空蝉

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term
Grade: 1 Hyōgai
Alternative spelling
空蟬 (kyūjitai)

Etymology 1

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/utuso2mi1/ *[utusəmi] → /utusomi/. A contraction of 現し (utsushi, reality) and (omi1, subject, vassal). Older form of 空蝉 (utsusemi). The kanji are ateji.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ɯ̟t͡sɨso̞mʲi]

Noun

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空蝉(うつそみ) (utsusomi

  1. a living being
  2. the world of the living
Derived terms
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  • 空蝉(うつせみ) (utsusemi)

Etymology 2

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/utusemi1/ → /utusemi/. From older /utusomi/. The association with a cicada shell is due to a reinterpretation based on the homonymous words (utsu, hollow) and (semi, cicada).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ɯ̟t͡sɨse̞mʲi]

Noun

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空蝉(うつせみ) (utsusemi

  1. a living being
  2. the world of the living
  3. the cast-off shell of a cicada
  4. emptiness