勢い

Japanese

Kanji in this term
勢
いきお Grade: 5
kun’yomi

Etymology

From classical noun 勢(いきほ)ひ (ikifofi), 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 勢(いきほ)ふ (ikihofu).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) いきお​い [ìkíóꜜì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [ikʲio̞i]

Noun

勢(いきお)い • (ikioi) ^{←いきほひ (ikifofi)?}

1. force; power; strength; energy; vigor

   勢(いきお)いよくボールを投(な)げる

   ikioi yoku bōru o nageru

   throw the ball with full force

   (literally, “throw the ball with excellent vigour”)