数

数百人


die

Appropriation of English die for a homophone.

(slang, humorous) Alternative spelling of 大 (dai)


いく

生, 活: (attaches to nouns) vigorous, lively, powerful

幾: (attaches to nouns) implies an indeterminate amount: several, many, much, a lot


あい

ai- (romanization)
afi- (romanization)
あひ (hiragana historical)

From Old Japanese stem form of verb あう (au): to meet, to be together, etc.

相手

兄弟はいつも相戦うものだ。

Brothers (siblings) will always fight (with each other).

used in official or epistolary writings for elegance or politeness


愛

Originally a compound of 真 (ma, “true, genuine”) + な (na), an Old Japanese version of modern Japanese の (no, possessive particle).
The use of 愛 here is an example of ateji (当て字).

before a common noun, expresses a sense of admiration or value: good, genuine; compare English the real deal

before a noun describing a person, expresses praise or fondness: dear, beloved


青

青 (canonical)
ao- (romanization)
awo- (romanization)
あを (hiragana historical)

/sawo/ (uncertain, may be compound as opposed to root) → /awo/ → /ao/
From Old Japanese, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *awo.
Appears as the latter part in older compounds with an -s- infix or prefix. It is unclear if this leading /s/ is indicative of an earlier form (sawo), or if this was an addition for euphony to avoid vowel clusters, or for other reasons. This /s/ is also seen in 雨(あめ) (ame, “rain”, becoming same in old compounds) and 稲(いね) (ine, “rice”, becoming shine in old compounds).
Given that this /s/ only ever appears interstitially, and given the semantics, this /s/ may be cognate with Korean interfix ㅅ (-s-) used to mark possession; compare German -s-.


赤

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *aka.


漢

Daijisen
Edo period
Gaya confederacy
Kyūjitai
Shinjitai
ja:松村明

From Old Japanese.
Originally referred to the Gaya confederacy, an independent state in the south of the Korean peninsula in the years 42–562 CE. Over time, the meaning extended to refer in general to the Korean peninsula and China, expanding further just before and during the Edo period to refer to foreign lands in general.

漢詩、唐歌、唐揚げ、漢音

Chinese-style poetry (as opposed to formal waka Japanese-style poetry), Chinese-style poetry, deep-fried chicken or fish (a style introduced by Europeans in the 1600s), “Chinese voice” → the kan'on or Chinese-derived reading for a character

element in compounds, referring to things imported from China or Korea, or from other foreign lands


ま

From Old Japanese. Attested since at least the Kojiki of 712 CE.

真心

one's real mind, one's real thoughts and feelings about something

真白

真上

真: definitely, certainly, exactly, precisely, directly

真竹

真: true, real, main (appended to words for animals or plants to indicate the representative type)

真熊野

真: (archaic, possibly obsolete, honorific) great, excellent


姫

⟨pi₁ me₁⟩ → */pʲimʲe/ → /fime/ → /hime/
From Old Japanese.
Originally a compound of 日 (hi, “sun”, a prefix or appellation used in reference to the imperial family) + 女 (me, “female person: girl, woman”).


今

Early Middle Japanese
Early Modern Japanese
Kojiki
Late Middle Japanese
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Old Japanese language

From Old Japanese. First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE. From Proto-Japonic *ima.

今世紀最大の危機

今シーズン


空

空箱

空振り

空元気


水

水 (canonical)
mizu- (romanization)
midu- (romanization)
みづ (hiragana historical)

⟨mi₁du⟩ → */mʲidu/ → /mid͡zu/ → /mizu/
From Old Japanese. First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE. In turn, from Proto-Japonic *mentu. Ryukyuan cognates support the existence of the first vowel having an initial mid vowel.
Possibly cognate with 瑞 (mizu, “freshness, youth”).
Possible cognate with Proto-Tungusic *mū, Jurchen 木克 (mu-ke /muke/), Manchu ᠮᡠᡴᡝ (muke), Goguryeo 買 (*me, “river; water”), Mongolian мөрөн (mörön, “river”), Korean 물 (mul, “water”).


乙

Kojiki
Kōjien
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Shinmura Izuru

Cognate with the initial oto- in 劣る (otoru, “to be less than; to be younger than”), 落とす (otosu, “to drop something”). Also the first element in 弟 (otōto, “younger brother”).
First attested in the Kojiki of 712.
This is distinct from the initial oto- in 乙女(おとめ) (otome), which can instead be traced to an earlier woto- root, cognate with 復(を)つ (wotu).

applied to a noun denoting a person, or to a person's name:


一

*/pʲitə/ → ⟨pi₁to₂⟩ → /ɸito/ → /hito/
From Old Japanese 一 (pi₁to₂), from earlier Proto-Japonic *pitə. Cognate with Okinawan 一 (tī)
Related to 二 (futa, “two”), which is its double. Compare 三 (mi, “three”) and 六 (mu, “six”), 四 (yo, “four”) and 八 (ya, “eight”).


万

From Middle Chinese 萬 (MC mjonH). Compare modern Hokkien 萬／万 (bān).


円

/maro/ → /maru/
Sound shift from maro above.

Alternative spelling of 丸: prefix to numbers remaining constant

Alternative spelling of 丸: prefix to noun to mean an object is completely in that noun


亜

亜硫酸

(chemistry) indicates a lower oxidation number: -ous


心

From Old Japanese.
Cognate with 裏 (ura, “inside”) and 浦 (ura, “inlet”).


柄

In light of the stem sense, probably derived semantically from origin, source meanings.
Compare also Korean 가락 (garak), similarly used as a counter for long and slender objects.

describes something with a stem, shaft, or handle

柄臼, 唐臼, 碓

a kind of mortar and pestle with the pestle mounted on a long shaft for leverage


両

両 (canonical)
ryō- (romanization)
ryau- (romanization)
りやう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 兩 (MC ljangX, “two, both”).


白

⟨sira⟩ → /ɕira/
From Old Japanese.
The combining apophonic form of shiro above, mostly used in compounds.

