かみ

Japanese

Etymology 1

Old Japanese kami₂

Noun

かみ (romaji kami)

1. 神: god

Etymology 2

Old Japanese kami₁

Noun

かみ (romaji kami)

1. 上: top; up; upper part

Derived terms

• 上四方固 (かみしほうがため, Kami-shihō-gatame) (Judo grappling technique) upper four-corners hold

Etymology 3

By extension from the on'yomi kan of 簡 (fumita, “small piece of wood, bamboo, or paper used to write on”).

Noun

かみ (romaji kami)

1. 紙: paper

Etymology 4

By extension from 上 (kami).

Noun

かみ (romaji kami)

1. 髪: hair

Etymology 5

Attributive form of various verbs having the uninflected form かむ:

• かみ, from かむ:
  • 噛む, 咬む, 嚙む, 嚼む: to chew, to bite
  • 擤む: to blow one's nose

References

• Kodokan Judo Institute Homepage (Japanese)
• Kodokan Judo Institute Homepage (English)
• Jōdai Tokushu Kanazukai