にがよ

Okinawan

Etymology

Literally "bitter generation".

The expected modern Shuri reflex would have been *んじゃゆ (*njayu).

Noun

にがよ (nigayo) 

1. 苦世: (Old Okinawan) bad year; bad age

   Antonym: あまよ (amayo > *amayu)

   • 1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi

     はなくすく　おわる　みかなしの　てだの　にかよう　あまよ　なす　てだ

     fanagusuku owaru mikanashi no teda no nigayo(o) amayo nasu teda

     I visit Fanagusuku; the bitter age sun makes the sweet age sun.

   • 1711, Konkōkenshū:

     にかよう　　凶歳の事也

     Nigayo(o). Bad age.

References

• Okinawa Kogo Daijiten Henshū I'inkai (沖縄古語大辞典編集委員会) (1995) 沖縄古語大辞典 [Dictionary of Archaic Okinawan], Tokyo (東京都): Kadokawa Shoten (角川書店), →ISBN, page 504