Combining form of しろ (shiro) above:
white

Combining form of しろ (shiro) above:
undyed, unpainted, unseasoned, etc.

Combining form of しろ (shiro) above:
pure

Combining form of しろ (shiro) above:
innocent

Combining form of しろ (shiro) above:
normal, unspecial


以

以後

その以後

この日以後

2008 March 15, “ジャンク・ウォリアー [Junk Warrior]”, in STARTER(スターター) DECK(デッキ), Konami:

“Junk Synchron” plus 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

「ジャンク・シンクロン」＋チューナー以外のモンスター１体以上

“Janku Shinkuron” purasu Chūnā igai no monsutā ittai ijō

2017 March 25, “リンク・スパイダー [Link Spider]”, in STARTER(スターター) DECK(デッキ), Konami:

1 or more Normal Monsters
1: Once per turn, can be activated during your Main Phase. Special Summons 1 Normal Monster of Level 4 or lower from your hand to where this card is linked to.

通常モンスター１体
①：１ターンに１度、自分メインフェイズに発動できる。手札からレベル４以下の通常モンスター１体をこのカードのリンク先に特殊召喚する。

Tsūjō Monsutā ittaī
Chi: Ittān ni ichi-do, jibun Mein Feizu ni hatsudō dekiru. tefuda kara Reberu yon ika no Tsūjō Monsutā ittai o kono kādo no rinku-saki ni Tokushu Shōkan suru.


何

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *n-anu-.

what number, how many (used with a counter)

この広告を何回も見た

(used with も) many (used with a counter)


丸

⟨maro₂⟩ → */marə/ → /maru/
Shift from Old Japanese 丸 (maro, see below).


再

ページを再読み込み


不

不 (canonical)
不 (canonical)
fu- (romanization)
bu- (romanization)

不用心 (buyōjin, “careless, insecurity”)

不評 (fuhyō, “unpopularity, bad reputation”)


全

From Middle Chinese 全 (dzjwen, “complete, whole”).


副

assistant, sub-, vice-, auxiliary, supplemental


即

即売り切れ

即負け


半

半年

半世紀


前

From Middle Chinese 前 (MC dzen). Compare modern Mandarin 前 (qián).


原

From Middle Chinese 原 (MC ngjwon, “source; origin; beginning”).

ltc-l

原文、原材料

original document, original / raw materials


初

⟨patu⟩ → /ɸat͡su/ → /hat͡su/
From Old Japanese.
Possible cognates include 始め (hajime, “beginning”) and 端 (ha, “edge of something”).


初

初 (canonical)
ui- (romanization)
ufi- (romanization)
うひ (hiragana historical)

/uɸi/ → /uwi/ → /ui/
First attested in the Kokin Wakashū of roughly 905-914 CE, and assumed to be inherited from Old Japanese.
There is an apparently related term 初 (ubu) of overlapping synonymous meaning, first attested in the early 1000s. It is unclear how these two terms are related: one might be a derivation of the other, or the two might derive separately via other processes.
Both ui and ubu appear to be related to verb 生む (umu, “to birth”), from the sense of "first of something since one has been born".
Martin suggests that this might be a fusion of 生む (umu, “to birth”) + 日 (hi, “day”), literally “birthday”. However, the meaning of any such compound would be the noun birthday with a sense of "the day a woman gives birth" rather than "the day someone is born". Also, phonologically, this would be expected to result in ubi: /umu/ + /pi/ → /umupi/ → /umpi/ → /ubi/.
Possibly cognate with 上 (ue, “above”, possibly via the sense of "upstream → earlier") or classical verb 生ふ (ancient opu, classical ofu, modern ou, “to grow”).


同

仝, 々


元

⟨mo₂to₂⟩ → /moto/
From Old Japanese. Cited to the Kojiki of 712 CE. From Proto-Japonic *mətə. Cognate with Okinawan 元 (mutu).

元カレ、元カノ

プロジェクトの元・担当者の田中氏

purojekuto no moto tantōsha no Tanaka-shi


唐

From 伽羅, a proper name from ancient Korean Peninsula.
Originally meant "China" during the Tang dynasty and "elements imported from China", then later expanded to mean "foreign lands in general" and "elements imported from foreign lands".

漢詩、唐歌、唐揚げ、漢音

Chinese-style poetry (as opposed to formal waka Japanese-style poetry), Chinese-style poetry, deep-fried chicken or fish (a style introduced by Europeans in the 1600s), "Chinese voice" → the kan'on or Chinese-derived reading for a character

element in compounds, referring to things imported from China or from other foreign lands


右

From Middle Chinese 右 (MC hjuwX).
The goon pronunciation, so likely the initial borrowing.

右衛門

右大臣

(history, government) "of the right", junior or subordinate to 左 (sa-, “of the left”)


名

From Middle Chinese 名 (MC mjieng, “name”).


多

多言語辞書


太

太箸

special fat chopsticks used at New Years

; text here
奈加等美乃 敷刀能里⟨等其⟩等 伊比波良倍 安⟨賀⟩布伊能知毛 多我多米尓奈礼
中臣の 太祝詞言 言ひ祓へ 贖ふ命も 誰がために汝れ
なかとみの ふとのりとごと いひはらへ あかふいのちも たがためになれ
Nakatomi no / futonoritogoto / iiharae / akau inochi mo / ta ga tame ni nare
Reciting the Nakatomi's excellent ritual offering, whose [long] life was prayed for? Yours.

added to words describing gods or the emperor or other exalted subjects to denote greatness or excellence

太腿、太箸

the thigh (the thick part of the leg), fat chopsticks (used at New Years)

added to regular nouns to denote fatness or thickness


太

From Middle Chinese 太 (thajH). Compare modern Mandarin 太 (tài).


太

From a colloquial form of 太 in Middle Chinese. Compare the similar corruption in Mandarin 大 (dà).


