よすが

See also: よすか

Japanese

Alternative spellings
縁 因 便

Etymology

⟨yo₂su ka⟩ → */jəsuka/ → /josuɡa/

Shift from Old Japanese yosuka, itself a compound of 寄す (yosu, “to bring near, to draw close”) +‎ 処 (ka, “place”). The ka shifted to voiced ga in Early Middle Japanese.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) よすが [yóꜜsùgà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• (Tokyo) よすが [yòsúgá] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [jo̞sɨɡa̠]

Noun

よすが • (yosuga) 

1. something to rely on; a connection, affinity
2. someone to rely on; a relative
3. an opportunity, way, means

Synonyms

• 頼(たよ)り (tayori)
• 因(ちな)み (chinami)
• 縁(えん) (en)