和語

Japanese
Kanji in this term
和 語
わ
Grade: 3		 ご
Grade: 2
goon
Alternative spelling
倭語 (rare)

Etymology

Probably a coinage in Japan of Middle Chinese-derived components, as a compound of 和 (wa, “Japan, Japanese”) +‎ 語 (go, “language, word”).

Pronunciation

Noun

和(わ)語(ご) • (wago) 

  1. (dated) the Japanese language
  2. a Japanese word of ancient Japanese origin, such as 見る (miru, “to look, to see”), 光 (hikari, “shining, brightness”), or 桜 (sakura, “cherry tree, cherry blossom”)

Usage notes

Wago may be written in kanji, kana, or both, and are read with the 訓読み (kun’yomi, “native Japanese reading”, literally “meaning reading”). Contrast with 漢語 (kango, “Japanese word of Chinese origin”, literally “Han Chinese word”).

Synonyms

See also

References
  1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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