うん

Japanese

Etymology 1

For pronunciation and definitions of うん – see the following entries.

【雲】2 [affix] cloud [affix] (figuratively) high, tall, far-off, or distant [affix] (historical) short for 出雲国 (Izumo-no-kuni): Izumo Province [noun] (rare) a mochi rice cake [proper noun] a female given name [proper noun] a surname

【運】3 [noun] luck, fortune [affix] move [affix] carry, transport [affix] put to work, operate [affix] luck, fate

【云】J [affix] say

【暈】H [noun] halo (atmospheric phenomenon) [affix] halo (atmospheric phenomenon) [affix] dizzy; giddy

【蘊】H [affix] pile up; gather; accumulate [affix] depths; bottom; interior [affix] (Buddhism) skandha (aggregate) [noun] abundance, plentifulness [noun] (Buddhism) a skandha (aggregate)

【吽】H [noun] (Buddhism) the Sanskrit syllable hūṃ

(This term, うん (un), is the hiragana spelling of the above terms.) For a list of all kanji read as うん, see Category:Japanese kanji read as うん.

Etymology 2

Compare Korean 응 (eung, “yeah, yes”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) うん [úꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟̃ɴ]

• IPA^(key): /m̩/, [m̩˦˨]
  • Usually pronounced with the mouth closed.

Interjection

うん • (un) 

1. (informal) yeah, uh-huh, mhm (an interjection expressing agreement)

Synonyms

• はい (hai, “yes”)

Antonyms

• ううん (ūn): nope, nah, nuh-uh

Etymology 3

Onomatopoeia of the grunting noise made when straining oneself in effort.

The prefix usage appears in the Kanto region during the Edo period.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟̃ɴ]

Adverb

うん • (un) 

1. strainingly, with a grunt
2. sufferingly, groaningly

Usage notes

Takes the adverbial particle と (to)

Prefix

うん • (un-) 

1. (archaic) added to various verbs to indicate forceful or excessive action

   うん飲(の)む

   unnomu

   to drink with gusto

Derived terms

• うんこ (unko, “poop”)
• うんち (unchi, “poop”)

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

うん • (un-) 

1. several; some vague number of

   Synonym: 数 (sū)

   うん十億円 ― several billions of yen

   うん十年 ― several tens of years

   うん千万 ― several thousand myriad

   うん億 ― several hundreds of millions