus)


火星人

[ka̠se̞ːʑĩɴ]

(science fiction) a Martian (inhabitant of Mars)


ダイヤ

ja:ダイヤ
ja:ダイヤ (シンボル)

2001 March 10 [1998 December 16], Motohiro Katou, “ミネルヴァの梟(ふくろう) [Owl of Minerva]”, in Ｑ.(キュー)Ｅ.(イー)Ｄ.(ディー) 証(しょう)明(めい)終(しゅう)了(りょう) [Q.E.D. Quod Erat Demonstrandum], 9th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 103:

Therefore the king of diamonds at the crime scene represents Julius Caesar

そして現場にあったダイヤのＫ これはジュリアスシーザーを表しているのです

Soshite genba ni atta daiya no kingu kore wa Juriasu Shīzā o arawashiteiru no desu


ベトナム人

ベトナム人 (canonical)
Betonamu-jin (romanization)


奴隷

ja-noun

奴(ど)隷(れい) or 奴(ぬ)隷(れい) • (dorei or nurei)

奴隷 (canonical)
奴隷 (canonical)
dorei (romanization)
nurei (romanization)

性的奴隷／性奴隷

1988 July 30 [1983 December 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “ひとりぼっちの宇宙戦争 [The One-Man Cosmic War]”, in ひとりぼっちの宇宙戦争 [The One-Man Cosmic War] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 1), 16th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, pages 31-32:

Emi…. I’m sorry, I…. I’m about to lose…. I will lose and all of you will turn into…. Slaves…. Pets…. Food….

エミちゃん……。ごめんな、ぼく……。もうすぐ負けるよ……。ぼくが負けるときみたちは……。どれい……。ペット……。食料……。

Emi-chan……. Gomen na, boku……. Mōsugu makeru yo……. Boku ga makeru to kimitachi wa……. Dorei……. Petto……. Shokuryō…….

a slave (person owned by another, forced to work for another or to perform sexual acts)


検察官

検察官 (canonical)
kensatsukan (romanization)

[kẽ̞ɰ̃sa̠t͡sɨkã̠ɴ]

From 検察(けんさつ) (kensatsu, “prosecution”) + 官(かん) (kan, “officer”)


料理人

料理(りょうり) (ryōri, “cuisine”) + 人(にん) (nin, “person”)


調理師

professional cook, chef, especially a licensed chef


漫画家

ja-noun

漫(まん)画(が)家(か) or 漫画家(マンガか) • (mangaka) ^(←まんぐわか (mangwaka)?)

漫画家 (canonical)
漫画家 (canonical)
mangaka (romanization)
mangwaka (romanization)
まんぐわか (hiragana historical)

→ English: mangaka

→ French: mangaka

desctree

→ Korean: 만화가(漫畫家) (manhwaga)
→ English: manhwaga

→ Mandarin: 漫畫家／漫画家 (mànhuàjiā)

→ English: manhuajia

→ Russian: манга́ка (mangáka)

[mã̠ŋɡa̠ka̠]

2007 July 23, Mitsuru Adachi, “メモリーオフ 前編 [Memory Off: First Chapter]”, in SHORT(ショート) PROGRAM(プログラム) [SHORT PROGRAM], volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 112:

White… All over the place, endless white… So this is the otherworld. A true paradise for comics artists. So quiet… I can't hear a thing.

白い……どこもかしこも、まっ白だ……これがあの世なのか。漫画家にとっては本当の天国だな。静かだ……何も聞こえない。

Shiroi…… Doko mo kashiko mo, masshiro da…… Kore ga ano yo na no ka. Mangaka ni totte wa hontō no tengoku da na. Shizuka da…… Nani mo kikoenai.


台湾人

台湾人 (canonical)
taiwanjin (romanization)

[ta̠iβ̞ã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑĩɴ]


楽観主義者

ja-noun

楽(らっ)観(かん)主(しゅ)義(ぎ)者(しゃ) • (rakkanshugisha)

楽観主義者 (canonical)
rakkanshugisha (romanization)

楽観主義

楽観主義 らっかんしゅぎ


ピエロ

2000 January 27, “マーダーサーカス・ゾンビ [Murder Circus Zombie]”, in Vol.7, Konami:

A clown revived by dark forces. It will send you to your grave with its mad dance.

闇の力で生き返ったピエロ。フラフラとした踊りで死へといざなう。

Yami no chikara de ikikaetta piero. Furafura to shita odori de shi e to izanau.

Synonym of 道化師 (dōkeshi, “clown”) (performance artist working in a circus); Pierrot


ピッチャー

ピッチャー • (pitchā)

[pʲi̥t̚t͡ɕa̠ː]

(baseball, softball) Synonym of 投手 (tōshu, “pitcher”)


セカンド

(baseball, softball) Synonym of 二塁 (nirui, “second base”)


二塁手

二塁(にるい) (nirui, “second base”) + 手(しゅ) (-shu, “-man; -woman; -er”).

ja-compound

(baseball, softball) a second baseperson; a second baseman; a second basewoman


一塁手

一塁手 (canonical)
ichiruishu (romanization)

[it͡ɕiɾɯ̟iɕɨ]

一塁(いちるい) (ichirui, “first base”) + 手(しゅ) (-shu, “-man; -woman; -er”).

(baseball, softball) a first baseperson; a first baseman; a first basewoman


ファースト

ja-noun

ファースト • (fāsuto)

[ɸa̠ːsɨto̞̊]

(baseball, softball) Synonym of 一塁 (ichirui, “first base”)


フィンランド人

フィンランド人 (canonical)
Finrando-jin (romanization)


インドネシア人

インドネシア人 (canonical)
indoneshiajin (romanization)


英国人

英国人 (canonical)
eikokujin (romanization)

[e̞ːko̞kɯ̟ʑĩɴ]

Compound of 英国 (Eikoku, “Britain”) + 人 (-jin, “person”)

compound

A British person; a Briton; British people


マレーシア人

マレーシア人 (canonical)
Marēshia-jin (romanization)


臆病者

ja-noun

臆(おく)病(びょう)者(もの) • (okubyōmono) ^(←おくびやうもの (okubyaumono)?)

臆病者 (canonical)
okubyōmono (romanization)
okubyaumono (romanization)
おくびやうもの (hiragana historical)

Compound of 臆病(おくびょう) (okubyō, “cowardly”) + 者(もの) (mono, “a human”).


義兄

brother-in-law (spouse's elder brother or elder sister's husband)


イスラエル

[isɨɾa̠e̞ɾɯ̟]

Israel (a country in Western Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern shore of the Mediterranean)

(biblical) Israel (A Biblical region of Western Asia roughly coextensive with the modern State of Israel, known in the Bible as the Land of Israel and considered the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people)

(historical) Israel (an ancient kingdom in Western Asia, roughly coextensive with the modern State of Israel and the Land of Israel)

(historical) Israel (an ancient kingdom that occupied the northern part of the Land of Israel and modern State of Israel, as distinct from Judah)


アラビア人

アラビア人 (canonical)
arabiajin (romanization)

[a̠ɾa̠bʲia̠ʑĩɴ]


ナース

ja-noun

ナース • (nāsu)

(medicine) nurse (a female trained to provide care for the sick)


看護婦

→ Amis: kangkofo, kangkofu

→ Bunun: kangkuhu

zh-l

看護婦／看护妇 (khàn-hō͘-hū)

→ Min Nan: 看護婦／看护妇 (khàn-hō͘-hū)

→ Paiwan: kanguhu

→ Taroko: kanggohu

[kã̠ŋɡo̞ɸɯ̟]

Compound of 看護 (“nursing”) + 婦 (“woman; female”).


