Japanese edit

Etymology 1 edit

Kanji in this term
まとも
Grade: 3 Grade: 3
jukujikun
Alternative spellings
眞面 (kyūjitai)
正面
真とも

First attested in 1803,[1] but the derivation of the word with the Old Japanese-derived genitive particle (tsu) suggests that the term may be quite older.

Sources list this as a sound shift from compound (ma, real, true, straight) +‎ (tsu, ancient possessive particle) +‎ (mo, face, facing, usually read as omo).[1][2][3][4] Considering the phonology, with the shift from medial /t͡su/ to /to/, this likely derives from ma tsu omo, with the tsu o- contracting to just to.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

真面(まとも) (matomo-na (adnominal 真面(まとも) (matomo na), adverbial 真面(まとも) (matomo ni))

  1. [from at least 1803] direct, straight, frontwards
    Synonym: 正面 (shōmen)
  2. [from 1814] honest, proper, upright, correct, appropriate
    Synonyms: 正直 (shōjiki, honest), 正しい (tadashii, proper, upright)
    まともな食事(しょくじ)をしていない
    matomo na shokuji o shite inai
    not eating proper meals → eating badly
Inflection edit

Etymology 2 edit

Kanji in this term

Grade: 3
おもて
Grade: 3
kun’yomi
Alternative spellings
眞面 (kyūjitai)
真表

Compound of (ma, real, true; straight) +‎ (omote, front side, front facing).[1][3]

First attested in 1896.[1]

Not included in some dictionaries.[4][5]

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

()(おもて) (maomote

  1. (uncommon) the direct front of something
    Synonyms: 正面 (shōmen), 真向い (mamukai)

Etymology 3 edit

Kanji in this term

Grade: 3

Grade: 3
kun’yomi irregular
Alternative spelling
眞面 (kyūjitai)

Alternative spelling for 真秀 (maho, sufficient, complete, in order).[1]

Definitions edit

For pronunciation and definitions of 真面 – see the following entry.
真秀まほ
[adjective] [late 900s – ???] (archaic, possibly obsolete) excellent, ample, complete
[adjective] [late 900s – ???] (archaic, possibly obsolete) proper, genuine
[adjective] [late 900s – ???] (archaic, possibly obsolete) straightforward, honest
(This term, 真面, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

References edit

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 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. 5.0 5.1 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