相撲

See also: 相扑

Chinese

		each other; appearance; portrait each other; appearance; portrait; picture; one another; mutually	rush on
trad. (相撲)		相	撲
simp. (相扑)		相	扑

Etymology

“sumo”

Orthographic borrowing from Japanese 相撲 (sumō).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): xiāngpū

  (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄤ ㄆㄨ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): soeng¹ pok³
• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): siong-phok
• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁵shian-phoq

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: xiāngpū
    • Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄤ ㄆㄨ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: siangpu
    • Wade–Giles: hsiang¹-pʻu¹
    • Yale: syāng-pū
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shiangpu
    • Palladius: сянпу (sjanpu)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰu⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: soeng¹ pok³
    • Yale: sēung pok
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soeng¹ pok⁸
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêng¹ pog³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɔːk̚³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siong-phok
    • Tâi-lô: siong-phok
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siongphog
    • IPA (Xiamen): /siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pʰɔk̚³²/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /siɔŋ³³ pʰɔk̚⁵/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pʰɔk̚³²/
    • IPA (Taipei): /siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰɔk̚³²/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰɔk̚³²/
• Wu
  • (Shanghai):
    • Wugniu: ⁵shian-phoq
    • MiniDict: shian^去 phoh
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²xian-phoq
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɕiã³³ pʰoʔ⁴⁴/

---

• Middle Chinese: sjang phuwk

Rime
Character	相	撲
Reading #	1/2	1/1
Initial (聲)	心 (16)	滂 (2)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)	屋 (3)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open
Division (等)	III	I
Fanqie	息良切	普木切
Baxter	sjang	phuwk
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/sɨɐŋ/	/pʰuk̚/
Pan Wuyun	/siɐŋ/	/pʰuk̚/
Shao Rongfen	/siɑŋ/	/pʰuk̚/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/sɨaŋ/	/pʰəwk̚/
Li Rong	/siaŋ/	/pʰuk̚/
Wang Li	/sĭaŋ/	/pʰuk̚/
Bernard Karlgren	/si̯aŋ/	/pʰuk̚/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	xiāng	pu
Expected Cantonese Reflex	soeng1	puk1

Noun

相撲

1. mutually rushing at; fighting
2. xiangpu (traditional Chinese wrestling)
3. sumo (traditional Japanese wrestling)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (相撲):

• → Japanese: 相撲(そうぼく) (sōboku)

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
相	撲
すもう
Grade: 3	Grade: S
jukujikun

Alternative spelling
角力

相撲 (sumō, sumai): a sumo match.

Derived from Old Japanese verb 争ふ (sumapu), modern 争う (sumau, “to contend, resist, compete (in sumo, for example)”).

There are two leading theories regarding the derivation:

• May be a nominalization of the 終止形 (shūshikei, “terminal form”) and 連体形 (rentaikei, “attributive form”) sumapu:

/sumapu/ → /sumaɸu/ → */sumawu/ → /sumau/ → /sumɔː/ → /sumoː/

• May be an instance of ウ音便 (u onbin, ““u” sound shift”), found in terms with bilabial consonants (/m/, /b/, /w/) followed by i:

⟨sumapi₁⟩ → */sumapʲi/ → /sumaɸi/ → /sumawi/ → */sumawu/ → /sumau/ → /sumɔː/ → /sumoː/

That said, the nominalization of terminal/attributive verb forms is quite rare in Japanese, whereas the “u” sound shift pattern is not uncommon.

The kanji spelling is either from the native sumai or Sino-Japanese sōboku readings below.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) すもー [sùmóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [sɨᵝmo̞ː]

Noun

相撲(すもう) • (sumō) ^{←すまふ (sumafu)?}

1. sumo (Japanese traditional wrestling)

   Synonym: 角力 (kakuryoku)

2. Short for 相撲取り (sumōtori): a sumo wrestler

   Synonyms: 力士 (rikishi), お相撲さん (osumōsan)

3. (historical) Short for 相撲の節 (Sumō no Sechi) or 相撲の節会 (Sumō no Sechie): in the Heian period, a special ceremonial sumo match held in July to help ensure a good harvest

