馬酔木

Japanese

Kanji in this term
馬	酔	木

Etymology 1

The original kun'yomi pronunciation of this word was ashibi, now considered a variant reading.

The leaves of the plant were known to intoxicate horses when eaten, causing horses to stumble and become weak in the legs. As such, this word is most likely a contraction of 足癈 (ashijihi, “numbness in the feet/legs”).

The kanji 馬酔木 are an example of jukujikun, meaning literally horse intoxicating tree.

Noun

馬酔木 (hiragana あしび, romaji ashibi) (variant)

馬酔木 (hiragana あしみ, romaji ashimi) (variant)

馬酔木 (hiragana あせみ, romaji asemi) (variant)

馬酔木 (hiragana あせも, romaji asemo) (variant)

馬酔木 (hiragana あせぼ, romaji asebo) (variant)

馬酔木 (hiragana あせぶ, romaji asebu) (variant)

馬酔木 (hiragana あせび, romaji asebi) (standard)

1. Pieris japonica: Japanese andromeda, a flowering shrub native to Japan

See also

• 馬酔木 on the Japanese Wikipedia.ja.Wikipedia
• Pieris japonica on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Pieris japonica

Etymology 2

The on'yomi of the kanji spelling 馬酔木.

Noun

馬酔木 (hiragana ばすいぼく, romaji basuiboku)

1. Pieris japonica: Japanese andromeda, a flowering shrub native to Japan