Japanese edit

Kanji in this term
ほん
Grade: 1
どう
Grade: 3

Grade: 6
on’yomi kan’yōon kan’on
Examples

見る (miru, see, watch, look, gaze) is a main verb, spelt with the kanji , in the clause 星を見る (hoshi o miru, gaze at stars). The same verb becomes a supplementary verb, spelt only with kana, in the clause 読んでみる (yonde miru, try reading).

Etymology edit

Compound of (hon, main) +‎ 動詞 (dōshi, verb).[1][2][3]

First cited in 1930.[1]

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

(ほん)(どう)() (hondōshi

  1. [from 1930] (grammar) a main verb

Usage notes edit

In Japanese grammar, certain free verbs or 自立語 (jiritsugo) can become grammaticalized and lose their original meanings, in which case they become 補助動詞 (hojo dōshi, supplementary verbs).

References edit

  1. 1.0 1.1 本動詞”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, Nihon Kokugo Daijiten)[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000
  2. ^ 本動詞”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎[2] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
  3. 3.0 3.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN