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おっぱい

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Japanese

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Etymology

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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

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Noun

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おっぱい or オッパイ • (oppai) 

  1. (childish) milk, breastmilk (liquid)
    Synonyms: 乳 (chi, chichi), (adult word for breastmilk) 母乳 (bonyū)
    おっぱいが出(で)るようになる
    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:
      もっとも気(き)になることが「授乳(じゅにゅう)！」というママも多(おお)く、おっぱいを上手(じょうず)に飲(の)ませることができない、おっぱいをなかなか飲(の)んでくれない…という悩(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:
      生(う)まれたばかりの赤(あか)ちゃんはおっぱいを飲(の)むことに慣(な)れておらず、1(いっ)回(かい)の哺(ほ)乳(にゅう)量(りょう)も少(すく)ないため、1(いち)日(にち)に何(なん)度(ど)も授(じゅ)乳(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), 乳 (chi, chichi), 乳袋 (chibukuro), 乳房 (chibusa), (more general meaning of chest) 胸 (mune)

Derived terms

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Descendants

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References

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  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

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