アマビエ

Japanese

Etymology

Likely a corruption of 尼(あま)彦(びこ) (amabiko) [katakana: ヤマビコ], a mythical creature said to foretell disease or poor harvest. Attested since at least 1846 (see quotation below).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [a̠ma̠bʲie̞]

Noun

肥後アマビエ: 19th century woodblock print of the creature

アマビエ • (amabie) ^{←アマビヱ (amabiwe)?}

1. a mythical creature said to emerge from the sea and predict either good harvest or epidemic disease
   • 1999 [1846], Yumoto Kōichi, Meiji yōkai shinbun [Meiji-era monster newspapers], reproduction of original woodblock print, page 196:

     私(わたくし)ハ海(かい)中(ちゅう)ニ住(じゅう)アマビヱト申(さる)者(もの)也(なり)

     watakushi wa kaichū ni jū amabie to saru mono nari

     I am the creature called amabie that lives in the sea

   • 2020 November 9, “‘Tōmi suna no amabie mappu’ kōkai [‘Tomi sand amabie map’ released]”, in Tōmi-shi [Tomi city office]‎^[1], archived from the original on 23 October 2020:

     そんなコロナ禍(か)においても、「心(こころ)安(やす)らぐ時(じ)間(かん)をお届(とど)けしたい」という思(おも)いが、アマビエ一(いっ)体(たい)一(いっ)体(たい)の個(こ)性(せい)に表(ひょう)現(げん)されています。

     Sonna korona-ka ni oite mo,“kokoro yasuragu jikan o otodoke-shitai” to iu omoi ga, amabie ittai-ittai no kosei ni hyōgen sarete-imasu.

     Even amid the coronavirus disaster people think, ‘I want time to relax,’ which may be expressed through the individuality of each amabie figure.

Usage notes

The creature came to national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic after its image was said to prevent pandemic disease.