当

当駅


屎

⟨kuso₁⟩ → /kuso/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *kusau. Cognate with 臭い (kusai, “stinky, smelly”), 腐る (kusaru, “to rot, to become stinky”).

屎爺い


従

従一位

従三位

従九位

(history) "junior" ranking for 位 (-i, “Japanese courtier rank”)


左

左衛門

左大臣

(history, government) "of the left", senior or superior to 右 (u-, “of the right”)


幾

幾箱要りますか。

幾千と云う人

some, several, having an indefinite number or quantity

幾日も行っていた。

some, many, having a considerable number


幸

From Old Japanese. Possibly cognate with Korean 살 (sal, “arrow”). Possibly also related with saki above.
The kanji may have originally been applied to this word for the source Chinese term's associations with good fortune.
This is the bound form of sachi above. This form is only ever used in compounds. Possibly the original form.

幸矢、幸弓、幸人

a hunting arrow, a hunting bow, a hunter


幼

prefixed to a noun: childish, immature, infantile


御

/oɴ/ → /o/
Shift from on- below.
Already apparent since the 14th century.

indicates that the [word] is honorific; often used to indicate that the [word] belongs or is related to the listener (as opposed to the speaker)


御

Early Middle Japanese
Late Middle Japanese

/oɸomʉ/ → /owomʉ/ → /oːɴ/ → /oɴ/
Early-Late Middle Japanese shift from ōn- below.


御

御 (canonical)
ōn- (romanization)
ofon- (romanization)
おほん (hiragana historical)
おおむ (alternative hiragana)
ōmu- (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)
おほむ (alternative hiragana historical)

⟨opomi₁⟩ → */opomʲɨ/*/əpəmʲɨ/ → /oɸomʉ/ → /owoɴ/ → /oːɴ/
First attested in the Wamyō Ruijushō (938 CE), as man'yōgana form 於保无 (opomu- → ōmu-) within 於保无太加良 (opomutakara → ōmutakara, “people”, as a kun reading of 人民).
Shift from Old Japanese 大御 (⟨opomi₁⟩ → ōmi-, prefix of maximum honorific).
Both ōmu- and ōn- readings likely existed in free variation until the development of the ん (n) grapheme.

inh

(obsolete) indicates that the [word] is honorific; often used to indicate that the [word] belongs or is related to the listener (as opposed to the speaker)


御

⟨mi₁⟩ → */mʲi/ → /mi/
From Old Japanese.
Cognate with 霊, 神 (mi, “spirit, god”), as this prefix was originally used to refer to gods and other spiritually important things.

御明

oil lamp lit for Shinto or Buddhist purposes

命

mikoto, title used for gods and emperors, and other exalted personages

御許

mimoto, location of a god, Buddha, emperor, or other object of reverence

御座

mimashi, presence of a god, Buddha, emperor, or other object of reverence

(honorific, archaic) added to gods and other spiritually important things

(honorific, archaic) added to nouns to indicate godlike respect

(honorific, archaic) added to placenames to emphasize beauty


御

From Middle Chinese 御 (MC ngjoH).
The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.


御

From Middle Chinese 御 (MC ngjoH).
The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

prefixed to make an honorific kanji compound, especially used to indicate that the [word] belongs or is related to the emperor and/or the equivalents


弓

From Old Japanese. In modern Japanese, only found as a prefix in compounds.


旧

旧 (canonical)
kyū- (romanization)
kiu- (romanization)
きう (hiragana historical)

世界平和統一家庭連合（旧統一教会）

世界平和統一家庭連合 せかいへいわとういつかていれんごう

統一教会 とういつきょうかい

Sekai Heiwa Tōitsu Katei Rengō (kyū-Tōitsu Kyōkai)

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (former Unification Church)

旧Twitter


後

From Middle Chinese 後 (huwX, “after”). Classified as the kan'on, so likely a later borrowing. Compare modern Mandarin reading hòu.

prefixing element in kanji compounds, adding a meaning of later, after, following, rearward


曽

Japanese shinjitai Simplified from 曾, used in compound characters such as 増 (from 増).


常

⟨to₂ko₂⟩ → */təkə/ → /toko/
From Old Japanese. Possibly cognate with 時 (toki, “time”).
The way the term is used in the historical record suggests that this was originally a noun. By the time of written Japanese, however, this term only appears in compounds, never on its own, and its usage is more as an adjective to modify other nouns.

eternal, forever, unchanging, everlasting


斎

From Old Japanese. Possibly a doublet of 斎 (yu) below.

(Shinto) added to spiritual nouns to indicate purity and holiness: holy, pure, sacred


所

所為

that, what is done; deed; cause; reason; fault


旅

旅 (canonical)
ryo- (romanization)
りよ (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 旅 (MC ljoX, “a military unit of 500 men; to go [on a sortie; on a trip or journey]”).

ltc-l

a military unit of 500 men; to go 􂀿on a sortie; on a trip or journey􂁀


大

大ピンチ

大ヒットする


大

大 (canonical)
ō- (romanization)
ofo- (romanization)
おほ (hiragana historical)

/opo/ → /ofo/ → /owo/ → /oː/
From Old Japanese 大 (opo), from Proto-Japonic *əpə.

大馬鹿な


平

⟨pi₁ra⟩ → /pʲira/ → /ɸira/ → /hira/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *pira.

connects to a noun


来

From Middle Chinese 來 (MC loj).
Compare modern Mandarin 來／来 (lái).


毎

毎金曜日

1 V/m（１ボルト毎メートル）


某

某大学

certain (denoting that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent)


汎

Phono-semantic matching of English pan-.


汎

汎太平洋


小

小 (canonical)
shō- (romanization)
seu- (romanization)
せう (hiragana historical)

/seu/ → /ɕeu/ → /ɕoː/
From Middle Chinese 小 (MC sjewX).
The suffix sense is a clipping of 小学校 (shōgakkō, “elementary school”).


