本動詞

Japanese

Kanji in this term
本	動	詞
ほん Grade: 1	どう Grade: 3	し Grade: 6
on'yomi	kan'yōon	kan'on

Examples
見る (miru, “see, watch, look, gaze”) is a main verb, spelt with the kanji 見, in the clause 星を見る (hoshi o miru, “gaze at stars”). The same verb becomes a supplementary verb, spelt only with kana, in the clause 読んでみる (yonde miru, “try reading”).

Etymology

Compound of 本 (hon, “main”) +‎ 動詞 (dōshi, “verb”).^[1]^[2]^[3]

First cited in 1930.^[1]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ほんどーし [hòńdóꜜòshì] (Nakadaka – [3])^[3]
IPA^(key): [hõ̞ndo̞ːɕi]

Noun

本(ほん)動(どう)詞(し) • (hondōshi)

[from 1930] (grammar) a main verb

Usage notes

In Japanese grammar, certain free verbs or 自立語 (jiritsugo) can become grammaticalized and lose their original meanings, in which case they become 補助動詞 (hojo dōshi, “supplementary verbs”).

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 “本動詞”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
^ “本動詞”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎^[2] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[KDJ2-1] 1.0 ^1.1 “本動詞”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006

[DDJS-2] “本動詞”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎^[2] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months

[DJR-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

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[3]