Jump to content

おっぱい

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Japanese

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Generally agreed upon as originating from baby talk.[1][2][3][4]

Derivation unclear. Possibilities include:

/wo wo umai//o o umai//oːmai//opːai/
While suggestive, the phonetic changes required seem unlikely. Moreover, the pitch accent differs, in that うまい (umai) has a high pitch on the ma followed by a downstep, while おっぱい (oppai) has a high pitch on the initial o followed by a downstep.
  • A shift from 一杯 (ippai, one serving, one cupful; full),[4] as something a baby might say when done breastfeeding, or when asking to do so.
/ipːai//opːai/
This seems more likely, as the phonetics align better: only one vowel changes, and the pitch accent in ippai is similar with a high pitch on the initial i followed by a downstep.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

おっぱい or オッパイ (oppai

  1. (childish) milk, breastmilk (liquid)
    Synonyms: (chi, chichi), (adult word for breastmilk) 母乳 (bonyū)
    おっぱい()ようなる
    oppai ga deru yō ni naru
    to become able to produce milk
    • 2018 April 13, “Oppai no nomikata, Itsutsu no kuse ga wakareba, junyū ga raku ni naru [How to nurse: If you understand these five things, breast feeding becomes easier]”, in Benesse[1], archived from the original on 2019-02-06:
      もっとも()になることが「授乳(じゅにゅう)!」というママも(おお)く、おっぱい上手(じょうず)()ませることができない、おっぱいをなかなか()んでくれない…という(なや)みも。
      Mottomo ki ni naru koto ga “junyū!” to iu mama mo ōku, oppai o jōzu ni nomaseru koto ga dekinai, oppai o nakanaka nonde kurenai… to iu nayami mo.
      Many mothers say their biggest worry is ‘nursing!’, being unable to give breastmilk well, baby won't take much milk... worries like that.
    • 2023 July 21, Kawai Emi, “Shinseiji no junyū no shikata no kotsu wa? Tadashii junyū shisei to idakikata, jikan ya kaisū ni tsuite [What is the trick to breastfeeding a newborn? Regarding correct breastfeeding posture and position, timing, and frequency]”, in Mama no ko[2], archived from the original on 2024-02-22:
      ()まれたばかりの(あか)ちゃんはおっぱい()むことに()れておらず、1(いっ)(かい)()(にゅう)(りょう)(すく)ないため、1(いち)(にち)(なん)()(じゅ)(にゅう)をしなければなりません。
      Umareta bakari no akachan wa oppai o nomu koto ni nareteorazu, ikkai no honyū ryō mo sukunai tame, ichinichi ni nando mo junyū o shinakerebanarimasen.
      Newborn babies are not used to taking breastmilk, and they drink a small amount in one feeding, so they must be nursed several times each day.
  2. (anatomy, childish) boobies, titties (breasts)
    Synonyms: パイオツ (paiotsu), (chi, chichi), 乳袋 (chibukuro), 乳房 (chibusa), (more general meaning of chest) (mune)

Derived terms

[edit]

Descendants

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (1995), 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  3. 3.0 3.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  5. ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

Further reading

[edit]