Physics and Engineering words in Native Japanese

We have some physics and engineering words in Native Japanese, maybe more than you except. Historically the very profound western science was introduced to Japan only after the Meiji Restoration (about 150 years ago). The Japanese scholars at that period had a big problem how to translate the new science words in the western languages (English and German mostly) to Japanese because we had almost no words for these science words. They started to use Chinese origin words since each Chinese origin word can be treated independently with no conjugation. So now most of the science words in Japanese are Chinese origin words. But this does not mean these word are from the Chinese concepts as China did not have most of the western science concepts at that time either like Japan. The Japanese scholars just borrowed Chinese origin words just as patch works to make new words by using some basic meaning of the Chinese origin words. Precisely there were problems but once fixed the new Japanese science words made by this way kept going. We still use a lot of these words and of course in written in Chinese characters and pronounced in the Japanese way.

Meanwhile despite of the above history we have and use some science words translated but originated from Native Japanese, especially in physics and engineering, I think. Let's see some of them with the following simple classification.

1. Verb and Noun pair
2. Adjective and Noun pair
3. Noun only

1. Verb and Noun pair

We already have many two syllable verbs in the post "Playing with Japanese two syllable verbs" so we will start with these and pick out the verbs which are related with physics.

a-ku (あく、 空く)  - 1) to open, 2) to become empty  --  Noun a-ki (あき、空き) - void

su-ku (つく、突く)  - to push, to stick, to attack　--  Noun tsu-ki (つき、突き) - push

na-ku (なく、鳴く)  - to cry, to sing (a bird)　--  Noun tsu-ki (なき、鳴き) - sound
hi-ku (ひく、引く) - 1) to pull, to draw　 --  Noun hi-ki (ひき、引き) - pull
hu-ku (ふく、 吹く - to blow, to explode　 --  Noun hu-ki (ふき、吹き) - blow
ma-ku (まく、巻く) - to wind up --  Noun ma-ki (まき、巻き) - winding, wind
mu-ku (むく、向く) -1)  to turn (to a certain direction) --  Noun mu-ki (むき、向き) - turn, direction
tsu-gu (つぐ、継ぐ)  - to connect, to joint --  Noun tsu-gi-me  (-me is added)  (つぎめ、継ぎ目) - joint
o-su (おす、押す)  - to push　--  Noun o-shi (おし、押し) - push, press, pressure
ha-zu-mu  or ha-zu-mu (はずむ、弾む) - to bounce (up and down)　--  Noun ha-zu-mi (はずみ、弾み) - bouncing, bounce
u-tsu (うつ、打つ)  - to hit, to beat, to strike, to flap　--  Noun u-chi (うち、打ち) - hit, beat, strike, flap
o-tsu --> modern form <o-chi-ru> (おちる、落ちる) to fall　--  Noun o-chi (おち、落ち) - fall
bu (とぶ、1) 飛ぶ、2) 跳ぶ) - 1) to fly; 2) to jump --  Noun to-bi (とび、1) 飛び、2) 跳び) - fly, jump
ku-mu (くむ、組む)  - to make a pair, to construct   --  Noun ku-mi (くみ、組) - pair
shi-mu  --> modern form shi-mi-ru (しみる)   --  Noun  shi-mi (しみ、染み、滲み)－stain
ta-mu  --> modern forms 1) ta-me-ru (ためる、貯める) (transitive verb) to save, to store, 2) ta-ma-ru (たまる、貯まる) (intransitive verb) to be saved, to be stored --  Noun ta-me (ため)- storing, storage, potential
tsu-mu --> modern forms 1) tsu-me-ru (つめる、詰める) (transitive verb) to clog, 2) tsu-ma-ru (つまる、詰まる) (intransitive verb) to be cloged --  Noun tsu-ma-ri  (つまり、詰まり) - clogged, clog
tsu-mu  (つむ、積む)  - to pile up, to load --  Noun tsu-mi  (つみ、積み) - piling up, load
ha-mu  --> modern forms 1) ha-me-ru (はめる、嵌める) (transitive verb) to mate, 2) ha-ma-ru (はまる、嵌まる) (intransitive verb) to be mated --  Noun ha-me  (はめ、嵌め) - mating (bolt and nut, plug and jack)
ka-e-ru  (かえる、返る)  - to return --  Noun ka-e-ri  (かえり、返り) - return, reaction
ka-e-ru  (かえる、換える、替える)  - to change, to replace --  Noun ka-e (かえ、換え、替え) - change, replacement
o-ru  (おる、折る) - to fold --  Noun o-re (おれ、折れ) - folding
so-ru  (そる、反る)  - to bend　--  Noun so-ri (そり、反り) - bending, warp
tsu-ru  (つる、吊る)  to hang, to suspend --  Noun tsu-ri (つり、吊り) - hanging, hang, suspending, suspension
na-ru  (なる、鳴る) - to ring (intransitive verb); to sound --  Noun na-ri (なり、鳴り) - sound, noise. u-na-ri (うなり) beat sound
ha-ru  (はる、張る) - to extend, stretch (a rope, paper), --  Noun ha-ri ((はり、張り) - tension
mo-ru  (もる、漏る)  - to leak (intransitive verb) --  Noun mo-re (もれ、漏れ) - leakage
wa-ru  (わる、割る) - to break (transitive verb)　--  Noun mo-re (われ、割れ) - break