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 相撲(すもう)絵(え) (sumō-e)
• 相撲(スモウ)草(グサ) (sumōgusa)
• 相撲(すもう)酒(さか)盛(も)り (sumō sakamori)
• 相撲(すもう)甚(じん)句(く) (sumō jinku)
• 相撲(すもう)茶(ぢゃ)屋(や) (sumō-jaya)
• 相撲(すもう)取(と)り (sumōtori)
• 相撲(すもう)割(わ)り (sumōwari)
• 相撲(すもう)部(べ)屋(や) (sumō-beya)
• 相撲(すもう)の節(せち) (Sumō no Sechi)
• 相撲(すもう)の節(せち)会(え) (Sumō no Sechie)
• 足(あし)相撲(ずもう) (ashizumō)
• 居(い)相撲(ずもう) (izumō)
• 牛(うし)相撲(ずもう) (ushizumō)
• 腕(うで)相撲(ずもう) (udezumō)
• 扇(おうぎ)相撲(ずもう) (ōgi-zumō)
• 大(おお)相撲(ずもう) (ōzumō)
• 押(お)し相撲(ずもう) (oshizumō)
• 女(おんな)相撲(ずもう) (onnazumō)
• 抱(かか)え相撲(ずもう) (kakaezumō)
• 紙(かみ)相撲(ずもう) (kamizumō)
• 蚊(か)相撲(ずもう) (Kazumō)
• 勝(か)ち相撲(ずもう) (kachizumō)
• 勧進(かんじん)相撲(ずもう) (kanjin-zumō)
• 菊(きく)相撲(ずもう) (kikuzumō)
• 給(きゅう)金(きん)相撲(ずもう) (kyūkin-zumō)
• 草(くさ)相撲(ずもう) (kusazumō)
• 句(く)相撲(ずもう) (kuzumō)
• 拳(けん)相撲(ずもう) (kenzumō)
• 小(こ)相撲(ずもう) (kozumō)
• 御(ご)当所(とうしょ)相撲(ずもう) (gotōsho-zumō)
• 鷺(さぎ)相撲(ずもう) (sagizumō)
• 座(ざ)頭(とう)相撲(ずもう) (zatō-zumō)
• 上(じょう)覧(らん)相撲(ずもう) (jōran-zumō)
• 神(しん)事(じ)相撲(ずもう) (shinji-zumō)
• 座(すわ)り相撲(ずもう) (suwari-zumō)
• 旅(たび)相撲(ずもう) (tabizumō)
• 力(ちから)相撲(ずもう) (chikarazumō)
• 注(ちゅう)文(もん)相撲(ずもう) (chūmon-zumō)
• 辻(つじ)相撲(ずもう) (tsujizumō)
• 連(つら)相撲(ずもう) (tsurazumō)
• 手(て)相撲(ずもう) (tezumō)
• 唐(とう)相撲(ずもう) (Tōzumō), 唐人(とうじん)相撲(ずもう) (Tōjin-zumō)
• 泣(な)き相撲(ずもう) (nakizumō)
• 人情(にんじょう)相撲(ずもう) (ninjō-zumō)
• 野(の)相撲(ずもう) (nozumō)
• 花(はな)相撲(ずもう) (hanazumō)
• 一人(ひとり)相撲(ずもう), 独(ひと)り相撲(ずもう) (hitori-zumō)
• 文(ふみ)相撲(ずもう) (Fumizumō), 文(ふ)相撲(ずもう) (Fuzumō)
• 本(ほん)相撲(ずもう) (honzumō)
• 奉(ほう)納(のう)相撲(ずもう) (hōnō-zumō)
• 前(まえ)相撲(ずもう) (maezumō)
• 負(ま)け相撲(ずもう) (makezumō)
• 宮(みや)相撲(ずもう) (miyazumō)
• 無(む)気(き)力(りょく)相撲(ずもう) (mukiryoku-zumō)
• 蒙(もう)古(こ)相撲(ずもう) (Mōko-zumō)
• 指(ゆび)相撲(ずもう) (yubizumō)
• 横(よこ)綱(づな)相撲(ずもう) (yokozuna-zumō)
• 四(よ)つ相撲(ずもう) (yotsuzumō)
• 寄(よ)り相撲(ずもう) (yorizumō)

Idioms

Idioms

• 相撲(すもう)が尽(つ)くれば行(ぎょう)司(じ)が出(で)て転(ころ)ぶ (sumō ga tsukureba gyōji ga dete korobu): “if the sumo [wrestlers] run out, the referee comes out and [you] fall” → if you beat all worthy opponents and then lose your edge, you can be beaten even by someone who would normally have been no challenge
• 相撲(すもう)に勝(か)って勝(しょう)負(ぶ)に負(ま)ける (sumō ni katte shōbu ni makeru): “to win at the sumo, but lose the match” → performing well, but ultimately failing
• 相撲(すもう)にならない (sumō ni naranai): “to not become sumo” → to not be worthy of a match, to be so mismatched to not be a contest
• 相撲(すもう)に負(ま)けて妻(つま)の面(つら)張(は)る (sumō ni makete tsuma no tsura haru): “to lose at sumo and slap one's wife's face” → the weak turn on the weaker
• 相撲(すもう)の果(は)ては喧(けん)嘩(か)になり博(ばく)奕(ち)の果(は)ては盗(ぬす)みになる (sumō no hate wa kenka ni nari bakuchi no hate wa nusumi ni naru): “the extreme of sumo is a fight, and the extreme of gambling is a theft” → a warning not to lose oneself in one's activities
• 相撲(すもう)も立(た)つ方(かた) (sumō mo tatsu kata): “take a stand even when in sumo” → show involvement even for a while
• 相撲(すもう)を取(と)る (sumō o toru): “take sumo” → compete in sumo

