あけび

Japanese

Etymology 1

Alternative spellings
通草 木通 蓪

Uncertain, with a couple different theories.

• 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.

• A shift from akami, as a compound of 赤 (aka, “red”) +‎ 実 (mi, “fruit, seed”).

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.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あけび [àkébí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ke̞bʲi]

Noun

あけび or アケビ • (akebi) ^{←あけび (akebi)?}

1. [from late 800s] chocolate vine (Akebia quinata)
2. [date uncertain] (slang) female genitals (possibly from the shape of the ripened and opened fruit)

   Synonym: 女陰 (jōin)

Usage notes

• 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.

Synonyms

• 郁子(むべ) (mube)

Descendants

• Translingual: Akebia

Etymology 2

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

【明日ぬくい】 [proper noun] a surname Alternative spellings あけひ, みょうが, ぬくひ

(This term, あけび (akebi), 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.)