The interesting thing here is that quite many of the English nouns forms have the same as verb forms and these are native English words.  English imported a lot of Latin and Romance language origin words still there are many native English words used in science.
Although we have the above Native Japanese words we have the Chinese character origin words for the above meaning as well. And both Native Japanese words and Chinese character origin words are used depending on the situations and preference. Generally Native Japanese words are more colloquial while Chinese character origin words are more fromal.

Two syllable words are far not enough to cover the physics and engineering words unfortunately. The world is not so simple. The followings are three yllable Native Japanese words (nouns) (some of the original verbs are four syllables) and commonly used.

o-go-ku (うごく、動く) - to become dry　--  Noun u-g--ki (うごき、動き) - movement, motion

o-ku-ru (おくる、送る) - to become dry　--  Noun o-ku-ri (おくり、送り) - transfer, movement

ka-wa-ku (かわく、乾く) - to become dry　--  Noun mo-re (かわき、乾き) - drying, dryness

shi-me-ru (しめる、湿る) - to get soaked, to get wet　--  Noun mo-re (しめり、湿り) - soaking, dampness

ta-ta-ku (たたく) -to beat　--   Noun mo-re (たたき) - beating, beat
ta-wa-mu (たわむ) -to warp　--   Noun ta-wa-mi (たわみ) - warp
chi-ji-mu (ちぢむ、縮む) -to warp　--   Noun chi-ji-mi (ちぢみ、縮み) - warp
to-ma-ru (とまる、止まる) (intransitive verb) - to stop, to-me-ru (とめる、止める) (transitive verb) - to stop st　--  Noun to-me (とめ、止め), to-ma-ri (とまり、止まり)　- stop, cease, fix

ne-ji-ru (ねじる) -to twist　--   Noun ne-ji-re (ねじれ) - twist
no-bu  --> modern forms 1) no-bi-ru (のびる、伸びる) (intransitive verb) - to extend, to stretch, 2) no-ba-su (のばす、伸ばす) (transitive verb)  - to extend, to stretch 　--   Noun no-bi (のび) - extension, growth, stretching
nu-re-ru (ぬれる) - to get wet 　--   Noun mo-re (ぬれ) - wetting
ha-ji-ku (はじく、弾く) - to bounce　--   Noun ha-ji-ki (はじき、弾き) - bouncing
hi-bi-ku (ひびく、響く) - to sound, to vibrate 　--   Noun hi-bi-ki (ひびき、響き) - sound, bibration
hi-ka-ru (ひかる、光る) - to emit light (intransitive verb) 　--   Noun hi-ka-ri (ひかり、光) -light
hi-ne-ru (ひねる) -to twist　--   Noun hi-ne-ri (ひねり) - twist
hu-ru-e-ru (ふるえる、振るえる、震える) - to vibrate, to oscillate　--   Noun hu-ru-e (ふるえ、振え) - vibration, to oscillation
hu-ru-ma-u (ふるまう、振る舞う) - to act, to behave (physically)　--   Noun hu-ru-ma-i (ふるまう、振る舞う) - action, behavior
ma-ge-ru (まげる、曲げる) -to bend　--   Noun ma-ge (まげ、曲げ) - bending


May continue.

