戯言

See also: 戲言

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
戯	言
たわ Grade: S	こと > ごと Grade: 2
irregular	kun'yomi

Alternative spellings
戲言 (kyūjitai) 戯事

Possibly from Old Japanese.

Derived from stem tawa- cognate with verb 戯ける (tawakeru, “to joke, jest”) +‎ 言 (koto, “word”). The koto changes to goto as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) たわごと [tàwágótó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ta̠β̞a̠ɡo̞to̞]

Noun

戯(たわ)言(ごと) • (tawagoto) ^{←たはごと (tafagoto)?}

1. nonsense, balderdash

   Synonym: 戯れ言 (zaregoto, tawamuregoto)

Derived terms

• 口(くち)戯(たわ)言(ごと) (kuchi tawagoto), 口(くち)戯(だわ)言(ごと) (kuchi-dawagoto)
• 野(の)戯(だわ)言(ごと) (nodawagoto)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
戯	言
ぎ Grade: S	げん Grade: 2
kan'yōon	kan'on

Alternative spelling
戲言 (kyūjitai)

From a corruption of Middle Chinese 戲言 (MC xjeH ngjon).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ぎげん [gìgéń] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɡʲiɡẽ̞ɴ]

Noun

戯(ぎ)言(げん) • (gigen) 

1. nonsense, balderdash

   Synonym: 戯れ言 (zaregoto, tawamuregoto)

Derived terms

• 天(てん)子(し)に戯(ぎ)言(げん)なし (tenshi ni gigen nashi)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
戯	言
け Grade: S	げん Grade: 2
goon	kan'on

Alternative spelling
戲言 (kyūjitai)

From Middle Chinese 戲言 (MC xjeH ngjon).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) けげん [kègéń] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ke̞ɡẽ̞ɴ]

Noun

戯(け)言(げん) • (kegen) 

1. nonsense, balderdash

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
戯	言
け Grade: S	ごん Grade: 2
goon

Alternative spelling
戲言 (kyūjitai)

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 戲言 (MC xjeH ngjon).

Noun

戯(け)言(ごん) • (kegon) 

1. (rare) nonsense, balderdash