議員

議員 (canonical)
giin (romanization)
giwin (romanization)
ぎゐん (hiragana historical)

衆議院議員

a Member of the House of Representatives

参議院議員

都議(会議員)

a Member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly

a member of a legislature; a legislator; a congressperson, a Dietman, etc.


記者

記者会見

記者会見 きしゃかいけん

外人記者

外人記者 がいじんきしゃ


オーストラリア人

オーストラリア人 (canonical)
Ōsutoraria-jin (romanization)


イスラエル人

イスラエル人 (canonical)
isuraeru-jin (romanization)


野郎

野郎 (canonical)
yarō (romanization)
yarau (romanization)
やらう (hiragana historical)

(informal) a son of a bitch, a bastard, a jerk, a motherfucker, a rascal, a scoundrel (used almost exclusively to refer to males)


野郎

(informal) that son of a bitch, that bastard, that jerk, that motherfucker, that rascal, that scoundrel


囚人

ja-noun

囚(しゅう)人(じん) • (shūjin) ^(←しうじん (siuzin)?)

囚人 (canonical)
shūjin (romanization)
siuzin (romanization)
しうじん (hiragana historical)
囚人 (canonical)
meshiudo (romanization)
めしゅうど (alternative hiragana)
meshūdo (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)
めしうど (alternative hiragana historical)

ハリー・ポッターとアズカバンの囚人

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


海賊

1998 April 3, Eiichiro Oda, “第(だい)10(じゅう)話(わ) 酒(さか)場(ば)の一(いっ)件(けん) [Chapter 10: The Incident at the Bar]”, in One Piece, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, pages 43–44:

Because I don't want to be like cruel pirates!! Like hateful pirates who took the life of my dear one...!!

私は非道な海賊と同類にはなりたくなかったから‼ 私の大切な人の命を奪った 大嫌いな海賊と同類には…‼

Watashi wa hidō na kaizoku to dōrui ni wa naritaku nakatta kara‼ Watashi no taisetsu na hito no inochi o ubatta daikirai na kaizoku to dōrui ni wa…‼

(nautical) pirate (one who plunders at sea)


老婆

老婆 (canonical)
rōba (romanization)
rauba (romanization)
らうば (hiragana historical)


皇帝

皇(こう)帝(てい) • (kōtei) ^(←くわうてい (kwautei)?)

皇帝 (canonical)
kōtei (romanization)
kwautei (romanization)
くわうてい (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 皇帝 (ɦwɑŋ teiᴴ). See also 三皇五帝 (Sankō Gotei) and 始皇帝 (Shikōtei).

則天大聖皇帝


サラリーマン

→ English: salaryman

→ Korean: 샐러리맨 (saelleorimaen)

[sa̠ɾa̠ɾʲiːmã̠ɴ]

First cited to 1924.
Although often described as wasei eigo (和製英語), this appears to derive from English phrase salaried man, which appears in print at least as early as 1828.
The resulting Japanese term was then re-imported into English.
Analyzable as サラリー (sararī) + マン (-man).

Daijisen
Salaryman
ja:サラリーマン
ja:松村明
wasei eigo


はなよめ

From 花 (hana, “flower”) + 嫁 (yome, “bride”).

花嫁介添人

花嫁介添人 はなよめかいぞえにん

花嫁学校

花嫁学校 はなよめがっこう

写真花嫁

写真花嫁 しゃしんはなよめ


一人

Compound of Middle Chinese elements 一 (ichi, “one, 1”, goon reading) + 人 (jin, “person”, kan'on reading).

compound

a ruler with a heavenly mandate, especially the Emperor of Japan


赤の他人

赤の他人 (canonical)
aka no tanin (romanization)

Compound of 赤 (aka, “clearly, obviously, completely”, literally “red”) + の (no, possessive marker) + 他人 (tanin, “other person”).
First attested in a 浄瑠璃 (jōruri, “puppet theater”) script from 1702.

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
ja:松村明


びり

(competition, informal) one who comes in last


可愛い子ちゃん

可愛い子ちゃん (canonical)
kawaikochan (romanization)

可愛い (kawaii) + 子 (ko) + ちゃん (-chan, familiar suffix)


ガードマン

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from guard + man


部落民

ja-noun

部(ぶ)落(らく)民(みん) • (burakumin) ^(←ぶらくみん (burakumin)?)

部落民 (canonical)
burakumin (romanization)
ぶらくみん (hiragana historical)

[bɯ̟ɾa̠kɯ̟mʲĩɴ]

Compound of 部落 (buraku, “hamlet”, a settlement smaller than a village) + 民 (-min, “people”, as belonging to a certain group).

suffix

被差別部落民 被差別部落民#Japanese

burakumin, member of a group of modern-day outcastes discriminated against based on their perceived linkage to Japan's lowest ranks of feudal outcast groups, place of residency or occupations. Often referred to as 被差別部落民 (hisabetsu burakumin, “discriminated burakumin”).

被差別部落民

被差別部落民 ひさべつぶらくみん

穢多

the lowest social caste in Edo-period Japan


暗殺者

暗殺者 (canonical)
ansatsusha (romanization)

From 暗殺(あんさつ) (ansatsu, “assassination”) + 者(しゃ) (-sha, “-er”).

com-ja

暗殺者に仕立てられた


浪人

浪人 (canonical)
rōnin (romanization)
raunin (romanization)
らうにん (hiragana historical)

Heian period
Muromachi period
Nara period
Rōnin
ja:浪人

From Middle Chinese compound 浪人 (lang nyin, literally “wasteful or reckless person”). Compare modern Mandarin reading làngrén.
Originally referred to someone who had no fixed residence. Used in the context of the Ritsuryō legal system of Nara and Heian period Japan to refer to someone who had intentionally left their registered residence in order to avoid tax liabilities and corvee labor requirements. Later in the Muromachi period, came to refer to samurai who had left or lost their lords. This meaning was extended in more recent times to refer to potentially anyone who was not employed, and then again to refer to high-school graduates who have failed the annual university entrance exams and are studying for the next year's exams.

浪人生

a student who failed the annual university entrance exam and is waiting to take them again

浪（ラウ）人

Rǒnin. ラゥニン (牢人) 追放された人.

More specifically spelled 牢人.

