やわら

Japanese

Etymology 1

Derivation unclear. There are two main theories.[1][2]

  • May be a phonetic shift from older term やおら (yaora, adverb) of very similar meaning. That term is regarded as having the derivational historical kana spelling of やをら, yielding this likely development:
/jawora/ → /jawara/
  • May instead be cognate with 柔ら (yawara, “gentle, supple”, adjective) below. That term has the derivational historical kana spelling of やはら, yielding this development:
/japara/ → /jaɸara/ → /jawara/

Notably, the derivationally correct historical kana spellings for this term やわら (yawara) are uncertain.[1][2]

However, the derivation of synonym やおら (yaora) and its historical kana spelling is similarly unclear, and やおら (yaora) itself may ultimately be cognate with 柔ら (yawara).[1] Further research is required.

Regardless of derivation, this term was already pronounced as yawara by 1603, as noted in the Nippo Jisho Japanese-Portuguese dictionary published that year.[3]

First cited in the Utsubo Monogatari of roughly 999.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [ja̠ɰᵝa̠ɾa̠]

Adverb

やわら • (yawara) ←やはら (yafara)?

  1. [circa 999] gently, leisurely, slowly
    • c. 1001–1014, Murasaki Shikibu, Genji Monogatari (Usugumo)
      ...心(こころ)づきなうぞ思(おも)ほしなりぬる。やはらづつ引(ひ)き入(い)り給(たま)ひぬるけしきなれば...
      ...kokorozuki nō zo omōshi narinuru. Yawara-zutsu hikiiri-tamainuru keshiki nareba...
      (please add an English translation of this example)
Usage notes

Uncommon term. Not listed in some dictionaries.[4][5]

Etymology 2
For pronunciation and definitions of やわら – see the following entry.
【柔ら】
[adjective] something fragile, soft, or supple
[adjective] something calm or gentle
[noun] a martial art involving gentleness, such as judo or jujitsu
[noun] (nautical) a kind of straw ball dropped near the boat's side, used to reduce impact
Alternative spellings
和ら, 軟ら
(This term, やわら, is the hiragana spelling of the above term.)

References
  1. 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, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. Ishizuka, Harumichi (1976 [1603]) 日葡辞書: パリ本 [Nippo Jisho: Paris edition / Vocabulary of the Language of Japan]‎ (overall work in Japanese and Portuguese), Tōkyō: Bensei Publishing; see the Yauara entry online here
  4. 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. 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
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