芸者

Japanese

Kanji in this term
芸	者

Etymology

Literally “art person”.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɡeiɕa/ or IPA: /ɡeːɕa/

Noun

芸者 (hiragana げいしゃ, romaji geisha)

1. geisha
2. One who is proficient in an art. An artisan.
   • 1603–1604: Nippo Jisho (page 295)

     Gueixa. Guei arumono. (芸ある者) 芸能の心得のある者、または、能力のある者.

3. A person who utilizes their art as an occupation.
   • 1688: 日本永代蔵, Volume 6, Chapter 5

     一切の人間、目有鼻あり、手あしもかはらず生れ付て、貴人・高人、よろづの藝者は各別、常の町人、金銀の有徳ゆへ世上に名をしらるゝ事、是を思へば、若き時よりかせぎて、分限の其名を世に殘さぬは口をし。

4. One who entertains parties with song and dance.

Noun

芸者 (hiragana げいじゃ, romaji geija)

1. One who is proficient in an art. An artisan.
   • 1474: 広本節用集

     芸者(ゲイジャ)

See also

• Korean: 妓生 (기생, kisaeng, gisaeng)

References

• 1980 May 24 [1603–1604], Tadao Doi, Hōyaku Nippo Jisho (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, ISBN 4-0008-0021-3:
• 1960 May 24 [1688], Kōshin Noma, Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 48: Saigakushū (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, ISBN 4-0006-0048-6: