御 U+5FA1, 御 ← 徠[U+5FA0] CJK Unified Ideographs 徢 →[U+5FA2]

(Kangxi radical 60, 彳+8 in traditional Chinese and Korean, 彳+9 in mainland China and Japanese, 11 strokes in traditional Chinese and Korean, 12 strokes in mainland China and Japanese, Cangjie input 竹人人一中 (HOOML), four-corner 27220, composition ⿰彳卸)

  • 𭊷, 𣊗, 䥏, 蓹, 篽, 𬄧, 禦
  • (This character is simplified to in mainland China)
  • Kangxi Dictionary: page 368, character 23
  • Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 10157
  • Dae Jaweon: page 693, character 5
  • Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 832, character 16
  • Unihan data for U+5FA1

Oracle bone script: Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *ŋas): phonetic (OC *ŋaːʔ, “pestle”) + semantic (“kneeling person”) – utilize; govern. Bronze inscriptions added 彳 and 止 to emphasize action.

trad. simp. # alternative forms

Sino-Tibetan. Schuessler (2007) compared 御 to Burmese မောင်း (maung:, “drive away, threaten”) and မောင်း (maung:, “driving”).

  1. (prefix) royal, imperial
    • 只見那女王走近前來,一把扯住三藏,俏語嬌聲,叫道:「弟哥哥,請上龍車,和我同上金鑾寶殿,匹配夫婦去來。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]只见那女王走近前来,一把扯住三藏,俏语娇声,叫道:「弟哥哥,请上龙车,和我同上金銮宝殿,匹配夫妇去来。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]From: Wu Cheng’en, Journey to the West, 16th century CE, translation from The Journey to the West (2012), by Anthony C. YuZhǐjiàn nà nǚwáng zǒu jìnqián lái, yībǎ chězhù Sānzàng, qiàoyǔ jiāoshēng, jiàodào: “dì gēgē, qǐng shàng lóngchē, hé wǒ tóng shàng jīnluán bǎodiàn, pǐpèi fūfù qùlái.” [Pinyin]The queen went forward and caught hold of Tripitaka. In a most seductive voice, she said, “Royal brother darling, please ascend the dragon chariot so that we may go to the Treasure Hall of Golden Chimes and become husband and wife.”
  2. to manage; to govern; to control
    • 無䟽其親,無怠其眾,撫其左右,其四旁。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]无䟽其亲,无怠其众,抚其左右,其四旁。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]From: Six Secret Teachings, c. 475 – 221 BCEWú shū qí qīn, wú dài qí zhòng, fǔ qí zuǒyòu, qí sìpáng. [Pinyin]Do not estrange your relatives. Do not neglect the masses. Be conciliatory and solicitous toward nearby states and control the four quarters.
  3. to drive a chariot or carriage; to ride (on an animal or a vehicle drawn by animals)
    • 我徒我、我師我旅。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]我徒我、我师我旅。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge’s versionWǒ tú wǒ , wǒ shī wǒ lǚ. [Pinyin]We went along on foot; we rode in our chariots; our whole host, and our battalions.
    • 吾何執?執乎?執射乎?吾執矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吾何执?执乎?执射乎?吾执矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCEWú hé zhí? Zhí hū? Zhí shè hū? Wú zhí yǐ. [Pinyin]”What shall I practice? Shall I practice charioteering, or shall I practice archery? I will practice charioteering.”
  4. driver of a carriage
    • 嘽嘽。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]徒啴啴。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge’s version chǎnchǎn. [Pinyin]His footmen and charioteers were numerous,
  5. alternative form of (yù, “to defend against”)
    • 利用寇,順相保也。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]利用寇,顺相保也。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]From: I Ching, 11th – 8th century BCE, translated based on James Legge’s versionLì yòng kòu, shùn xiàngbǎo yě. [Pinyin]’It might be advantageous in resisting plunderers:’ – by acting as here indicated men would preserve one another.

  1. (literary, obsolete) to meet, greet and welcome (someone) Alternative form: 迓
    • 之子于歸,百兩之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]之子于归,百两之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge’s versionZhī zǐ yú guī, bǎi liǎng zhī. [Pinyin]This young lady is going to her future home;A hundred carriages are meeting her.