More specifically spelled 牢人.

a student who failed the annual university entrance exams and is waiting to take them again: 浪人生 (rōninsei)


浪人

浪人する (canonical)
rōnin suru (romanization)
raunin (romanization)
浪人し (stem)
浪人した (past)
浪人し
ろうにんし
rōnin shi
浪人する
ろうにんする
rōnin suru
浪人すれ
ろうにんすれ
rōnin sure
浪人せよ (imperative literary)
浪人しろ (colloquial imperative)
ろうにんせよ (imperative literary)
ろうにんしろ (colloquial imperative)
rōnin seyo (imperative literary)
rōnin shiro (colloquial imperative)
浪人される (passive)
ろうにんされる (passive)
rōnin sareru (passive)
浪人させる (causative)
浪人さす (causative)
ろうにんさせる (causative)
ろうにんさす (causative)
rōnin saseru (causative)
rōnin sasu (causative)
浪人できる (potential)
ろうにんできる (potential)
rōnin dekiru (potential)
浪人しよう (volitional)
ろうにんしよう (volitional)
rōnin shiyō (volitional)
浪人しない (negative)
ろうにんしない (negative)
rōnin shinai (negative)
浪人せず (continuative negative)
ろうにんせず (continuative negative)
rōnin sezu (continuative negative)
浪人します (formal)
ろうにんします (formal)
rōnin shimasu (formal)
浪人した (perfective)
ろうにんした (perfective)
rōnin shita (perfective)
浪人して (conjunctive)
ろうにんして (conjunctive)
rōnin shite (conjunctive)
浪人すれば (conditional hypothetical)
ろうにんすれば (conditional hypothetical)
rōnin sureba (conditional hypothetical)

to study for the following year's annual university entrance exams after failing


騎士

1999 February 4, “暗(あん)黒(こく)騎(き)士(し)ガイア [Gaia the Dark Knight]”, in Vol.1, Konami:

A knight who mounts a steed that is as fast as the wind. Look out for his charge attacks.

風よりも速く走る馬に乗った騎士。突進攻撃に注意。

Kaze yori mo hayaku hashiru uma ni notta kishi. Tosshin kōgeki ni chūi.

knight (warrior, especially of the Middle Ages)


秀才

ja-noun

秀(しゅう)才(さい) • (shūsai) ^(←しうさい (siusai)?)

秀才 (canonical)
shūsai (romanization)
siusai (romanization)
しうさい (hiragana historical)

/sɨusai/ → /ɕɨusai/ → /ɕuːsai/
Appears already in texts from 718 CE.
From Middle Chinese 秀才 (MC sjuwH dzoj, literally “outstanding + ability, talent”).

菅秀才

Kan Shūsai, eldest son of Sugawara no Michizane in a jōruri narrative

(historical) a xiucai, licentiate (scholar who has passed the entry-level examination to study at a college)

(historical) a person recommended for a government post by a provincial governor

(by extension) a scholar, intellectual, person of knowledge

(by extension) a prodigy, a brilliant person


老人

老人 (canonical)
rōjin (romanization)
rauzin (romanization)
らうじん (hiragana historical)

老人問題

problem of the elderly; problems of an aging society

老人遺棄

abandon old people in the mountain, etc.


天文学者

天文学者 (canonical)
tenmongakusha (romanization)


閣下

閣下 (canonical)
kakka (romanization)
kakuka (romanization)
かくか (hiragana historical)

(rare, attributive) down a noble's residential tower, looking up

大統領閣下

His/Her Excellency the President; Mr./Madam President

ヨーク公閣下

ようこそ大臣閣下 お待ち申しておりました

1986 January 10, Tsurugina, Mai with Katō, Tadashi, “MENU① 幻の料理人 [MENU① The Illusory Cook]”, in ザ・シェフ [The Chef], volume 1 (fiction), Tōkyō: Nihon Bungeisha, →ISBN, page 7:

Welcome, Mr. Minister. We’ve been looking forward to seeing you.

Yō koso Daijin Kakka Omachimōshite orimashita

今夜の晩餐(ディナー)は日本におけるフランス料理の第一人者当ホテルの下村総料理長(グランドシェフ)が腕によりをかけて料理いたします 閣下にはきっとご満足いただけるものと信じております

1986 January 10, Tsurugina, Mai with Katō, Tadashi, “MENU① 幻の料理人 [MENU① The Illusory Cook]”, in ザ・シェフ [The Chef], volume 1 (fiction), Tōkyō: Nihon Bungeisha, →ISBN, page 8:

Our top Japanese executive chef of French cuisine, Shimomura, will use his best efforts to prepare a good dinner tonight. I am confident you will receive the best service.

Kon’ya no dinā wa Nihon ni okeru Furansu ryōri no daiichininsha tō-hoteru no Shimomura Gurando Shefu ga ude ni yori o kakete ryōri Kakka ni wa kitto gomanzoku itadakeru mono to shinjite orimasu

Your Excellency; His Excellency; Her Excellency; Your Lordship; His Lordship; Your Ladyship; Her Ladyship; Your Grace; His Grace; Her Grace


ネカマ

→ Korean: 넷카마 (netkama)

Blend of ネット (netto, “Internet”) + オカマ (okama, “faggot”).

blend

(Internet slang, offensive) A man who pretends to be a woman online.


副将

ja-noun

副(ふく)将(しょう) • (fukushō) ^(←ふくしやう (fukusyau)?)

副将 (canonical)
fukushō (romanization)
fukusyau (romanization)
ふくしやう (hiragana historical)

[ɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟ɕo̞ː]

From 副 (fuku-, “vice-”) + 将 (shō, “commander”).

pre

1984 October 20 [1983 January 15], Motoka Murakami, “日(にっ)本(ぽん)一(いち)の巻(まき) [Japan’s Number One]”, in 六(ム)三(サ)四(シ)の剣(けん) [Musashi’s Sword], 7th edition, volume 8 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 47:

Sensei! How come Musashi’s the first and ah’m the second!?

先生！ なして六三四が大将でわたすが副将だあ⁉

Sensei! Nashite Musashi ga taishō de watasu ga fukushō dā⁉

1999 November 20 [1999 August 9], Yumi Hotta with Obata, Takeshi, “第(だい)９(きゅう)局(きょく) 大(たい)将(しょう)・副(ふく)将(しょう)・三(さん)将(しょう) [Game 9: First, Second and Third]”, in ヒカルの碁, 3rd edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 35:

You’re the second and he’s the third then.

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

Ja o-mae ga fukushō de koitsu ga sanshō na

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

second, vice-captain (the second highest-ranking member of a sport team, generally the second strongest member)


継母

ja-noun

継(けい)母(ぼ) or 継(まま)母(はは) • (keibo or mamahaha)

継母 (canonical)
継母 (canonical)
keibo (romanization)
mamahaha (romanization)


民兵

a militia (army of trained civilians called upon in time of need)


先鋒

spearhead; one that advances first in an army

(sports) an athlete who competes in the first match of a team competition


美人

From Middle Chinese 美人 (MC mijX nyin, literally “beautiful (especially feminine) + person”). Compare modern Min Nan reading bí-jîn.
The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

美人傘

a large and deep umbrella that was fashionable in the late Meiji period

美人蕉: the Chinese-derived alternate for 姫芭蕉

a variety of plantain of family Musaceae

美人草: alternate name for 雛罌粟

Papaver rhoeas, a field poppy or corn poppy

美人というも皮一重: → beauty is only skin deep

even a beautiful person only has one skin

美人に年なし: → a beautiful person often looks young no matter their age

the end of [being] a beautiful person is turning into a monkey

美人の終わりは猿になる: → a beautiful woman becomes less beautiful as she ages

美人は言わねど隠れなし: “even if you don't say that someone is beautiful

there's no hiding it” → if someone is beautiful

美人薄命: → beauty often doesn't last

美人薄命 びじんはくめい

a beautiful person has a thin [i.e. short] life

モナ・リザといえばやはり美人ですね。

That Mona Lisa, she really is a beauty, isn't she.

