はて

Japanese

Etymology 1

For pronunciation and definitions of はて – see the following entries.

【果て】 [noun] the end, the limit

【涯】S [noun] the end of the land: the shore [noun] the end of the visible world: the horizon

(This term, はて, is the hiragana spelling of the above terms.) For a list of all kanji read as はて, see Category:Japanese kanji read as はて.)

Etymology 2

Attested from the Edo Period (1603-1868).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) は​て [háꜜtè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ha̠te̞]

Interjection

はて • (hate) 

1. dear me, wait a minute, well (at the start of a sentence), let me see
   • 1942, Sasano Ken, editor, Nō kyōgen: Ōkura Torahiro-bon [Kyogen works of Okura Torahiro], page 160:

     ハテ、今(いま)から縄(なわ)をなふて間(あいだ)に合(あ)ふ物(もの)か。

     Hate, ima kara nawa o nafute aida ni afu mono ka.

     Well, will it be possible to get rope now?

Usage notes

This interjection indicates surprise at something strange, and that the speaker is taking a moment to think about it.

Alternative forms

• はてな (hatena)