小

/ko₁/ → /ko/
From the Old Japanese stem こ (ko-). Cognate with 子 (ko, “child”).

less in size or quantity, small, little, short

of secondary importance, secondary, sub-


小

小 (canonical)
o- (romanization)
wo- (romanization)
を (hiragana historical)

/wo/ → /o/
From the Old Japanese stem を (wo-), modern お (o-).

小川 (ogawa, “creek”, literally "small river")

小舟 (obune, “small boat”)

attached to certain nouns:
small in shape or scale

小田 (Oda, literally, "small rice paddy")

小野 (Ono, literally, "small field")

attached to certain names to give expression or feelings

小止みなく降る雨 (oyaminaku furu ame)

小暗い道 (ogurai michi)

used proverbially to represent "small" or "slight"


小

小 (canonical)
小 (canonical)
sasa- (romanization)
saza- (romanization)

From the Old Japanese stem ささ (sasa-), found in terms such as 笹 (sasa, “bamboo grass”), 囁く (sasayaku, “to whisper”), and 些か (isasaka, “a little”), all related to small or slight.
Saza appears to be a later derivation from sasa.

attached to certain nouns to mean:
small

attached to certain nouns to mean:
slight


気

From Middle Chinese 氣 (MC khj+jH).
The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing. Compare Eastern Min 氣／气 (ké).
In Old Japanese, this kanji is used to transcribe the 借音 (shakuon) kana of ⟨ke₂⟩.


準

準 (canonical)
jun- (romanization)
zyun- (romanization)
じゆん (hiragana historical)

準一級

準一級 じゅんいっきゅう

準優勝

準優勝 じゅんゆうしょう


次

/si/ → /ʑi/ → /d͡ʑi/
Sound shift from shi above.

次位、次長

(attached to nouns) the next, secondary, vice-

亜塩素酸、次亜塩素酸、亜臭素酸、次亜臭素酸

aenso san, jiaenso san, ashūso san, jiashūso san

chlorous acid, hypochlorous acid, bromous acid, hypobromous acid

(chemistry) hypo- (used to distinguish the oxidation levels of various acids)


新

/sin/ → /ɕin/
From Middle Chinese 新 (MC sin).
Compare modern Mandarin 新 (xīn), Hakka 新 (sîn), Min Nan 新 (sin), and Wu 新 (¹shin).

新元号

新世界

新約聖書

新鉄拳チンミ

attached to the title of a fiction work to mean “new storyline”, to distinguish it from older works

Lois & Clark 新スーパーマン

attached to the title of a fiction adaptation to mean “remake”, to distinguish it from older adaptations


新

⟨nipi₁⟩ → /nipʲi/ → /nifi/ → /niwi/ → /niː/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *nipi.


新

From Old Japanese.
Extension of 粗, 荒 (ara, “crude, raw”).


狛

indicates something that was originally imported via the Korean Peninsula


本

本大会

本山葵

real wasabi (as opposed to horseradish or other substitutes)

本大臣

the cabinet member (on whose behalf a proxy speaks)


熊

熊 (canonical)
熊 (canonical)
kuma (romanization)

From Old Japanese. First cited in the Kojiki of 712.
Further derivation is uncertain. Possibilities include:
* Might be cognate with Japanese 隈 (kuma, “inside corner; inner bend; hollow or hole in something”), perhaps from the way that bears often live in dens.
* Might also or separately be cognate with Middle Korean 곰〯 (kwǒm, “bear”), whose archaic form */koma/ is preserved as the first element of the toponym 고마〮ᄂᆞᄅᆞ (Kwòmánòlò, literally “Bear-ford”). Thus, a cognate of Korean 곰 (gom, “bear”) and Baekje 金馬 (*kəma/*kuma, “bear”).
* Might be an areal Wanderwort, borrowed from Old Chinese 熊 (OC *ɢʷlɯm) and ultimately deriving from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *d-wam. See also the etymology notes in the *d-wam entry.

cog

prefixed to other nouns for animals or plants to indicate large size or great strength, relative to other varieties


片

Alexander Vovin
Daijirin
Heian period
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Nihon Shoki

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *kata-. First cited in the Nihon Shoki of 720.
Alexander Vovin asserts it's a loanword from Old Korean; compare Old Korean 一等 (*HAton, “one”). However, Vovin's source for the Koreanic term is a document that is over 500 years newer than the first Japonic mention; it would have to be an even earlier borrowing into Japanese.
Japanese sources describe this as cognate with 方(かた) (kata, “side, direction”). However, the pitch accents differ: compounds starting with 片 show accent in the Heian period, in contrast to 方, which is recorded with a accent instead, suggesting no direct relationship between the two.
Alternatively, 肩(かた) (kata, “shoulder”) might be a more likely cognate given that term's matching accent and compounds also indicating homonymy: compare 傾(かた)げる (katageru, “to tilt, to incline”), 担(かた)げる (katageru, “to carry on one’s shoulder”). Also, accent comparison might support that this word derives from the verb root 勝(か)つ (katsu, “to win; to tend to”) or 搗(か)つ (katsu, “to pound”) (both have an accent), and adverb 且(か)つ (katsu, “besides; moreover; also; and”) which has an accent.

ja-r

片手、片身

(prefixed to a noun) one side or part of a pair or larger set

片思い、傾ける

one-sided thoughts / unrequited affection (as between two people), to lean to one side

片山、片時、片笑む

a small mountain, a short time, to smile slightly

(prefixed to a noun or verb) incomplete, partial, small

片田舎

(prefixed to a noun) leaning or trending that way (emphasizing the quality of the prefixed noun)

片設く

(prefixed to a verb, archaic) frequently, intently, earnestly


山

From Old Japanese 山 (yama). First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE.
Reconstructed as deriving in turn from Proto-Japonic *yama (“mountain; forest”).

inh

prefix for species that are wild or residing in mountains


猛

猛 (canonical)
mō- (romanization)
mau- (romanization)
まう (hiragana historical)

猛ダッシュ

猛アタック

猛勉強


海

From Old Japanese. Thought to be comprised of う (u-, stem indicating “ocean”) + な (na, ancient alternative form of the possessive particle の (no)). The u- stem is also evident in 魚 (uo, “fish”) and 潮 (ushio, “salt water; tide”).
First cited to the Nihon Shoki of 720 CE.