(historical) in ancient China, the fifth of fourteen ranks for imperial ladies-in-waiting


美人

ja-noun

美(かおよ)人(びと) • (kaoyobito) ^(←かほよびと (kafoyobito)?)

美人 (canonical)
kaoyobito (romanization)
kafoyobito (romanization)
かほよびと (hiragana historical)

Compound of 顔 (kao, “face”) + 良 (yo, “good”, the stem of adjective 良い yoi, “good”) + 人 (hito, “person”). The hito changes to bito as an instance of rendaku (連濁).
The 美 kanji spelling for the kaoyo portion of the reading is an example of jukujikun.

compound

the stem of adjective <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">良い</i> yoi, “good”

(archaic, possibly obsolete) a beautiful woman, a beauty, a belle


検死官

検死官 (canonical)
kenshikan (romanization)

[kẽ̞ɰ̃ɕikã̠ɴ]

* A Japanese noun 検死, varied from 検視 + A Japanese suffix 官 (official)


司馬

Holonym: 三公

(historical, government, religion, military) a position in feudal China, responsible for certain bureaucratic, religious and military affairs


太后

From Middle Chinese 太后 (MC thajH huwX|huwH).


太后

ja-noun

太(おお)后(きさき) • (ōkisaki) ^(←おほきさき (ofokisaki)?)

太(おお)后(きさい) • (ōkisai) ^(←おほきさい (ofokisai)?)

太后 • ^ (canonical)
太后 (canonical)
ōkisaki (romanization)
ofokisaki (romanization)
ōkisai (romanization)
ofokisai (romanization)
おほきさき (hiragana historical)
おほきさい (hiragana historical)

Extension of 大后 (ōkisaki, “empress”), also read as later ōkisai.

大后も参りたまはむとするを...

Though the Empress Dowager also thought she would visit him...


オーケストラ

Borrowed from English orchestra, from Latin orchēstra, from Ancient Greek ὀρχήστρα (orkhḗstra).

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
Orchestra
ja:オーケストラ
ja:松村明

管弦楽団

管弦楽団 かんげんがくだん


三公

Holonym: 三公九卿

(Zhou) Meronyms: 太師, 太傅, 太保

(Han) Meronyms: 御史大夫, 丞相, 太尉

(Later Han and later) Meronyms: 司空, 司徒, 太尉

(historical, government) three highest-ranking officials in feudal China


赤ちゃん

赤ちゃん (canonical)
aka-chan (romanization)

[a̠ka̠t͡ɕã̠ɴ]

Compound of 赤 (aka, “red”) + ちゃん (-chan, familiarizing suffix).
Compare 赤ん坊 (akanbō) and 赤子 (akago), both of which also allude to the reddish complexion of a newborn. Compare also the similar formation of Malay anak merah (literally “child + red”).
First cited to a text from 1856 or 1857.

noncog

赤ちゃんと僕

1984 February 20 [1983 June 15], Motoka Murakami, “気(き)になる新(しん)任(にん)先(せん)生(せい)の巻(まき) [A Little Worried about the New Teacher]”, in 六(ム)三(サ)四(シ)の剣(けん) [Musashi’s Sword], 4th edition, volume 10 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 147:

These must be Toichi’s puppies!! They’re Toichi and that white dog’s babies!

きっと十一の子よ‼十一とあの白い犬との赤ちゃんよ！

Kitto Toichi no ko yo‼ Toichi to ano shiroi inu to no aka-chan yo!

1986 July 5 [1985 October 18], Makoto Kobayashi, “Ｖｏｌ.26 マイケルの初夜 [Vol.26 Michael’s First Night]”, in What’s(ホワッツ) Michael(マイケル)? [What’s Michael], 10th edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 30:

このバカモノ‼ポッポはまだ赤ちゃんなんだぞ〰〰‼

Kono bakamono‼ Poppo wa mada aka-chan na n da zo~~‼

Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:赤ちゃん


聴衆

ja-noun

聴(ちょう)衆(しゅう) • (chōshū) ^(←ちやうしゆう (tyausyuu)?)

聴衆 (canonical)
chōshū (romanization)
tyausyuu (romanization)
ちやうしゆう (hiragana historical)


処女

処女 (canonical)
shojo (romanization)
syodyo (romanization)
しょぢょ (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 處女 (MC tsyhoX|tsyhoH nrjoX|nrjoH). /syodyo/ > /syozyo/.
Originally referred in Japanese to a woman in a house ([家(いえ)に]処(い)る女(おんな) ie ni iru onna), more specifically to an unmarried woman.

lang

[家(いえ)に]処(い)る女(おんな)

[家(いえ)に]処(い)る女(おんな)

furigana/ja

[家(いえ)に]処(い)る女(おんな)

30歳の処女

female virgin (female who has not had sexual experience)


魔女

魔女 (canonical)
majo (romanization)
madyo (romanization)
まぢよ (hiragana historical)

Appears to be from Middle Chinese 魔女 (MC ma nrjoX|nrjoH).

1988 July 30 [1985 July 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “アン子(こ) 大(おお)いに怒(いか)る （赤(あか)毛(げ)のアン子(こ) 改(かい)題(だい)） [When Anko Really Gets Mad (originally titled Redheaded Anko)]”, in 宇宙船製造法 [How to Build a Spaceship] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 3), 6th edition, volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 71:

Anko. As for the mysterious power you displayed…. It’s of a kind that has been running in your mother’s bloodline for generations since ancient times. Your ancestors seem to have come from Thessaly, Greece. They immigrated to Salem, America in the 18th century. That bloodline… basically it was…. A noted line of true witches.

アン子。きみがみせたふしぎな力はね…。きみのおかあさんの家系に、遠い昔から代だい受けつがれてきた血すじによるものだ。御先祖は、ギリシアのテッサリア地方の出らしい。18世紀にアメリカのサレムに移住している。この家系は、………つまりなんというか………。ゆいしょ正しい魔女の名門なんだよ。

Anko. Kimi ga miseta fushigi na chikara wa ne…. Kimi no okā-san no kakei ni, tōi mukashi kara daidai uketsugarete kita chisuji ni yoru mono da. Go-senzo wa, Girishia no Tessaria chihō no de rashii. Jūhasseiki ni Amerika no Saremu ni ijū shite iru. Kono kakei wa,………tsumari nan to iu ka………. Yuisho tadashii majo no meimon na n da yo.