Please note that there some grammatical rules in changing the verb form to the noun form. Most of them, simply to change -u (the final vowel of the verb) to -i. Some, simply to cut -ru (the final syllable of the verb).

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2. Adjective and Noun pair

a-ka-ru-i (あかるい、明るい) - bright --  Noun a-ka-ru-sa (あかるさ、明るさ) - brightness
ku-ra-i (くらい、暗い) - dark --  Noun ku-ra-sa (くらさ、暗さ) - darkness
ha-ya-i (はやい、速い) - fast --  Noun ha-ya-sa (はやさ、速さ) - speed
o-so-i (おそい、遅い) - slow, late --  Noun　o-so-sa (おそさ、遅さ) - slowness
no-ro-i (のろい) - slow --  Noun　no-ro-sa (のろさ) - slowness
o-mo-i (おもい、重い) - heavy --  Noun　o-mo-sa (おもさ、重さ) - weight
ka-ru-i (かるい、軽い) - light --  Noun　ka-ru-sa (軽さ) - being light, lightness
ta-ka-i (たかい、高い) - high --  Noun ta-ka-sa (たかさ、高さ) height
hi-ku-i (ひくい、低い) - low --  Noun hi-ku-sa (ひくさ、低さ) being low, lowness
na-ga-i (ながい、長い) -  long --  Noun na-ga-sa (ながさ、長さ) length 
mi-ji-ka-i (みじかい、短い) - short  --  Noun mi-ji-ka-sa （みじさ、短さ) being short, shortness
tsu-yo-i (つよい、強い) - strong  --  Noun tsu-yo-sa （つよさ、強さ) strength 

y-wa-i (よわい、弱い) - weak --  Noun yo-wa-sa（よわさ、弱さ) weakness
ka-ta-i (かたい、硬い) hard --  Noun ka-ta-sa  (かたさ、硬さ) hardness
ya-wa-ra-ka-i (やわらかい、柔らかい) soft --  Noun ya-wa-ra-ka-sa  (やわらかさ、柔らかさ) softness
hi-ku-i  (ひくい、低い) low --  Noun hi-ku-sa  (ひくさ、低さ) lowness
chi-ka-i (ちかい、近い) near, close --  Noun chi-ka-sa  (ちかさ、近さ) nearness, closeness, proximity
to-o-i (とおい、遠い) - distant, far --  Noun　to-o-sa (とおさ、遠さ) - farness, distance
a-at-ta-ka-i (あたたかい、暖かい) worm --  Noun a-at-ta-ka-sa  (あたたかさ、暖かさ) wormness
sa-mu-i (さむい、寒い) cold   --  Noun chi-ka-sa  sa-mu-sa (さむさ、寒さ) coldness
su-zu-shi-i (すずしい、涼しい) cool  --  Noun su-zu-shi-sa (すずしさ、涼しさ) coolness
a-tsu-i (あつい、暑い) hot --  Noun a-tsu-sa (あつさ、暑さ) hotness (climate)
a-tsu-i (あつい、熱い) hot --  Noun a-tsu-sa (あつさ、熱さ) hotness (material temperature)
a-tsu-i (あつい、厚い) thick --  Noun a-tsu-sa (あつさ、厚さ) thickness
u-su-i (うすい、薄い) - thin --  Noun u-su-sa (うすさ、薄さ) thinness
hi-ro-i (ひろい、広い) wide, spacious --  Noun hi-ro-sa (ひろさ、広さ)  space
se-ma-i (せまい、狭い) narrow --  Noun se-ma-sa (せまさ、狭さ)  narrowness (width, space)
hu-ka-i (ふかい、深い) deep -  Noun hu-ka-sa (ふかさ、深さ)  depth
a-sa-i (あさい、浅い) deep -  Noun a-sa-i -sa (あささ、浅さ) shallowness

May continue.

Please note that the changing the adjective form to the noun form is very simple and systematic (grammar-tic) - to repace -i with -sa,  no exception.
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3. Noun only

o-to (おと、音) - sound
ka-sa (かさ) - quantity
ko-da-ma (こだま) - echo
chi-ka-ra (ちから、力) - force
ha-ba (はば、幅) - width
ba (ば、場) - field
o-ku-yu-ki (おくゆき、奥行き) - forward depth (not downward depth)
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May continue.


sptt

Ordinal Numbers in Native Japanese

The ordinal numbers in Native Japanese can be expressed in Native Japanese but only partially and usually only up to 9th or 10th in some cases.

