The origin of some Japanese words is quite transparent. However, every language has quite a large number of words in which the relationship of form and meaning is unclear to speakers, because historical word changes have obscured the original form and meaning of the word. Today I want to talk about some of them!
Interesting etymology of 6 Japanese words
1) The word 下尸 /geko/ “non-drinker” used to refer to the category of housing. The dwelling of the highest category was called 上尸 /jyo:go/, the middle one was called 中尸 /chyu:ko/, and the lowest one was called 下尸 /geko/, respectively (the structure of all three words is quite transparent: the character for the level + the character 尸 /ko/ “house”). The inhabitants of 下尸 /geko/ were the poorest, so they could not afford to buy sake, hence the modern meaning of the word 下尸/geko/. In a similar way, the modern meaning of the word 上尸 /jyo:go/ “lovers of drink” arose - residents of the highest class 上尸 /jyo:go/ could afford sake.
2) As you know, the word 怪我 /kega/ “injury” is also used in the sense of "negligence, accidental mistake". For example, in the phrase 怪我の功名/kegano ko:myo:/ “lucky accident” the second meaning of the word 怪我 /kega/ is relevant. It, as linguists assume, is primary, and the meaning of “injury” arose from the fact that one injures oneself due to carelessness. The origin of the word 怪我 /kega/ is not definitely established, perhaps it comes down to 穢る /kegaru/ —穢れる/kegareru/ “to get dirty”.
3)買う /kau/ to buy is etymologically reduced to the word かふ /kau/ (かう/kau/) “to exchange”, which corresponds to the characters 交，替，代 and 換. Indeed, buying involves the exchange of money for goods or goods for goods.
Which etymology was the most interesting? Share in the comments!