1999 May 25, “エンジェル・魔(ま)女(じょ) [Angel-Witch]”, in BOOSTER 2, Konami:

An angel who became an aspiring witch even though she was destined to be a full-fledged angel.

天使になる運命を背負っていたが、あこがれの魔女になった天使。

Tenshi ni naru unmei o seotte ita ga, akogare no majo ni natta tenshi.

2012 May 4, “獰(どう)猛(もう)さの勝(しょう)利(り) [Triumph of Ferocity]”, in アヴァシンの帰還 [Avacyn’s Return], Wizards of the Coast:

Rid me of this curse, witch. Or go down with me.

魔女よ、この呪いを解け。でなければ道連れにしてやる。

Majo yo, kono noroi o toke. De nakereba michizure ni shite yaru.


家来

家来 (canonical)
kerai (romanization)
けらい (hiragana historical)

王の家来


おじゃまむし

ja-noun

おじゃまむし • (o-jama-mushi) ^(←おじやまむし (ozyamamusi)?)

o-jama-mushi (romanization)
ozyamamusi (romanization)
おじやまむし (hiragana historical)

From お (o-, beautifying prefix) + 邪魔(じゃま) (jama, “obstruction”) + 虫(むし) (mushi, “bug”).

ja-compound

a person who constantly gets in the way and does nothing useful


泣き虫

泣き虫 (canonical)
nakimushi (romanization)

a crybaby (person whose feelings are easily hurt)


孔子

孔子 (canonical)
孔子 (canonical)
Kōshi (romanization)
Kuji (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 孔子 (MC khuwngX tsiX).


お爺さん

ja-noun

お爺(じい)さん • (ojii-san) ^(←おぢいさん (odiisan)?)

お爺さん (canonical)
ojii-san (romanization)
odiisan (romanization)
おぢいさん (hiragana historical)


コーチ

Though Minerva asked you to quit coaching her, she didn’t hope you give up tennis and become her husband…（ミネルバがあなたにコーチを辞(や)めてと言(い)ったのは、テニスから足(あし)を洗(あら)ってただの夫(おっと)になって欲(ほ)しかった訳(わけ)じゃないのよ？）She hope you recall the feeling…（この感(かん)覚(かく)を取(と)り戻(もど)して欲(ほ)しかったから…）

2011 June 22, Gosho Aoyama, “ＦＩＬＥ(ファイル).１ 厄(やっ)介(かい)な難(なん)事(じ)件(けん) [FILE.1 A Troublesome Difficult Case]”, in [名](めい)[探](たん)[偵](てい)コナン [Legendary Detective Conan], volume 72 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 10:

Though Minerva asked you to quit coaching her, she didn’t wish you to give up tennis to be her husband? She just wished that you could feel this sensation again…

Though Minerva asked you to quit coaching her, she didn’t hope you give up tennis and become her husband… (Mineruba ga anata kōchi o yamete to itta no wa, tenisu kara ashi o aratteta dano otto ni natte hoshikatta wake ja nai no yo?) She hope you recall the feeling… (Kono kankaku o torimodoshite hoshikatta kara…)

ja:コーチ (曖昧さ回避)


スコットランド人

スコットランド人 (canonical)
sukottorandojin (romanization)

Scot (a person born in or native to Scotland)


モンゴロイド

[mõ̞ŋɡo̞ɾo̞ido̞]


参与

参与 (canonical)
san'yo (romanization)
さんよ (hiragana historical)

内閣官房参与

内閣官房 ないかくかんぼう


息子

Compound of 生(む)す (musu, “to beget”) + 子(こ) (ko, “child”). 息 is jukujikun (熟字訓), from Middle Chinese 息子.

com-ja

1985 December 20, Taeko Watanabe, “第(だい)四(よん)十(じゅう)八(はち)話(わ) 家(か)族(ぞく) Ⅰ(いち) [Chapter 48: Family I]”, in ファミリー！ [Family!], volume 11 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 72:

I came here to LA from Seattle… to look for my son …I am —Jonathan Allen’s father

シアトルからＬＡへは…息子を尋ねてきました…ぼくは———ジョナサン・アレンの父親です

Shiatoru kara koko e wa… musuko o tazunete kimashita …Boku wa ———Jonasan Aren no chichioya desu

1994 November 4 [1993 June 17], Yozaburo Kanari with Sato, Fumiya, “異(い)人(じん)館(かん)村(むら)殺(さつ)人(じん)事(じ)件(けん)⑪(じゅういち) [The Western-Style Village Murder Case #11]”, in 金(きん)田(だ)一(いち)少(しょう)年(ねん)の事(じ)件(けん)簿(ぼ) [Young Kindaichi Case Files], 9th edition, volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN, page 84:

彼は‥‥竜一は私の息子なんだ‼

Kare wa‥‥ Ryūichi wa watashi no musuko na n da‼

2009 January 10, Masami Tsuda, “第(だい)一(いち)話(わ) 石(いし)の薔(ば)薇(ら)と氷(こおり)の桜(さくら) [Chapter 1: Stone Rose and Ice Cherry Blossom]”, in ちょっと江戸まで [Just Going to Edo], volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Hakusensha, →ISBN, pages 10–11:

I’ve lived in self-indulgence all my life… It’s by no means a life worth praising… But… there’s still one thing I’ve always been proud of… That’s having you as my son…! Adiós!

儂は好き放題に生きてきた……決してひとに褒められるような人生ではなかった…………が…ただひとつ誇れるものがある…お前を息子に持ったことさ…！アディオス

Washi wa suki hōdai ni ikite kita…… Kesshite hito ni homerareru yō na jinsei de wa nakatta………… ga… tada hitotsu hokoreru mono ga aru… Omae o musuko ni motta koto sa…! Adiosu


曾祖伯父

ja-noun

曾祖伯父(おおおおじおじ) • (ōōjioji) ^(←おほおほぢをぢ (ofoofodiwodi)?)

曾祖伯父 (canonical)
ōōjioji (romanization)
ofoofodiwodi (romanization)
おほおほぢをぢ (hiragana historical)

[o̞ːo̞ːʑio̞ʑi]

From 大祖父(おおおおじ) (ōōji) + 伯父(おじ) (oji).
Historically /ohoohodiwodi/. /h/ was initially realized as [p], and eventually weakened into [ɸ] resulting in *[opoopodiwodi] > [oɸooɸodiwodi]. Intervocalic /h/ [ɸ] regularly weakens leaving [oooodiwodi]. The distinction between /zi/ and /di/ as well as /o/ and /wo/ is lost resulting in /zi/ [d͡ʑi] and [o], respectively, and hence the modern form [oːoːd͡ʑiod͡ʑi].

ja-compound

大祖父(おおおおじ) (ōōji) + 伯父(おじ) (oji)

a brother of one's grandparents; a great uncle; a grand uncle


義父

From Chinese 義父／义父 (yìfù, “a father by moral principles”).


イタリア人

イタリア人 (canonical)
itariajin (romanization)


ポルトガル人

ポルトガル人 (canonical)
Porutogaru-jin (romanization)


小説家

ja-noun

小(しょう)説(せつ)家(か) • (shōsetsuka) ^(←せうせつか (seusetuka)?)