"me" is almost equivalent to the English "th" or more general as "me" (め、目) is used for 1st, 2nd and 3rd while these three have no "th" in English. The original meaning of "me" is  "eye" but have several different meanings derived from "eye". One of these meaning is "index" like in "me-jirushi" (めじるし、目印) literally "eye" - "mark".

1st - hito-tsu-me (ひとつめ, 一つ目)
2nd - huta-tsu-me (ふたつめ, 二つ目)
3rd - mit-tsu-me (みっつめ, 三つ目)
4th - yot-tsu-me (よっつめ, 四つ目)
5th - i-tsu-tsu-me (いつつめ, 五つ目)
6th - mut-tsu-me (むっつめ, 六つ目)
7th - nana-tsu-me (ななつめ, 七つ目)
8th - yat-tsu-me (やっつめ, 八つ目)
9th - kokono-tsu-me (ここのつめ, ここのつ目)
10th - to-me (*) , which is wrong. We use partially Chinese for 10th, ju-ban-me　(じゅうばんめ, 十番目). "me" (め、目) is still used.

"ban-me" continues to be used after 10th

11th - ju-ichi-ban-me (じゅういちばんめ, 十一番目)
12th - ju-san-ban-me　(じゅうにばんめ, 十二番目)
     "
     "
20th - ni-ju-ban-me　(にじゅうばんめ, 二十番目)
21st - ni-ju-ichi-ban-me　(にじゅういちばんめ, 二十一番目)
     "
     "
30th - san-ju-ban-me　(さんじゅうばんめ, 三十番目)

----
For the persons in cardinal numbers, also used "me" but only up to 4th now.

1st person - hito-ri-me　(ひとりめ, 一人目)　(the Chinese version "ichi-nin-me" (いちにんめ,
一人目) is possible but rarely used)　
2nd person - huta-ri-me　(ふたりめ, 二人目) (the Chinese version "ni-nin-me" (ににんめ,
二人目) is possible not commonly used)　
3rd person - mita-ri-me (みたりめ) (this may not be wrong but almost never heard. "san-nin-me" (さんにんめ, 三人目)　is used instead.)
4th person - yottari--me  (よったりめ) (not wrong so can be used. But usually "yo-nin-me" (よにんめ, 四人目) is used.
5th person - go-nin-me (ごにんめ, 五人目) - "go-nin" (ごにん, 五人) in Chinese origin. (probably we use to have "ittari-me" (いったりめ) but never heard so dead already)
6th person - roku-nin-me (ろくにんめ, 六人目)
     "
     "
10th person - ju-nin-me (じゅうにんめ, 十人目)
11th peeron - ju-ichi-nin-me (じゅういちにんめ, 十一人目)
12th person - ju-ni-nin-mw (じゅうさんにんめ, 十三人目)
     "
     "
20th person - ni-ju-nin-me (にじゅうにんめ, 二十人目)

"ri" (り) sounds like Native Japanese meaning "person". But we have a basic word for person, human being, people "hito", which sounds equivalent to the Native Japanese "one". Is this coincidence?

The followings are not used but can be easily understood and sound Native Japanese, of course.

1st person - hito-hito-me (ひとひとめ)
2nd person - huta-hito-me (ふたひとめ)
3rd person - mit-tsu-hito-me or more likely mi-hito-me (みっつひとめ, みひとめ)
4th person - yot-tsu-hito-me or more likely yo-hito-me (よっつひとめ, よひとめ)
5th person - i-tsu-tsu-hito-me  or more likely i-tsu-hito-me or simply i-hoto-me (いつつひとめ, いつひとめ, いひとめ)
6th person - mut-tsu-hito me or more likely mu-hito-me (むっつひとめ, むひとめ)
7th person - nana-tsu-hito me or more likley nana-hito-me (ななつひとめ, ななひとめ)
8th person - yat-tsu-hito me or more likely ya-hito-me (やっつひとめ, やひとめ)
9th person - kokono-tsu-hito-me or more liklely kokono-hito-me (ここのつひとめ, ここのひとめ)

----

Likewise we have 1st time "word" (say or mention)  2nd time "word"(say)

1st time "word" - hito-koto-me (ひとことめ)
2nd time "word" - huta-koto-me (ふたことめ)

But "hito-koto-me" (ひとことめ)　is seldom used. And " huta-koto-me" (ふたことめ)　has a colloquial meaning, which is often used than the original meaning -  2nd time "word"(say), and means "to repeat the same thing" sort of.

