あけび

Japanese

Alternative spellings
通草木通蓪

Uncertain, with a couple different theories.[1][2]

A shift from akemi, as a compound of 開け (ake, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 開(あ)ける (akeru, “to open something”)) +‎ 実 (mi, “fruit, seed”).

However, the stem ake is from the transitive verb, and this fruit opens on its own.

There is also the term 赤 (ake, “red”), but this is only used as a standalone noun, and not in compounds.

Both theories are problematic and require an irregular shift in the reading of 実 from mi to bi, which is not attested in other words.

First cited to a text from the late 800s.[3]

あけび or アケビ • (akebi) ^{←あけび (akebi)^?}

[from late 800s] chocolate vine (Akebia quinata)
[date uncertain] (slang) female genitals (possibly from the shape of the ripened and opened fruit)
Synonym: 女陰 (jōin)

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary), as アケビ.

For pronunciation and definitions of あけび – see the following entry.

[proper noun] a surname

(This term, あけび, is the hiragana spelling of the above term.)
For a list of all kanji read as あけび, see Category:Japanese kanji read as あけび.)

“アケビ・通草”, in 日本辞典 (Nihon Jiten, “Japan Dictionary”) (in Japanese), 2007–2017.
“アケビ／木通／通草／あけび”, in 語源由来辞典 (Gogen Yurai Jiten, “Etymology Derivation Dictionary”) (in Japanese), 2003–2024.
“通草”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎ (in Japanese), concise edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000
Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

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