小説家 (canonical)
shōsetsuka (romanization)
seusetuka (romanization)
せうせつか (hiragana historical)

From 小説(しょうせつ) (shōsetsu, “novel, story, fiction”) + 家(か) (ka, “professional”).


偽善者

[ɡʲizẽ̞ɰ̃ɕa̠]

偽善 (gizen, “hypocrisy”) + 者 (-sha, “-er”)

suf

2004 July 7, Nobuhiro Watsuki, “第(だい)18(じゅうはち)話(わ) もしキミが自(じ)分(ぶん)を偽(ぎ)善(ぜん)と疑(うたが)うならば [Chapter 18: If You Think You Might Be a Hypocrite]”, in 武(ブ)装(ソウ)錬(レン)金(キン) [Armed Alchemy], volume 3, Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, pages 17–18:

I did the best I could, yet… why am I still a hypocrite……

オレ頑張ったんだでも…オレ偽善者なのかなぁ……

Ore ganbattan da demo… ore gizensha na no ka nā……

オレ頑張ったんだでも…オレ偽善者なのかなぁ……

オレ頑張ったんだでも…オレ偽善者なのかなぁ……

特(とく)に自(じ)由(ゆう)だ正(せい)義(ぎ)だ平(びょう)等(どう)だのと綺(き)麗(れい)事(ごと)を吐(は)きまくる 偽(ぎ(・))善(ぜん(・))者(しゃ(・))野(や(・))郎(ろう(・))のイジメはムカついてたまらねえ！

2006 July 9, Nobuhiro Watsuki, “第(だい)五幕(まく) 「喧(けん)嘩(か)の男(おとこ)」 [Act 5: “Man of Brawls”]”, in るろうに剣(けん)心(しん) —明(めい)治(じ)剣(けん)客(かく)浪(ろ)漫(まん)譚(たん)— [Rurōni Kenshin —Ballad of a Meiji Swordsroamer—], kanzenban edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 133:

Spitting out grandiose bullcrap about freedom, justice, equality and whatnot. You HYPOCRITICAL BULLYING ASSHOLES are getting on my nerves!

Toku ni jiyū da seigi da byōdō no to kireigoto o hakimakuru GIZENSHA YARŌ no ijime wa muka tsuite tamaranē!


小学生

ja-noun

小(しょう)学(がく)生(せい) • (shōgakusei) ^(←せうがくせい (seugakusei)?)

小学生 (canonical)
shōgakusei (romanization)
seugakusei (romanization)
せうがくせい (hiragana historical)

[ɕo̞ːɡa̠kɯ̟̊se̞ː]

小(しょう)学(がく) (shōgaku, “elementary school”) + 生(せい) (-sei, “student; pupil”).

ja-compound

schoolchildren, schoolboy, schoolgirl (specifically those who attend elementary school)


婦女

婦女子

women and children; a woman, grown woman, wife


遊撃手

ja-noun

遊(ゆう)撃(げき)手(しゅ) • (yūgekishu) ^(←いうげきしゆ (iugekisyu)?)

遊撃手 (canonical)
yūgekishu (romanization)
iugekisyu (romanization)
いうげきしゆ (hiragana historical)

[jɯ̟ːɡe̞kʲi̥ɕɨ]


三塁手

三塁手 (canonical)
sanruishu (romanization)

[sã̠n̺ɾɯ̟iɕɨ]

三塁(さんるい) (sanrui, “third base”) + 手(しゅ) (-shu, “-man; -woman; -er”)

ja-compound

(baseball, softball) a third baseperson; a third baseman; a third basewoman


ボクサー

ja:ボクサー
ja:ボクサー (スポーツ)
ja:ボクサー (犬)

1988 October 20, Mitsuru Adachi, “第(だい)22(にじゅうに)話(わ) 麻(ま)里(り)亜(あ)の心(こころ) [Chapter 22: Maria’s Heart]”, in スロー(SLOW)ステップ(STEP) [Slow Step], volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 149:

はい はい

はい はい

はい はい


ライト

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
ja:NHK出版
ja:NHK放送文化研究所
ja:ライト
ja:松村明

2004 February 9, Suzuki, Shinya, “104(ひゃくよん)発(はつ)目(め) 荒野(グラウンド)の暴(ぼう)走(そう)馬(ば) [104th Hit: The Rampaging Horse of the Ground]”, in [Mr.](ミスター) [FULLSWING](フルスイング) [Mr. Fullswing], volume 12 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN:

４番 ライト 牛尾くん

(baseball, softball) Synonym of 右翼手 (uyokushu, “right fielder”)


消防士

ja-noun

消(しょう)防(ぼう)士(し) • (shōbōshi) ^(←せうばうし (seubausi)?)

消防士 (canonical)
shōbōshi (romanization)
seubausi (romanization)
せうばうし (hiragana historical)

[ɕo̞ːbo̞ːɕi]


丞相

丞(じょう)相(しょう) • (jōshō) ^(←じようしやう (zyousyau)?)

丞相 (canonical)
jōshō (romanization)
zyousyau (romanization)
じようしやう (hiragana historical)

[d͡ʑo̞ːɕo̞ː]

(historical) prime minister (in ancient China)


最高経営責任者

さいこう けいえい せきにんしゃ

最(さい)高(こう)経(けい)営(えい)責(せき)任(にん)者(しゃ) • (saikō keiei sekininsha)

最高経営責任者 (canonical)
saikō keiei sekininsha (romanization)

最高 (saikō, “supreme”) + 経営 (keiei, “executive”) + 責任者 (sekininsha, “manager”)

com

chief executive officer
chief executive officer

最高財務責任者

最高財務責任者 さいこうざいむせきにんしゃ

最高情報責任者

最高情報責任者 さいこうじょうほうせきにんしゃ

最高執行責任者

最高執行責任者 さいこうしっこうせきにんしゃ

最高技術責任者

最高技術責任者 さいこうぎじゅつせきにんしゃ


貴族

2000 November 23, “邪(じゃ)剣(けん)男(だん)爵(しゃく) [Baron of the Wicked Sword]”, in EX-R, Konami:

A noble who can manipulate a sword filled with hatred. He will never stop going after his prey.

怨念のこもった剣をあやつる貴族。執念深く獲物を追いつめる。

Onnen no komotta ken o ayatsuru kizoku. Shūnenbukaku emono o oitsumeru.

noble, aristocrat (one of the aristocracy)


文官

(historical) civil official; general term for a non-military official


地球人

地球人 (canonical)
chikyūjin (romanization)

[t͡ɕikʲɨːʑĩɴ]

地球 (Chikyū, “Earth”) + 人 (-jin, “human”)

suf

1988 July 30 [1985 July 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “宇(そ)宙(ら)からのおとし玉(だま) [An Outta-the-Ballue Falltune]”, in 宇宙船製造法 [How to Build a Spaceship] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 3), 6th edition, volume 3 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 27:

You Earthlings are so selfish! No wonder you’re so isolated in the universe.

