やわら

Japanese

Etymology 1

Derivation unclear. There are two main theories.^[1]^[2]

May be a phonetic shift from older term やおら (yaora, adverb) of very similar meaning. That term is regarded as having the derivational historical kana spelling of やをら, yielding this likely development:

/jawora/ → /jawara/

May instead be cognate with 柔ら (yawara, “gentle, supple”, adjective) below. That term has the derivational historical kana spelling of やはら, yielding this development:

/japara/ → /jaɸara/ → /jawara/

Notably, the derivationally correct historical kana spellings for this term やわら (yawara) are uncertain.^[1]^[2]

If やわら (yawara) is cognate with 柔ら (yawara), the historical kana spelling for やわら would be やはら.^[1]^[2]
If やわら (yawara) is from やおら (yaora), the historical kana spelling for やわら would be やわら.^[1]^[2]

However, the derivation of synonym やおら (yaora) and its historical kana spelling is similarly unclear, and やおら (yaora) itself may ultimately be cognate with 柔ら (yawara).^[1] Further research is required.

Regardless of derivation, this term was already pronounced as yawara by 1603, as noted in the Nippo Jisho Japanese-Portuguese dictionary published that year.^[3]

First cited in the Utsubo Monogatari of roughly 999.^[1]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ja̠β̞a̠ɾa̠]

Adverb

やわら • (yawara) ^{←やはら (yafara)^?}

[circa 999] gently, leisurely, slowly
- c. 1001–1014, Murasaki Shikibu, Genji Monogatari (Usugumo)
  …心(こころ)づきなうぞ思(おも)ほしなりぬる。やはらづつ引(ひ)き入(い)り給(たま)ひぬるけしきなれば…
  …kokorozuki nō zo omōshi narinuru. Yawara-zutsu hikiiri-tamainuru keshiki nareba…
  (please add an English translation of this example)

Usage notes

Uncommon term. Not listed in some dictionaries.^[4]^[5]

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of やわら – see the following entry.

【柔ら】	[adjective] something fragile, soft, or supple [adjective] something calm or gentle [noun] a martial art involving gentleness, such as judo or jujitsu [noun] (nautical) a straw bale lowered over the side as a fender Alternative spellings 和ら, 軟ら

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

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ Ishizuka, Harumichi (1976 [1603]) 日葡辞書: パリ本 [Nippo Jisho: Paris edition / Vocabulary of the Language of Japan]‎^[1] (overall work in Japanese and Portuguese), Tōkyō: Bensei Publishing; see the Yauara entry online here
^ Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

[KDJ-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[DJR-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[3] Ishizuka, Harumichi (1976 [1603]) 日葡辞書: パリ本 [Nippo Jisho: Paris edition / Vocabulary of the Language of Japan]‎^[1] (overall work in Japanese and Portuguese), Tōkyō: Bensei Publishing; see the Yauara entry online here

[SMK5-4] Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-5] NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

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