Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/sinu

This Proto-Japonic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Japonic

Etymology

There is some uncertainty about derivation.

• This term might be a fusion of borrowed element *si from Old Chinese 死 (OC *hljiʔ) + native verb *inu (“to go away; to die”, reflected as Classical Japanese 去ぬ (inu)). In kanbun texts, the compound 死去 is attested as far back as 721.

• Alternatively, this might be a purely native term, with the phonological and semantic overlap with Middle Chinese 死 (MC sijX) entirely accidental.

Verb

*sinu (infinitive *sini)

1. to die

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 死ぬ (sinu)
  • Japanese: 死ぬ (shinu)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *sini
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 死にゅい (shinyui)
    • Kunigami: 死ぬん (shinun)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 死みゅり (shimyuri)
    • Okinawan: 死ぬん (shinun)
    • Okinoerabu: 死にゅん (shinyun)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 死にゅむっ (shinyum)
    • Tokunoshima: 死み (sïmi)
    • Yoron: 死にゅん (shinyun)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 死 (sun)
    • Yaeyama: 死ぬん (sïnun)
    • Yonaguni: 死ぬん (nnun)