ややもすれば

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Japanese

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Alternative spelling
動もすれば

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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(やや) (yaya, slightly) + particle (mo, even) + すれ (sure), the 仮定形(かていけい) (kateikei) of する (suru, to do) + hypothetical conditional particle (-ba, if); literally "if one does slightly [then the subject in question will...]", i.e. "easily, inclined to".

The superimposition of the kanji (move) onto やや (yaya, slightly), a component with a different meaning than the superimposed kanji, is only in this set phrase, and can be understood in the context of movement, as in "if one [ever so slightly as] moves [then the subject in question will...]".

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ja̠ja̠ mo̞ sɨɾe̞ba̠]

Adverb

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ややもすれば (yaya mo sureba

  1. easily; inclined to