----

We have the cardinal numbers of the days and also used "me" to form them. All of them Native Japanese until the day 10th.

1st day -  tsuitachi - tsuitachi-me (ついたちめ) (this is wrong so not used. The Chinese origin "ichi-nichi-me" (いちにちめ) is used. Oｒ the Native Japanese "hajime no hi" (はじめのひ) is used.
2nd day - hu-tsu-ka - me　(ふつかめ, 二日目)
3rd day - mi-kka - me　(みっかめ, 三日目)
4th day - yo-kka - me　(よっかめ, 四日目)
5th day - itsu-ka - me　(いつかめ, 五日目)
6th day - mui-ka - me　(むいかめ, 六日目)
7th day - nano-ka - me　(なのかめ, 七日目)　(not ”nana-ka-me” (ななかめ))
8th day - yō-ka - me　(ようかめ, 八日目)　　(not ”ya-ka-me” (やかめ))
9th day - kokono-ka - me　(ここのかめ, 九日目)
10th day - tō-ka - me　(とうかめ, 十日目)

11th day - ju-ichi-nichi-me　(じゅういちにちめ, 十一日目)
     "
     "
20th day - hatsuka-me (はつかめ) is OK as well as niju-nichi-me (にじゅういちにちめ, 二十日目).

----

One big advantage of the Japanese ordinal number system is that we have interrogative word for "which th" by using "me" (め) - iku-tsu-me " (いくつめ) in Native Japanese (quite OK) and man-ban-me (なんばんめ, 何番目) (the first two syllables are Chinese origin and "me" is still used.

So " me" or "eye" is very important and convenient although we seldom think of the importance of our eyes.


sptt





     

Days of the week in Native Japanese

The names of the days of the week in Native Japanese are rather new started to use only after the western calendar system was officially introduced as the lunar calender does not have the use of 7 day week system.

Sunday        -  nichi-you-bi (にちようび、日曜日)
Monday       -  getsu-you-bi (げつようび、つき曜日)
Tuesday      -  ka-you-bi (かようび、火曜日)
Wednesday  -  sui-you-bi (すいようび、水曜日)
Thursday    -  moku-you-bi (もくようび、木曜日)
Friday         -  kin-you-bi (金ようび、金曜日)
Saturday     -  do-you-bi (どようび、土曜日)

The final syllable "bi" is Native Japanese meaning "day" or originally "sun" (pronounced as "hi" ).
The first two syllables are Chinese origin. The first syllable was taken from the old traditional Chinese system describing the compositions of the universe except Sunday. "bi" can be omitted as the fist two syllables can represent which day of the week.

Sunday        -  nichi-you-bi  -   "nichi" - sun "nichi" is Chinese origin meaning "sun" or "day"
This was probably the direct translation of "Sun"-day.

Monday       -  getsu-you-bi -  "getsu" - moon (Native Japanese is "tsuki" - つき、月) (*)
Tuesday      -  ka-you-bi      - "ka" - fire (Native Japanese is "hi" - ひ、火）(**)
Wednesday  -  sui-you-bi     - "sui" - water　(Native Japanese is ”mizu" - みず、水 ）
Thursday    -  moku-you-bi  - "moku" - wood　(Native Japanese is "ki" - き、木）
Friday         -  kin-you-bi     - "kin" - metal or gold　(Native Japanese is "kane" - かね、金 ）
Saturday     -  do-you-bi      - "do" - earth　(Native Japanese is "tsuchi" - つち、土）

"tsuki" ( つき、月 (*) - we already encountered this word in the post "Months in Native Japanese".
"hi" (ひ、火）(**) - "hi" also means "sun", "sum light" and "sum beam" and these  are related. The Native Japanese for Light is "hi-ka-ri" (ひかり、光), which comes from the verb "hi-ka-ru" (ひかる、光る).