Descendants

Descendants

• → German: Sumo
• → English: sumo
• → Finnish: sumo
• → French: sumo
• → Irish: súmó
• → Italian: sumo
• → Polish: sumo
• → Portuguese: sumo, sumô
• → Spanish: sumo

Proper noun

相撲(すもう) • (Sumō) ^{←すまふ (sumafu)?}

1. a surname

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
相	撲
すまい
Grade: 3	Grade: S
jukujikun

Alternative spelling
角力

⟨sumapi₁⟩ → */sumapʲi/ → /sumaɸi/ → /sumawi/ → /sumai/

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of Old Japanese verb 争ふ (sumapu), modern 争う (sumau, “to contend, resist, compete (in sumo, for example)”), likely derived in turn from verb 済む (sumu, “to settle, finish”, intransitive) as the 未然形 (mizenkei, “incomplete form”) suma + auxiliary verb ふ (fu, indicating repetitive or ongoing action) → “on the verge of being settled” → “to be in competition”.

The kanji spelling is an orthographic borrowing from Middle Chinese 相撲 (MC sjang phuwk, literally “mutually striking”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [sɨᵝma̠i]

Noun

相撲(すまい) • (sumai) ^{←すまひ (sumafi)?}

1. (archaic, possibly obsolete) a competition of power and skill, similar to modern-day sumo
   • 938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō, volume 4:

     相撲　漢武故事云：「角觝［丁礼反。訓与突同］今之相撲也。」王隱晉書云：「相撲［撲音。蒲角反。和名：須末比。本朝相撲記有占手、垂髪、総角、最手、助手、等之名別。亦有立合、相撲長也。］下伎也。」

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (archaic, possibly obsolete) Short for 相撲取り (sumaitori): a sumo wrestler

   Synonym: 相撲人 (sumaibito)

3. (historical, archaic) Short for 相撲の節 (Sumai no Sechi) or 相撲の節会 (Sumai no Sechie): in the Heian period, a special ceremonial sumo match held in July to help ensure a good harvest

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 相撲(スマイ)草(グサ) (sumaigusa)
• 相撲(すまい)取(と)り (sumaitori)
• 相撲(すまい)の長(おさ) (sumai no osa)
• 相撲(すまい)の還(かえ)り饗(あるじ) (Sumai no Kaeriaruji)
• 相撲(すまい)の節(せち) (Sumai no Sechi)
• 相撲(すまい)の節(せち)会(え) (Sumai no Sechie)
• 相撲(すまい)の使(つかい) (Sumai no Tsukai)
• 相撲(すまい)の司(つかさ) (Sumai no Tsukasa)
• 相撲(すまい)人(びと) (sumaibito)

Idioms

• 相撲(すまい)も立(た)つ方(かた) (sumai mo tatsu kata, “take a stand even when in sumo → show involvement even for a while”)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
相	撲
すもん
Grade: 3	Grade: S
jukujikun

/sumɔː/ → /sumɔɴ/ → /sumoɴ/

Edo-period shift from sumō above.

Noun

相撲(すもん) • (sumon) 

1. (obsolete) Same as すもう (sumō) above

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
相	撲
そう Grade: 3	ぼく Grade: S
goon	kan’yōon

/sauboku/ → /sɔːboku/ → /soːboku/

From Middle Chinese 相撲 (MC sjang phuwk). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Noun

相(そう)撲(ぼく) • (sōboku) ^{←さうぼく (sauboku)?}

1. (obsolete) a competition of power and skill, similar to modern-day sumo

Old Japanese

Alternative forms

• 捔力

Etymology

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 爭ふ (sumapu, “to contend, resist”), likely derived in turn from verb 濟む (sumu, “to settle, finish”, intransitive) as the 未然形 (mizenkei, “incomplete form”) suma + auxiliary verb ふ (pu, indicating repetitive or ongoing action).

The kanji spelling is an orthographic borrowing from Middle Chinese 相撲 (MC sjang phuwk, literally “mutually striking”).

Noun

相撲 (sumapi₁) (kana すまひ)

1. a competition of power and skill, similar to modern-day sumo
   • 720, Nihon Shoki, (Emperor Suinin; seventh year of the seventh lunar month):

     卽日、遣倭直祖長尾市、喚野見宿禰。於是、野見宿禰、自出雲至。則當摩蹶速與野見宿禰令捔力。

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 720, Nihon Shoki, (Emperor Yūryaku; thirteenth year of the ninth lunar month):

     乃喚集采女、使脱衣裙而著犢鼻、露所相撲。

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• Japanese: 相撲 (sumai → sumō)