差し

Japanese

Kanji in this term
差
さ Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) さし​ [sàshíꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [sa̠ɕi]

Etymology 1

The 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 差(さ)す (sasu, “to shine on something; to become apparent on the surface of something; to stick something onto something else to apply, such as lipstick; to stick something upwards and hold it, as an umbrella; to stick something through one's sash and wear it”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) さし​ [sàshíꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [sa̠ɕi]

Noun

差(さ)し • (sashi) 

1. the act of shining on something, such as sunlight
2. the act of becoming apparent on the surface of something, such as blushing
3. the act of sticking something onto something else to apply, such as lipstick
4. the act of sticking something upwards and holding it, such as an umbrella
5. the act of sticking something through one's sash and wearing it, such as a katana

Verb

差(さ)し • (sashi) 

1. stem or continuative form of 差す (sasu) [godan]

Etymology 2

Clipping of 物差し (monosashi). The longer form first appears in texts from the late 1500s during the late Muromachi Period, while the clipping first appears from 1765.

Noun

差(さ)し • (sashi) 

1. (regional) Clipping of 物差し (monosashi, “ruler”).