若しくは

Japanese

Kanji in this term
若
も Grade: 6
kun'yomi

Etymology

もし (moshi, “if”) + く (ku, adverbial suffix) + は (ha, topic-marking particle). Calque of Literary Chinese 若.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) もしくは [móꜜshìkù wà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [mo̞ɕi̥kɯ̟ β̞a̠]

Conjunction

若(も)しくは • (moshiku wa) 

1. or

   Synonyms: または (mata wa), あるいは (arui wa), 乃至 (naishi)

Usage notes

• This term is often spelled in hiragana, as もしくは.
• Used in conjunction with 又は (mata wa) to form complex lists, particularly in legal contexts. Mata wa divides subsets within the list while moshiku wa is used to conjoin more closely related items.
  • 1946, Constitution of Japan, Article 89:

    公金(こうきん)その他(た)の公(おほやけ)の財產(ざいさん)は、宗(しゆう)敎(けう)上(じやう)の組(そ)織(しき)若(も)しくは團體(だんたい)の使(し)用(よう)、便益(べんえき)若(も)しくは維持(ゐぢ)のため、又(また)は公(おほやけ)の支(し)配(はい)に屬(ぞく)しない慈(じ)善(ぜん)、敎育(けういく)若(も)しくは博愛(はくあい)の事(じ)業(げふ)に對(たい)し、これを支(し)出(しゆつ)し、又(また)はその利(り)用(よう)に供(きよう)してはならない。

    Kōkin sono ta no ōyake no zaisan wa, shūkyōjō no soshiki moshiku wa dantai no shiyō, ben'eki moshiku wa iji no tame, mata wa ōyake no shihai ni zokushinai jizen, kyōiku moshiku wa hakuai no jigyō ni taishi, kore o shishutsu shi, mata wa sono riyō ni kyōshite wa naranai.

    No public money or other property shall be expended or (mata wa) appropriated for the use, benefit or (moshiku wa) maintenance of any religious institution or (moshiku wa) association, or (mata wa) for any charitable, educational or (moshiku wa) benevolent enterprises not under the control of public authority.