嫦娥

Euphemistic form of 姮娥 (Héng'é) from the Han dynasty, since 姮 (héng) is homophonous with 恆／恒 (héng), the personal name of Emperor Wen of Han.

嫦娥

1. (Chinese mythology) Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon

• 廣寒仙子／广寒仙子

嫦娥

1. (figurative) moon
2. (figurative) graceful, beautiful woman

/d͡ʑjauɡa/ → /d͡ʑɔːɡa/ → /d͡ʑoːɡa/

From Middle Chinese 嫦娥 (MC dzyang nga, “Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon”).

The 呉音 (goon) pronunciation, so likely the initial borrowing.

First cited in Japanese to a text from 827.[1]

• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞ːɡa̠]

嫦(じょう)娥(が) • (Jōga) ^{←じやうが (zyauga)?}

1. [from 827] (Chinese mythology) Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon

   Synonym: 姮娥 (Kōga)

2. [from 827] (poetic) the moon

• Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
• Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
• Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
• “嫦娥”, in 日本大百科全書：ニッポニカ (Nippon Dai Hyakka Zensho: Nipponica, “Encyclopedia Nipponica”)‎ (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 1984

嫦娥 • (Thường Nga)

1. chữ Hán form of Thường Nga (“moon goddess”).