向こう
Japanese edit
Kanji in this term |
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向 |
む Grade: 3 |
kun’yomi |
Alternative spelling |
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向う |
Etymology edit
Two possible sources:
- From the nominalization of the 終止形 (shūshikei, “terminal form”) or 連体形 (rentaikei, “attributive form”) of the verb 向かう (mukau, “to face”). The modern pronunciation suggests that the morpheme boundary in the original verb muka.u has been lost.
- From the nominalization of the ウ音便 (-u onbin, “-u euphonic change”) form of the verb 向かう (mukau, “to face”) (cf. dialectal forms like 向こうて (mukōte)).
Accordingly, the historical kana spellings should be むかふ according to the former, and むかう according to the latter.[1]
Pronunciation edit
- (Tokyo) むこー [mùkóꜜò] (Nakadaka – [2])[1]
- (Tokyo) むこー [mùkóó] (Heiban – [0])[1][2]
- IPA(key): [mɯ̟ᵝko̞ː]
Noun edit
- other side, opposite side, across
- the coming (several years etc.), the next (time period)
- over there