Japanese

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Kanji in this term

Grade: 6
くん
Grade: 3
on'yomi

Etymology

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Likely originated as a lapsus linguae of 貴方(きほう) (kihō) with (きみ) (kimi) that eventually gained widespread acceptance.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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()(くん) (kikun

  1. (men's speech, nonstandard) you (primarily used by men in letters to their equals or inferiors)​.[1][2]
    貴君(きくん)のご活躍(かつやく)(いの)ります。
    Kikun no go-katsuyaku o inorimasu.
    I wish you all the best.

Synonyms

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  • 貴公(きこう) (kikō) (primarily used by males when addressing their male equals or inferiors)
  • 貴殿(きでん) (kiden) (primarily used by men in letters to their male equals or superiors)
  • 貴方(きほう) (kihō) (used to address someone of equal social footing)

References

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  1. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN