Japanese edit

Kanji in this term

Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Etymology edit

From Old Japanese.

Appears to be cognate with an op- stem that also derives modern 大きい (ōkii, big, large), 多い (ōi, many), and possibly 覆う (ōu, to cover).

Verb edit

生ふ(おう) (ouおふ (ofu)?intransitive nidan

  1. (of plants or trees, archaic) to grow large, spring up
    • 905914, Kokin Wakashū (book 8, poem 365; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 16)
      (たち)わかれいなばの(やま)(みね)おふる(まつ)としきかば(いま)かへりこむ
      tachiwakare Inaba-no-yama no mine ni ouru matsu to shi kikaba ima kaerikon
      I leave Mount Inaba with pines growing on its peak. If I hear you say “pine (wait),” I will surely return right away!

Conjugation edit

Derived terms edit

Idioms edit


Old Japanese edit

Etymology edit

Appears to be cognate with an op- stem that also derives the stem (opo-, big, large) and possibly the verb 覆ふ (opu, to cover).

Verb edit

生ふ (opu) (kana おふ)

  1. (of plants or trees) to grow large, spring up
    • 711–712, Kojiki, (poem 91):
      ...母登爾波伊久美陀氣淤斐須恵幣爾波多斯美陀氣淤斐...
      ...mo2to2 ni pa ikumi1dake2 opi2 suwepe1 ni pa tasimi1dake2 opi2...
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 6, poem 925:
      , text here
      烏玉之夜之深去者久木生留淸河原爾知鳥數鳴
      nubatama no2 yo1 no2 puke2yuke2ba pi1sagi2 opuru ki1yo1ki1 kapara ni tido2ri sibanaku
      (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Conjugation edit

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Japanese: 生ふ (ou)