手

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *tay. Compare 目 (me, ma-, “eye”).

手早い、手堅い

strengthens the prefixed adjective or adjectival noun


無

From Middle Chinese 無 (MC mju). The 呉音 (goon), so likely an earlier borrowing.


無

From Middle Chinese 無 (bu). The 漢音 (kan'on), so likely a later borrowing.


子

⟨ko₁⟩ → */kʷo/ → /ko/
From Old Japanese, attested in the Kojiki (712 CE) and the Man'yōshū (c. 759 CE), two of the oldest examples of written Japanese.
Cognate with 蚕 (ko, “silkworm”) and possibly 小 (ko, “little”, diminutive prefix).
Possibly cognate with Goguryeo 仇 (*gu), which appears in an ancient place name with an apparent meaning of child.

子会社 (kogaisha): derivative + company → a subsidiary

子犬 (koinu): derivative + dog → a puppy

an object which has a subservient or derivative role relative to another object


正

正一位

正三位

正九位

(history) "senior" ranking for 位 (-i, “Japanese courtier rank”)


環

環 (canonical)
kan- (romanization)
kwan- (romanization)
くわん (hiragana historical)


省

省 (canonical)
shō- (romanization)
syau- (romanization)
しやう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 省 (MC srjaengX|sjengX).

省エネルギー

省時間


物

⟨mo₂no₂⟩ → ⟨mono₂⟩ → /mono/
From Old Japanese. Attested in the Kojiki. Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *mənə.


総

総工費


継

継子

step-; half- (related through only one parent)


皇

/sume/ → /sube/
From Old Japanese, as a shift from older sume.
Previously thought to be derived as the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, stem or continuative form) of Old Japanese verb 統ぶ (subu), modern 統べる (suberu, “to control, to govern, to rule”). However, later research into ancient phonetic spellings clarified that the be portion of the verb was realized as ⟨be₂⟩. During the Old Japanese stage, ⟨be₂⟩ could only have derived phonetically from ⟨me₂⟩, and not from the ⟨me₁⟩ syllable of the noun.

Empress (regnant)
empress regnant#English

(archaic) prefix of praise and respect, usually towards 神 (kami, “Shinto deities”) or 天皇 (tennō, “Emperor or Empress (regnant) of Japan”):


皇

⟨sume₁⟩ → */sumʲe/ → /sume/
From Old Japanese. Appears to be the older form.


皇

From the prefix 皇 (sube-, see above) + 等 (-ra, nominalizing and pluralizing suffix).


皇

From the prefix 皇 (sume-) + 等 (-ra, nominalizing and pluralizing suffix).


続

(literature and other media) next installment


第

第２号

第１３話


糞

From Old Japanese, in turn from Proto-Japonic *kuso.
Cognate with 臭い (kusai, “stinky, smelly”), 腐る (kusaru, “to rot, to become stinky”).

糞爺い


脱

脱原発


生

From Old Japanese. Numerous derivatives already in use in the Heian period.

生演奏

生クリーム

生ビール

生卵


生

Likely a contraction from 生き (iki, “life, living; freshness”).

生糸

生娘


聖

Phono-semantic matching of English saint, from Latin sanctus.

(Catholicism) prefix added to the names of saints


草

From Old Japanese, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *kusa. Found in the Man'yōshū, completed some time after 759 CE. Possibly cognate with Korean 꽃 (kkot, “flower”).
The development of the fake, amateur senses is unclear.

草蜉蝣

a lacewing fly (literally, “fake or mimic dragonfly”, from the visual resemblance)

草野球、草競馬

amateur or pick-up baseball, small-time horse-racing


豊

Daijirin
Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Kojiki
Kōjien
Man'yōshū
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Shinmura Izuru

From Old Japanese. Found in the Kojiki of 712 and the Man'yōshū of 759.
Not used on its own. Appears only in compounds where this term is directly followed by another noun or verb, or where this term is followed by the particle の (no) and then another noun or verb.

豊の年／豊年、豊御酒

a rich year / a year with bumper crops, bounteous sake

sufficient, abundant, bounteous, ample, rich, wealthy


諸

琉球諸言語


計

2019 May 28, 邦人がコカインのみ込み密輸か 機内で発作、死亡https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO45347590Y9A520C1CC0000/ in 日本経済新聞
司法解剖で胃や腸からコカインが入った計246個の袋が見つかり、当局は死因を麻薬の過剰摂取による心不全と断定。
Shihōkaibō de i ya chō kara kokain ga haitta kei nihyakuyonjūroku ko no fukuro ga mitsukari, tōkyoku wa shīn o mayaku no kajō sesshu ni yoru shinfuzen to dantei.
Through the forensic autopsy, a total of 246 bags containing cocaine were found in the stomach and intestines. The authorities determined the cause of death to be heart failure caused by a drug overdose.


輌

Nonstandard spelling of 輛/両 (“cars of a train”).


超

超能力

超能力 ちょうのうりょく

超臨界水

超臨界水 ちょうりんかいすい

超低周波音: infrasound

超低周波音 ちょうていしゅうはおん

超音波

extra-; hyper-; mega-; meta-; para-; super-; trans-; ultra-

超好き

超キモい


貴

From Middle Chinese 貴 (MC kjw+jH, literally “precious, noble, superior”).

貴様: you

superior; derogatory: the original meaning degraded over time, becoming ironic, and then insulting

貴公子、貴婦人、貴賓

[young] nobleman, noblewoman, superior guest

(archaic) added to nouns related to people to indicate superiority

貴店

(archaic) added to nouns to indicate respect and possession: your


逸

Daijirin Daijisen Kyūjitai Shinjitai ja:松村明 Ōsaka

/iti/ → /it͡ɕi/
Cognate with adverbs 甚 (ita, ito, “very, exceedingly”).
The use of this kanji is an example of phonetic ateji (当て字), possibly by extension of the "great, superb, outstanding" senses.