地球人は自分勝手すぎるんだ！だから、いつまでも宇宙で孤立してるんだ。

Chikyūjin wa jibun katte sugiru n da! Dakara, itsu made mo uchū de koritsu shiteru n da.

(science fiction) an Earthling; a Terran (inhabitant of Earth)


盟主

2007 October 20, Izawa, Hiroshi with Yamada, Kotaro, “最(さい)終(しゅう)話(わ) それぞれの道(みち)へ [Final Chapter: Epilog]”, in ファイアーエムブレム 覇者の剣 [Fire Emblem: Sword of Champions], Jump Remix edition, volume 5 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 351:

Lilina, Beautiful Commander of the Alliance

美しき盟主リリーナ


射手

ja-noun

射(しゃ)手(しゅ) or 射(い)手(て) • (shashu or ite)

射手 (canonical)
射手 (canonical)
shashu (romanization)
ite (romanization)


生物学者

生物学者 (canonical)
seibutsugakusha (romanization)


細菌学者

細菌学者 (canonical)
saikingakusha (romanization)


環境学者

環境学者 (canonical)
kankyōgakusha (romanization)


考古学者

考古学者 (canonical)
kōkogakusha (romanization)

[ko̞ːko̞ɡa̠kɯ̟ɕa̠]


化学者

化(か)学(がく)者(しゃ) • (kagakusha) ^(←くわがくしゃ (kwagakusya)?)

化学者 (canonical)
kagakusha (romanization)
kwagakusya (romanization)
くわがくしゃ (hiragana historical)

[ka̠ɡa̠kɯ̟ɕa̠]

Compound of 化学 (kagaku, “chemistry”) + 者 (sha, “person”).


兵士

兵 (hei, “soldier”) + 士 (shi, “man of breeding”)


同僚

ja-noun

同(どう)僚(りょう) • (dōryō) ^(←どうれう (doureu)?)

同僚 (canonical)
dōryō (romanization)
doureu (romanization)
どうれう (hiragana historical)

Compound of 同 (dō, “same”) + 僚 (ryō, “colleague”).

colleague, coworker who works at the same working place, especially same rank of title


義母

From Chinese 義母／义母 (yìmǔ, “adoptive mother”).


アミール

アミール • (amīru)

an emir, an amir - a prince, commander or other leader or ruler in an Islamic nation.


選手

河田と私とは学校の野球の選手でした。

1920, 牧野信一, 初夏

Kawada and I were baseball players at our school.

Kawada to watashi to wa gakkō no yakyū no senshu deshita.


美少年

[bʲiɕo̞ːnẽ̞ɴ]

pretty young boy, beautiful adolescent boy


王女

王女 (canonical)
ōjo (romanization)
waudyo (romanization)
わうぢよ (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 王女 (hjwang nrjo^X, literally “king + female”). The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

der

1988 July 30 [1984 July 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “世(せ)界(かい)名(めい)作(さく)童(どう)話(わ)第(だい)２(に)巻(かん) ねむれる森(もり)の美(び)女(じょ) [World’s Renowned Fairy Tales Book 2: Sleeping Beauty]”, in ポストの中の明日 [Post-Mid-Tomorrow] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 2), 10th edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 115:

From that day on, she became known as the Sleepless Beauty.

このときから、ねむれぬ森の王女とよばれるようになった。

Kono toki kara, Nemurenu Mori no Ōjo to yobareru yō ni natta.


王女

王女 (canonical)
ōnyo (romanization)
waunyo (romanization)
わうによ (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 王女 (hjwang nrjo^X, literally “king + female”). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.


アリストテレス

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Ἀριστοτέλης (Aristotélēs)


声優

声優 (canonical)
seiyū (romanization)
seiiu (romanization)
せいいう (hiragana historical)

→ Chinese:

Mandarin: 聲優／声优 (shēngyōu)

→ English: seiyuu

→ Esperanto: sejuo

→ Korean: 성우(聲優) (seong'u)


上将

ja-noun

上(じょう)将(しょう) • (jōshō) ^(←じゃうしゃう (zyausyau)?)

上将 (canonical)
jōshō (romanization)
zyausyau (romanization)
じゃうしゃう (hiragana historical)

上 (“upper”) + 将 (“commander; general (officer)”)

pre

[d͡ʑo̞ːɕo̞ː]

(military) a high-ranking general (officer) or commander

(military) Clipping of 上将軍 (jōshōgun, “shogun-in-chief”).


上将

[d͡ʑo̞ːɕo̞ː]

(military, of the People's Liberation Army Ground/Air Force) a general

(military, of the People's Liberation Army Navy) an admiral


上将

[d͡ʑo̞ːɕo̞ː]

(military, of the Korean People's Army) a colonel general


上将

[d͡ʑo̞ːɕo̞ː]

(military, of the Vietnam People's Ground/Air Force) a colonel general


大将

ja-noun

大(たい)将(しょう) • (taishō) ^(←たいしやう (taisyau)?)

大将 (canonical)
taishō (romanization)
taisyau (romanization)
たいしやう (hiragana historical)

From Old Japanese, in turn from Middle Chinese 大將 (MC dajH|daH tsjang|tsjangH). First cited in Japanese to a text from 765.

(military) an admiral (naval officer of the highest rank)

1984 October 20 [1983 January 15], Motoka Murakami, “日(にっ)本(ぽん)一(いち)の巻(まき) [Japan’s Number One]”, in 六(ム)三(サ)四(シ)の剣(けん) [Musashi’s Sword], 7th edition, volume 8 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 47:

Sensei! How come Musashi’s the first and ah’m the second⁉

先生！ なして六三四が大将でわたすが副将だあ⁉

Sensei! Nashite Musashi ga taishō de watasu ga fukushō dā⁉

1999 November 20 [1999 August 9], Yumi Hotta with Obata, Takeshi, “第(だい)９局(きょく) 大(たい)将(しょう)・副(ふく)将(しょう)・三(さん)将(しょう) [Game 9: First, Second and Third]”, in ヒカルの碁, 3rd edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 35:

You’re the second and he’s the third then.

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

Ja o-mae ga fukushō de koitsu ga sanshō na

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

じゃ おまえが副将でコイツが三将な

a sportsperson who assumes the leading role in a team, generally the strongest member


道化師

道(どう)化(け)師(し) • (dōkeshi) ^(←だうけし (daukesi)?)

道化師 (canonical)
dōkeshi (romanization)
daukesi (romanization)
だうけし (hiragana historical)

2000 January 27, “闇(やみ)・道(どう)化(け)師(し)のサギー [Treekster, the Dark Clown]”, in Vol.7, Konami:

A clown who pops up out of nowhere and dodges attacks with wacky movements.

どこからともなく現れる道化師。不思議な動きで攻撃をかわす。

Doko kara to mo naku arawareru dōkeshi. Fushigi na ugoki de kōgeki o kawasu.

a clown (performance artist working in a circus)


異星人

異(い) (i, “other; another”) + 星(せい) (sei, “planet”) + 人(じん) (jin, “human”)

ja-compound

Synonym of 宇宙人 (uchūjin, “alien”) (life form of non-Earth origin)


ロシア人

ロシア人 (canonical)
roshiajin (romanization)


モンゴル人

モンゴル人 (canonical)
Mongoru-jin (romanization)


センター

ja-noun

センター • (sentā)

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kōjien
Shinmura Izuru
ja:センター
ja:松村明

(baseball, softball) Synonym of 中堅手 (chūkenshu, “center fielder”)


異邦人

異(い)邦(ほう)人(じん) • (ihōjin) ^(←いはうじん (ifauzin)?)

