空蝉

Japanese

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [utsusomi]

Noun

空蝉 • (utsusomi) 

1. a living being
2. the world of the living

Derived terms

• 空蝉(うつせみ) (utsusemi)

Etymology 2

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [utsusemi]

Noun

空蝉 • (utsusemi) 

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