Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/sin-

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

*sin- (infinitive *sini)

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)