Japanese edit

Etymology edit

Generally agreed upon as originating from baby talk.[1][2][3][4]

Derivation unclear. Possibilities include:

/wo wo umai//o o umai//oːmai//opːai/
While suggestive, the phonetic changes required seem unlikely. Moreover, the pitch accent differs, in that うまい (umai) has a high pitch on the ma followed by a downstep, while おっぱい (oppai) has a high pitch on the initial o followed by a downstep.
  • A shift from 一杯 (ippai, one serving, one cupful; full),[4] as something a baby might say when done breastfeeding, or when asking to do so.
/ipːai//opːai/
This seems more likely, as the phonetics align better: only one vowel changes, and the pitch accent in ippai is similar with a high pitch on the initial i followed by a downstep.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

おっぱい or オッパイ (oppai

  1. (childish) milk, breastmilk (liquid)
    Synonyms: (chi, chichi), (adult word for breastmilk) 母乳 (bonyū)
    おっぱい()ようなる
    oppai ga deru yō ni naru
    to become able to produce milk
  2. (anatomy, childish) boobies, titties (breasts)
    Synonyms: パイオツ (paiotsu), (chi, chichi), 乳袋 (chibukuro), 乳房 (chibusa), (more general meaning of chest) (mune)

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

References edit

  1. ^ 1988, 国語大辞典(新装版) (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  3. 3.0 3.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006) 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997) 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  5. ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998) NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK Publishing, →ISBN

Further reading edit