Japanese

Alternative forms

• 倭語 (rare)

Noun

和語 ‎(hiragana わご, romaji wago)

1. the Japanese language
2. a Japanese word of ancient Japanese origin, such as 見る ‎(miru, “to look, to see”), 光 ‎(hikari, “shining, brightness”), or 桜 ‎(sakura, “cheery tree, cherry blossom”)

Usage notes

Wago may be written in kanji, kana, or both, and are read with the 訓読み ‎(kun’yomi, “native Japanese reading”, literally “meaning reading”). Contrast with 漢語 ‎(kango, “Japanese word of Chinese origin”, literally “Han Chinese word”).

Synonyms

• (Japanese language): 日本語 (にほんご) ‎(nihongo)
• (native Japanese word): 大和言葉 (やまとことば) ‎(yamato kotoba)

See also

• 漢語 (かんご) ‎(kango): Japanese words of Chinese origin
• 外来語 (がいらいご) ‎(gairaigo): foreign words (generally more recent borrowings from other languages)

References

1. ↑ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9