被

From Middle Chinese 被 (bjeᴴ, “to cover”), from the term's use in Chinese as a passive marker.

被傭者

被験者

被減数

被保護国

-ed, -ee (marks the passive recipient of an action)


過

過 (canonical)
ka- (romanization)
kwa- (romanization)
くわ (hiragana historical)


遠

遠 (canonical)
tō- (romanization)
tofo- (romanization)
とほ (hiragana historical)

⟨to₂po⟩ → */təpo/ → /tofo/ → /towo/ → /toː/
From Old Japanese.
Stem of classical adjective 遠し (tōshi), modern 遠い (tōi, “distant, far”).


野

野兎


重

ja-pos

重(じゅう) • (jū-)

involving large-scale manufacture, heavy

great in degree, heavy, serious, severe, hard, difficult


道

道 (canonical)
dō- (romanization)
dau- (romanization)
だう (hiragana historical)

/dau/ → /dɔː/ → /doː/
From Middle Chinese 道 (MC dawX). Compare modern Mandarin 道 (dào), Cantonese 道 (dou⁶).

道央自動車道

自動車道 じどうしゃどう

Dō-Ō Expressway (literally "Central Hokkaido Expressway")


雛

*/pina/ → /fina/ → /hina/
Appears to be from Old Japanese. The derivative form hiwina (later hīna) appears in The Tale of Genji, dated to before 1021.

diminutive prefix, carrying favorable connotations such as a sense of cuteness

雛霰: a type of 霰 given as an offering to the hina doll on Hina matsuri

雛市: a market selling hina doll and accoutrement for Hina matsuri

雛菓子: sweets given as offering on the 雛壇 at Hina matsuri

雛形尺

a bamboo ruler made to be as long as the width of a bolt of cotton fabric

a type of 蚊帳吊草 native to wet areas in Honshū

雛鑑定器: a chicken tester

雛鑑定器 ひなかんていき

雛鑑別者: a chicken sexer

雛鑑別者 ひなかんべつしゃ

雛桔梗

a type of bluebell or bellflower of the genus Wahlenbergia

雛罌粟, 雛芥子

Papaver rhoeas, the common field or red poppy

the part of an 烏帽子 just below the front peak that protrudes slightly

a short kimono for children up to the age of one

made from one piece of fabric and without a seam up the back

雛段: a special tiered display for hina doll

a similarly tiered platform for kabuki musicians

the tiered seats for minister in the Diet

雛流し, 雛流

letting loose small boats made of paper, ceramic, or other materials and holding hina dolls on rivers or the sea on the night of Hina matsuri

雛の簪

an annual plant of the family Polygalaceae, a type of milkwort

雛の錫杖

an annual flowering plant of family Burmanniaceae

雛の使い

in modern Japan, the act of sending relatives a display of outfitted hina dolls for Hina matsuri

雛欄

an orchid of the genus Amitostigma, native to East Asia

初生雛

a newly hatched chick that has just started eating

後の雛

the counterpart to Hina Matsuri, held on the ninth day of the ninth month in the old lunar calendar

初雛: a girl's first springtime seasonal celebration

the hina dolls set out as decoration at such a time


高

高学歴

high academic achievement; higher education

高画質


鳥

⟨to₂ri⟩ → ⟨*to₂⟩ → /to/
From Old Japanese. Appears to be a shift from tori above.


長

From Old Japanese.
Stem form of classical adjective 長し (nagashi), modern 長い (nagai, “long, lengthy”).


か

First cited to The Tale of Genji (c. 1001-1014).

か + 弱い (yowai) → か弱い (kayowai)

か + 細い (hosoi) → か細い (kabosoi)

(emphatic, before an adjective, non-productive) very


お

御: honorific prefix to make a word polite


ひ

ひ + 弱い (yowai) → ひ弱い (hiyowai)

(emphatic, before an adjective, non-productive) indeed, truly


ご

御: honorific prefix used before on'yomi nouns


ど

ど (canonical)
ド (canonical)
do- (romanization)

Appears to be a relatively recent innovation. In mainstream Japanese, this prefix is used as an intensifier. In the Kansai region, the meaning has further developed to convey more negative overtones.
The ultimate derivation is unclear. This may be an extension of the noun 度 (do, “degree, extent”).

どあほ


ど

何: indeterminate prefix, used to form question words such as 何れ (dore, “which”, literally “which one”) or 何処 (doko, “where”, literally “what place”)


いと

Likely from Old Japanese [Term?]. Attested from at least the mid-ninth century.

(archaic) affixed to a noun referring to a person, indicating early childhood


うん

Onomatopoeia of the grunting noise made when straining oneself in effort.
The prefix usage appears in the Kanto region during the Edo period.

うん飲む

(archaic) added to various verbs to indicate forceful or excessive action


P

MS Pゴシック

プロポーショナル プロポーショナル#Japanese

(typography, especially in typeface names) Initialism of プロポーショナル (puropōshonaru, “proportional”).


いき

伊木 域 閾 位記 依稀 意気 異気 遺棄 委棄 偉器 彝器 彙記 移記


いろ

/iro₂/ → /iro/
From Old Japanese. First cited in ancient texts such as the Kojiki of 712.
Cognate with いら (ira). Appears to be distinct from 色 (⟨iro₂⟩ → iro, “color”).


ぶん

Sandhi of 打ち (buchi, “hitting”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 打つ (butsu, “to hit, to strike”).
The buchi- becomes bun- when prefixing a verb that starts with an n or m sound.

ぶん殴る

to whale on someone or something, to slug or wallop someone or something

ぶん回し: a compass

device for drawing circles or measuring; archaic


ずい

Unknown. Possibly from 髄 (zui, “bone marrow”); compare the sense development that led to the senses “something straight; an exact direction, an immediate area” for reading 髄 (zun).
First appears in the early 1500s.