The meaning of the Chinese origin "you" (よう、曜)　will be checked later.

The interesting thing is that China had a similar problem how to introduce the western 7 day week system which they did not have in the lunar calender system. They did not take the name of the the basic compositional materials of the universe. They instead took simple number system starting Monday with 1st followed by 2nd for Tuesday ....... 6th for Saturday. Sunday is "Sun" day of the week. The Chinese system is not elaborated here.


sptt

Days of Native Japanese

As shown in the last post " " the modern form of the months in Japanese uses the numbers of the Chinese origin while the days  in Japanese use Native Japanese up to 10th, 20th and 30th or more precisely the final day of the month.

We already encountered up to 10 in ＜Mystery of Native Japanese 1, 2, 3 .....＞

The numbers of Native Japanese

1.  ひとつ　 hi-to-tsu
2.  ふたつ　hu-ta-tsu 
3.  みっつ    mit-tsu  
4.  よっつ　 yot-tsu 
5.  いつつ　 i-tsu-tsu
6.  むっつ　 mut-tsu 
7.  ななつ　 nana-tsu
8.  やっつ　 yat-tsu
9.  ここのつ　kokono-tsu
10. とお　　tō

The days of the month - 1st to 10th. Some modification made in pronunciation but generally the number + ka.

1st day -  tsuitachi - exception
This comes from "tsuki-tachi" meaning "the month starts" (literally "tsuki" is moon and "tachi" means the noun form of "tatsu" (to stand).

2nd day - hu-tsu-ka
3rd day - mi-kka
4th day - yo-kka
5th day - itsu-ka
6th day - mui-ka
7th day - nano-ka
8th day - yō-ka
9th day - kokono-ka
10th day - tō-ka

From 11th, Chinese origin numbers are used followed. "nichi" meaning "day", which sounds like Native Japanese. "nichi" is however Chinese origin.

11th day - ju-ichi nichi
12th day - ju-ni nichi
13th day - ju-san nichi
14h day - ju-yokka (not ju-shi nichi). This is an exception. "yokka" is Japanese origin (4th day).
15th day - ju-go nichi
16th day - ju-roku nichi
17th day - ju-shichi (or na-na)  nichi   - "na-na" is Native Japanese
18th day - ju-hachi nichi
19th day - ju-ku nichi
20th day - ni-ju-ichi nichi
 or
20h day - hatsu-ka  - "hatsu" may be related with "hutatsu" of "huta"

21st day - ni-ju-ichi nichi
22nd day - ni-ju-ni nichi
23rd day -ni-ju-san nichi
24h day - ni-ju-yokka
25th day - ni-ju-go nichi
26th day - ni-ju-roku nichi
27th day - ni-ju-shichi (or na-na)  nichi
28th day - juni-ju-hachi nichi
29th day - juni-ju-ku nichi
30th day - san-ju-nichi
31st day - juni-ju-ochi nichi

30th - miso-ka

"miso" can be divided to "mi-so"and "mi' is the first part of ":mit-tsu" and "so" is another word meaning ten in addition on "to". "ji" is unknown bur may mean "age". "mi-so-ji" is used for the age 30 and "yo-so-ji" for age of 40, and so on up to the age 90. See below (age)

 Life of the ancient Japanese was not so long, say 50 years old was already very old.

＜age＞

age 20 - hata-chi (related with "hatsu ka" (20th day) and "huta-tsu" (two)
age 30 - mi-so-ji
age 40 - yo-so-ji
age 50 - i-so-ji (not i-tsu-so-ji)
age 60 - mu-so-ji
age 70 - nana-so-ji
age 80 - ya-so-ji
age 90 - koko-so-ji

Some people say "ji" and "chi" of "hata-chi" are the same origin so "ji" is Japanese origin although it sounds like Chinese origin.
 Life of the ancient Japanese was not so long, say age 50 was already very old so "i-so-ji", "mu-so-ji" ..... are supposed to be used rarely so are they now.


Back to the days of the month,

30th was the end of the moth in the lunar calendar. "misoka" does not mean 30th day now but means the end of the month even 31st or 28th (29th) of February. And the end of the year of 31st December is called "oo-misoka" or "big end of the month".


sptt