〼

〼 U+303C, 〼 MASU MARK ← 〻 [U+303B] CJK Symbols and Punctuation 〽 → [U+303D]

Japanese

Etymology 1

〼 (masu): a traditional masu measuring cup.

Used pictographically as an image of a traditional masu square measuring cup.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ます​ [màsúꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• (Tokyo) ます [màsú] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ma̠sɨᵝ]

Noun

〼(ます) • (masu) 

1. alternative typography of 枡: a traditional masu square measuring cup

Etymology 2

Used phonetically as shorthand for the masu polite verb ending, by homophony of 枡 (masu) and the suffix ます (masu).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ma̠sɨᵝ]

Suffix

〼(ます) • (-masu) 

1. alternative typography of ます: the polite verb ending

Usage notes

Popular shorthand in the Edo period. The use of this symbol for the verb suffix ます (masu) became less common during the 20th century. Now with the advent of IME software and texting on mobile phones, use of this symbol is increasing once again. It is now garnering increasing application in replacing ます elsewhere as well, such as in ますます (masumasu).

Related terms

• (Japanese ligatures and scribal abbreviations) 〆(しめ) (shime), 𪜈(とも) (tomo), ゟ (yori), ヿ (koto), 𬼀(して) (shite), 〼(ます) (masu), ヶ (“graphical abbreviation for 箇”), 々 (“iteration mark”), ゝ (“iteration mark for hiragana”), ヽ (“iteration mark for katakana”)