相槌

Japanese

Kanji in this term
相	槌
あい Grade: 3	つち > づち Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
相鎚

Etymology 1

Compound of 相(あい) (ai-, “mutual, together; meeting, coordinating”) + 槌(つち) (tsuchi, “hammer”). The tsuchi changes to zuchi as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Originally referred to the coordination between two smiths, usually master and apprentice, in hammering together on the same workpiece, using sound and gesture to coordinate the timing of hammer blows.

First attested in the late 1200s in reference to metalworking. In modern usage, the term refers primarily to the conversational practice of using small interjections to indicate that one is following along with the speech of another person.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あいづち [àízúchí] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) あいづち [àízúꜜchì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• (Tokyo) あいづち [àízúchíꜜ] (Odaka – [4])
• IPA^(key): [a̠izɨt͡ɕi]

Noun

相(あい)槌(づち) • (aizuchi) ^{←あひづち (afiduti)?}

1. [from 1679] (linguistics, conversation) backchannelling: customary signals made during a conversation to indicate comprehension or attentiveness
2. [from 1583] (construction) a large hammer used to drive a ridgepole, beam, or other large member
3. [from late 1200s] (archaic, metalworking) (two persons) hammering an object alternately or in unison

   Synonyms: 相槌 (ai no tsuchi), 向かい鎚 (mukaizuchi)

   • [c. 1288, Chiribukuro, volume 8:

     鍛冶があひつちと云ふは、二人むかひてうつゆへ歟

     Kaji ga aizuchi to iu wa, futari mukai de utsu yue yo

     When a blacksmith says aizuchi they mean two people working face-to-face]

Usage notes

In Japanese culture it is considered polite and necessary to indicate while listening that you are in fact listening. In this sense, aizuchi is usually done through terse comments, affirmative grunts and other noises, and gesticulations such as a slight nodding of the head. While it is common to do this in the English-speaking world, such as with interjections like "really?", "yeah", "wow", etc., it is not as clearly defined a custom. Thus, it is not generally considered impolite when a person doesn't make such signals in English-language contexts.

Derived terms

• 相槌(あいづち)を打(う)つ (aizuchi o utsu): chime in

Descendants

• → English: aizuchi

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
相	槌
あい(の) Grade: 3	つち Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
相の槌 (rare)

Rare alternative reading of 相槌 (aizuchi), decomposing this compound into a phrase consisting of 相 (ai, “mutual, together; meeting, coordinating”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 槌 (tsuchi, “hammer”), literally "hammer of coordination".

Not found in some references, and only mentioned in passing in others.

Date of attestation is unclear, due to cursory coverage in references. Only the metalworking sense appears to be shared with the main aizuchi reading.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [a̠i no̞ t͡sɨt͡ɕi]

Noun

相(あいの)槌(つち) • (ai no tsuchi) ^{←あひのつち (afinotuti)?}

1. [date uncertain] (rare, archaic, metalworking) (two persons) hammering an object alternately or in unison

   Synonyms: 相槌 (aizuchi), 向かい鎚 (mukaizuchi)

References

• “相^▲槌”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎^[3] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2026
• Ineko Kondō, Fumi Takano, Mary E. Althaus, et al. (2002), Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, third edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN
• “あい‐づち”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[4] (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2000-2002, released online 2007, →ISBN, concise edition entry available here