(archaic) exactly that, directly or immediately that


ぐう

ぐうかわ

ぐうの音も出ない ぐうの音も出ない#Japanese

(slang) Contraction of ぐうの音も出ない (gū no ne mo denai).


スーパー

スーパー • (sūpā-)

From English super, super-, from Latin super, super- (literally “over, over-”).


高麗

Goguryeo
Goryeo
Koma clan
Man'yōshū
ja:高麗 (曖昧さ回避)

⟨ko₂ma⟩ → */koma/ → /koma/
From Old Japanese. As phonetic evidence, appears in the Man'yōshū, completed some time after 759 CE.
May be a Baekje ethnonym.
Alternatively, may be a Goguryeo word or name, given the history of the Koma clan, Goguryeo migrants to Eastern Honshū during the 660s.

indicates something that was originally imported from the Korean Peninsula

高麗人

a person from the Goguryeo or Goryeo kingdoms on the Korean peninsula

高麗楽, 狛楽

a kind of traditional court music originally imported via the Korean Peninsula

高麗錦, 狛錦

a kind of lace originally imported via the Korean Peninsula

高麗剣, 狛剣

a kind of sword originally imported via the Korean Peninsula


南蛮

From Middle Chinese compound 南蠻 (nom mæn, “southern barbarian”). Compare modern Mandarin 南蠻／南蛮 (Nánmán).
In Japan, this originally referred to the inhabitants of Southeast Asia, particularly the islands of modern-day Philippines and Indonesia. When the Portuguese and Spanish first made contact in Japan, they came from their colonies in Southeast Asia, and were consequently given the same label of nanban. This usage was initially distinct from the separate label 紅毛 (kōmō, “red hair”) used for the Dutch. Over time, this distinction became less important, and the term nanban was used to refer to westerners in general. See also 蛮人(ばんじん) (banjin), 蕃人(ばんじん) (banjin), Hokkien 番人 (hoan-lâng), Hokkien 番仔 (hoan-á), Mandarin 番子 (fānzi), Mandarin 蠻人／蛮人 (mánrén), Mandarin 蠻子／蛮子 (mánzi).

zh-l

南蠻／南蛮 (Nánmán)

南蛮辛子

南蛮辛子 なんばんがらし

南蛮煙管

南蛮煙管 なんばんぎせる

南蛮人

a westerner, a foreigner of European descent

南蛮繁縷

南蛮繁縷 なんばんはこべ


エロ

⇒ Chinese: 工口 (gōngkǒu)

エロ画像

エロ本


ガン

Onomatopoeic. The prefix is from the abbreviation of がんがん (gangan).

ガンギレ

(slang) (before a verbal noun) Used to intensify a verb.


引き

引き + 続く (tsuzuku) → 引き続く (hikitsuzuku)

引き + 出す (dasu) → 引き出す (hikidasu)

引き + 起こす (okosu) → 引き起こす (hikiokosu)

引き + 受ける (ukeru) → 引き受ける (hikiukeru)

引き + 寄せる (yoseru) → 引き寄せる (hikiyoseru)

used in compound verbs, as an intensifier


センチ

Borrowed from French centi-, possibly via English centi-.


立て

連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 立(た)てる (tateru).


トランス

[to̞ɾã̠ɰ̃sɨ]


天竺

ja-pos

天(てん)竺(じく) • (Tenjiku) ^(←てんぢく (tendiku-)?)

天竺 (canonical)
Tenjiku (romanization)
tendiku- (romanization)
てんぢく (hiragana historical)

/tendiku/ → /tend͡ʑiku/
From Middle Chinese 天竺 (MC then trjuwk), a transcription from either of the following:
* Old Persian *Hind-uka ("people living beyond the Indus") an alternative of *Hinduš (“Indus, people of the Indus”)
* Sanskrit सिन्धु (Sindhu, “the country of the Indus river, India (later, after Herodotus)”)
First mentioned in the 後漢書 (Gokansho, “Book of the Later Han”), in volume 88, the 西域伝 (Saiiki Den, “Treatise on the Western Regions”).

[tẽ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑikɯ̟]

天竺織: → a kind of thick woven cloth featuring various designs of birds

天竺楽: → those pieces of 雅楽 originating from India

天竺茄子: → alternate for 朝鮮朝顔: the devil's trumpet

天竺豆: → alternate for 八升豆

the velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens; Indian bean

the fasciculatum variety of Capsicum annuum

天竺様: → a style of Buddhist temple architecture imported from the Southern Song Dynasty during the Kamakura period


つけ

tsuke- (romanization)
tuke- (romanization)
つけ (hiragana historical)

連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 付(つ)ける (tsukeru, “attach; affix”).

付け麺

cold Chinese noodles accompanied by soup for dipping

付け下げ

method of patterning traditional Japanese clothing


たて

All semantically derived from stem noun form tate of verb 立てる (tateru, “to stand something up, to set something up”), from verb 立つ (tatsu, “to stand, to be established, to be situated”).

立, 立て: prefixed to a person or role: the head or lead in a group; prefixed to a verb: an intensifier


プチ

プチ (canonical)
ぷち (canonical)
puchi- (romanization)

プチトマト

プチ報告


打ち

不幸が打ち続く

adds emphasis to the verb, (e.g. 打(う)ち寄(よ)せる (uchiyoseru), 打(う)ち捨(す)てる (uchisuteru), 打(う)ち続(つづ)く (uchitsuzuku))

makes the verb softer, a little bit, briefly, (e.g. 打(う)ち見(み)る (uchimiru, “to glance at”))

makes the verb more abstract, (e.g. 打(う)ち明(あ)ける (uchiakeru), 打(う)ち解(と)ける (uchitokeru))


打ち

add emphasis to the verb, violently, strongly, quickly, suddenly, (e.g. 打(ぶ)ち込(こ)む (buchikomu), ぶっ殺(ころ)す (bukkorosu), ぶん殴(なぐ)る (bunnaguru))


さか

saka- (romanization)
さか (hiragana historical)


マイ

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from my


サブ

アスラ斬魔伝、武力 ONE を主に配信します。高田馬場ゲーセンミカドのサブチャンネルです。

Asura Zanmaden, Buriki Wan o omo ni haishin shimasu. Takadanobaba Gēsen Mikado no sabuchanneru desu.