異邦人 (canonical)
ihōjin (romanization)
ifauzin (romanization)
いはうじん (hiragana historical)

From 異(い)邦(ほう) (ihō, “foreign country”) + 人(じん) (-jin, “person”).


バックシャン

[ba̠k̚kɯ̟̊ɕã̠ɴ]

A composite of バック (bakku, “back”, from English back) + シャン (shan, “beautiful”, from German schön).

compound

from English <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">back</i>

from German <i class="Latn mention" lang="de">schön</i>

(dated slang, in particular) butterface: A woman who is attractive from behind but ugly from the front.


一石六斗

一石六斗 (canonical)
ikkoku rokuto (romanization)

[ik̚ko̞kɯ̟̊ ɾo̞kɯ̟̊to̞]

Based on a pun on the term はっと (hatto, “startled, surprised”) written using the ateji (当て字) of 八斗 (hatto, “eight to”, where to is a traditional Japanese unit of volume). Literally, the phrase means “one koku (石) and six to”, a measure of volume roughly equivalent to 288 liters and equal to 16 to.
Figuratively, refers to seeing something once, being happily surprised and saying はっと (hatto), and then seeing it again and saying はっと once more in disappointment. はっと twice would be 8 to + 8 to = 16 to, or 1 koku and 6 to.

(obsolete) more specifically, describes the appearance of a woman who has a beautiful figure from behind but has an ugly face


悪の枢軸

悪の枢軸 (canonical)
aku no sūjiku (romanization)

[a̠kɯ̟ no̞ sɨːʑikɯ̟]


意気地なし

意気地なし (canonical)
ikujinashi (romanization)


ニート

ja-noun

ニート • (nīto)

NEET: person not in employment, education, or training


美少女

美(び)少(しょう)女(じょ) • (bishōjo) ^(←びせうぢよ (biseudyo)?)

美少女 (canonical)
bishōjo (romanization)
biseudyo (romanization)
びせうぢよ (hiragana historical)

[bʲiɕo̞ːʑo̞]

美 (bi, “beautiful”) + 少女 (shōjo, “young girl”)

com

1991 March 15, Rumiko Takahashi, “ＰＡＲＴ(パート).10 そして拳(けん)印(いん)は消(き)えた [PART.10 The Mark’s Finally Gone]”, in らんま½ [Ranma ½], volume 14 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 155:

あ…あの女きさまだったのか。

あ…あの女きさまだったのか。


レフト

[ɾe̞ɸɯ̟̊to̞]

(baseball, softball) Synonym of 左翼手 (sayokushu, “left fielder”)


左翼手

左翼手 (canonical)
sayokushu (romanization)

左翼 (sayoku, “left wing”) + 手 (-shu, “-er”)


中堅手

中堅手 (canonical)
chūkenshu (romanization)

[t͡ɕɨːkẽ̞ɰ̃ɕɨ]

中堅 (chūken, “center field”) + 手 (-shu, “-er”)


右翼手

右翼 (uyoku, “right wing”) + 手 (-shu, “-er”)


サード

ja-noun

サード • (sādo)


悪女

悪女 (canonical)
akujo (romanization)
akudyo (romanization)
あくぢよ (hiragana historical)


胤違い

胤違い (canonical)
tanechigai (romanization)

From 胤 (tane, “paternal blood”) + 違い (chigai, “difference”).


落胤

From 落(らく) (raku, “fall”) + 胤(いん) (in, “progeny”).


俘虜

帝国軍人が俘虜になるとは、この上もない不名誉だ。

1938, 海野十三, 怪塔王

There is no greater dishonor for the imperial soldier than to become a prisoner of war.

Teikoku gunjin ga furyo ni naru to wa, kono ue mo nai fumeiyo da.

帝国軍人 ていこくぐんじん


鬼子

changeling; a child which doesn't look like its parents


オランダ人

オランダ人 (canonical)
Oranda-jin (romanization)


シンガポール人

シンガポール人 (canonical)
Shingapōru-jin (romanization)


三人

From Old Japanese.
* The most likely derivation is from 三 (mi, “3, three”) + 人 (-tari, counter for persons).
* Today, "三人" is commonly read as "さんにん", uncommonly as "みたり".


三人

二人より三人がいい。

Three persons are better than two persons.


人質

Compound of 人 (hito, “person”) + 質 (shichi, “pawn, hock”). The shichi changes to jichi as an instance of rendaku (連濁).
The original sense was “indentureship”, from the sense of a person being as if in pawn until a debt is paid. The “hostage” sense then arose by extension, from the person being in pawn until a ransom is paid or some other condition is met.

compound

人質事件

2013 September 9, Hideaki Sorachi, “第(だい)四(よん)百(ひゃく)五(ご)十(じゅう)一(いち)訓(くん)人(にん)間(げん)五(ご)十(じゅう)年(ねん)下(げ)天(てん)のうちをくらぶれば 夢(ゆめ) モヒカンの如(ごと)くなり [Lesson 451: Man’s Fifty Years of Life Are Nothing Compared to All Things under the Sky. Nothing But a Dream, a Mohawk.]”, in 銀(ぎん)魂(たま) [Silver Soul], volume 51 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN:

Chill out, they can’t just barge in here and hurt everyone. You guys still have us as hostages.

落ちつけ 斬り込みなんてそう簡単にできるワケねーだろ アンタらには俺達人質がついてんだぜ

Ochitsuke kirikomi nan te sō kantan ni dekiru wake nē daro Anta-ra ni wa ore-tachi hitojichi ga tsuite n da ze


偉人

偉人 (canonical)
ijin (romanization)
wizin (romanization)
ゐじん (hiragana historical)

明治時代の偉人


非人

(historical, vulgar) beggar, outcast, lowest-ranking caste of the Edo-period caste system (comprising ex-convicts and vagrants)


唐人

唐人 (canonical)
tōjin (romanization)
tauzin (romanization)
たうじん (hiragana historical)


児童

pupil, student (a child who goes to elementary school)

person under 18 years of age under the Japanese Child Welfare Law

person under 20 years of age under the Japanese Mother and Child, Father and Child, and Widows Welfare Law


旅人

[ta̠bʲiɲ̟ĩɴ]

Compound of 旅 (tabi, “travel”) + 人 (nin, “person; type of person”, using the Chinese-derived goon reading).

渡り鳥

the general sense of someone who doesn't stay in one place very long

one who is constantly going from one place to another:


彼氏

彼氏 (canonical)
彼氏 (canonical)
kareshi (romanization)

彼 (kare, “he; him; boyfriend”) + 氏 (shi, “he; him”)

com

a boyfriend (male partner in a romantic relationship)