We broadcast mainly Asura Zanmaden and Buriki One. This is a Takadanobaba Mikado Arcade subchannel.


もろ

moro- (romanization)
もろ (hiragana historical)

From Old Japanese. Attested in the Nihon Shoki of 720 in the compound 諸木舟 (moroki fune, “a boat or ship constructed of many pieces of lumber”).

諸手、諸腰、諸刃、双親、両筈

morote, morokoshi, moroha, morōya, morohazu

both hands, both hips, double-bladed, both parents, both nocks (a sumo move wherein the wrestler gets both arms under the opponent's arms and pushes)

諸人、諸諸、諸越

many people / all of the people, lots of things / various things, all those Yue / the Hundred Yue (a confederation of tribes in ancient China)

諸声、諸向き

a chorus / voices in harmony, everyone or everything facing the same direction

諸: indicating something done by many people or things together


げろ

げろ (canonical)
ゲロ (canonical)
gero- (romanization)

ゲロむずい


後天性

後天性 (canonical)
kōtensei- (romanization)

[ko̞ːtẽ̞ɰ̃se̞ː]

後天 (kōten, “posteriority”) + 性 (-sei, “-ity; -ness”)


ノン

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from non-.

pseudo-loan

ノンクレジットＯＰ

ノンテロップＥＤ

ノンセクション

ノンアポ


ボン

(only used in compounds, used in phrases borrowed from French) good


えせ

えせ (canonical)
エセ (canonical)
ese- (romanization)
えせ (hiragana historical)

エセ関西弁


摩訶

摩訶 (canonical)
摩訶 (canonical)
maka- (romanization)

Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Kūkai
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra
ja:大毘盧遮那成仏神変加持経
ja:弘法大師

From Middle Chinese 摩訶 (MC ma xa), in turn a borrowing from Sanskrit महा (mahā), itself the combining form of महत् (mahat, “great”).
First cited in Japanese to the 824 Buddhist text 大日経開題 (Dainichikyō Kaidai), a commentary written by 弘法大師 (Kōbō Daishi, also known as Kūkai) on the 大毘盧遮那成仏神変加持経 (Dai Birushana Jōbutsu Jinben Kaji Kyō, “Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra”).

(Buddhism) great, excellent (used as an epithet on the names of people or things)


にせ

にせ (canonical)
ニセ (canonical)
nise- (romanization)


ニセ

ニセ (canonical)
にせ (canonical)
nise- (romanization)


どす

どす (canonical)
ドス (canonical)
dosu- (romanization)


真っ

prefixes nouns, adjectives or adjectival nouns for intensification; really; truly; totally; completely


うす

usu- (romanization)
うす (hiragana historical)


しみ

染み 凍み 紙魚 至味 詩味 旨味

(The following entries are uncreated: 凍み, 至味, 詩味, 旨味.)

ja-see

しみ真実


トンデモ

From とんでもない (tondemonai, “extraordinary, outrageous, completely unexpected”).

ja-r

トンデモ研究

トンデモ理論


との

との曇る雨降る

rain falls from a completely overcast sky

(obsolete) prefixed to verbs to indicate an adequate or complete degree


メタ

From Ancient Greek μετα- (meta-, “amid, after”), via English meta-.

bor

メタ言語

2019, Namori, “131★世の中大体、寝不足のせい。 [Every Trouble in Life Is Caused by Sleep Deprivation]”, in ゆるゆり [Yuru Yuri], volume 17 (fiction), Ichijinsha, →ISBN:

Your art style's kinda different than usual…
Really? Maybe because we were on hiatus for so long!?
Enough with the metajokes!

お前 いつもと画風が違うけど…
え まじ？しばらく休載してたからかな⁉
メタ発信はやめろ！

O-mae itsumo to gafū ga chigau kedo…
E maji? Shibaraku kyūsai shiteta kara ka na⁉
Meta-hasshin wa yamero!


死に

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 死ぬ (shinu, “to die”).

negative or pejorative intensifier: bloody, stupid, goddamn

死に戯け

bloody foolishness, goddamn messing around


ゆるふわ

[jɯ̟ɾɯ̟ɸɯ̟β̞a̠]

2013-08-13, “晴れのちメアリージェーンにて”, はりー (lyrics):

わたしのアイドル ア◯シのジュンと 炭酸草食系ゆるふわの
何だったけ誰だったけ まぁいいや 足して割ったような イケメン発見

watashi no aidoru A◯shi no Jun to tanso sōshokukei yurufuwa no
nan datta ke dare datta ke mā ii ya tashite watta yō na ikemen hakken

soft and gentle, typically in a feminine way


素っ

prefixes nouns, adjectives for intensification


すめら

天皇

the Emperor/Empress Regnant (literally, “imperial man”)

天皇/皇尊

His/Her Majesty the Emperor/Empress Regnant (literally, “imperial august thing”)

神日本磐余彦天皇 ― Kan'yamato Iwarebiko no Sumeramikoto ― His Majesty, Lord Iware of Divine Yamato

始馭天下之天皇

His Majesty, the First Ruler of the Land

皇御国

His/Her Majesty's empire (literally, “imperial august land”)

皇御軍

His/Her Majesty's military (literally, “imperial august fighters”)


ずぶ

zubu- (romanization)
ずぶ (hiragana historical)


うな

una- (romanization)
うな (hiragana historical)

大辞泉 w:ja:大辞泉


野良

野良イヌ


まかり

makari- (romanization)
まかり (hiragana historical)