For pronunciation and definitions of – see 禦 (“to defend”).(This character is the simplified form of 禦).Notes:

  • Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore.
  • Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

(Jōyō kanji)

  1. an honorific prefix, indicates respect, your[1]
  2. royal, imperial, godly
  3. control
  4. govern
  5. protect
  • Go-on: (go, Jōyō)、 (ge)
  • Kan-on: ぎょ (gyo, Jōyō)←ぎよ (gyo, historical)、 (ga)
  • Kun: おん (on, , Jōyō)、 (o, )、おおん (ōn, )←おほん (ofon, , historical)←おほみ (ofomi, , ancient)、 (mi, )、おさめる (osameru, 御める)←をさめる (wosameru, 御める, historical)
  • Nanori: おき (oki)、おや (oya)、のり (nori)、みつ (mitsu)

As variant kanji of 禦:

  • Go-on: (go, Jōyō)
  • Kan-on: ぎょ (gyo, Jōyō)←ぎよ (gyo, historical)
  • Kun: ふせぐ (fusegu, 御ぐ)

Kanji in this term 御 おGrade: S kun’yomi

/oɴ/ → /o/

Shift from on- below.[2][3]

Already apparent since the 14th century.

  • (Tokyo) お [ò] (Heiban – [0])
  • IPA(key): [o̞]

御(お) • (o-)

  1. (attaches to nouns)
    1. (honorific) used to respectfully refer to something that belongs to or is related to the listener or a third party すみません、帽子(ぼうし)が…。Sumimasen, o-bōshi ga…. ― Excuse me, your hat…
    2. (honorific, often with 様(さま) (-sama) or さん (-san)) used to respectfully refer to a person or group 子(こ)さんo-ko-san ― (your) child(ren)
    3. (polite) adds refinement 茶(ちゃ)o-cha ― tea
  2. (attaches to verbs in continuative form or nouns denoting actions)
    1. (honorific, with ください (kudasai)) used to respectfully issue a command or request 座(すわ)りください。O-suwari kudasai. ― Please do sit.
    2. (honorific, with だ (da), です (desu)) used to respectfully express the progressive aspect (see いる (iru)) どちらに住(す)まいですか。Dochira ni o-sumai desu ka. ― Where do you live?
    3. (honorific, with になる (ni naru)) used to respectfully describe the actions of another いつ帰(かえ)りになりますか。Itsu o-kaeri ni narimasu ka. ― When will you be coming back?
    4. (humble, with する (suru), 致(いた)す (itasu), etc.) used to humbly describe one’s own actions that affect someone else お客(きゃく)様(さま)を迎(むか)えします。O-kyaku-sama o o-mukae shimasu. ― I shall welcome the guests.
    5. (dated, with なさい (nasai)) used to form imperative expressions for use with those of lower status
    6. short for お (o-) なさい (nasai); used to form imperative expressions for use with those of lower status だまり。O-damari. ― Be quiet. 支(し)度(たく)をし。Shitaku o o-shi. ― Get yourself ready.
  3. (attaches to adjectives)
    1. (polite) adds refinement はようございます。O-hayō gozaimasu. ― Good morning. (literally, “It is early.”)
    2. (honorific) used to show respect to the person to whom the adjective applies 忙(いそが)しいでしょう。O-isogashii deshō. ― You must be so busy.
  4. (dated, attaches to female names) 阿, 於: used to affectionately refer to a woman or girl

Not to be confused with 大(おお) (ō-, “great”), which is a less-commonly used prefix.

Almost exclusively written in hiragana, to disambiguate with the heteronyms below.

Generally prefixed to native Japanese words (read with kun’yomi), as in 御(お)水(みず) (o-mizu, “(honorific) water”), with 御(ご) (go-) below used for Sino-Xenic words (read with on’yomi). However, there are numerous exceptions, such as お弁(べん)当(とう) (o-bentō, “(honorific) bento”) and お電(でん)話(わ) (o-denwa, “(honorific) phone”). For 外(がい)来(らい)語(ご) (gairaigo, “(non-Sino-Xenic) foreign loanwords”), this prefix is seldom used, but it is somewhat preferred in the jargon of a few kinds of industry, such as おビール (o-bīru, “(honorific) beer”).

Usage varies between speakers, situations, and gender – more polite speech, especially by women, features more use of this prefix, while blunt speech, especially by men, uses it less or not at all (words where the prefix has become mandatory are replaced by blunter terms that do not have the prefix). In rare cases, a prefixed term has become impolite, as in 御(お)前(まえ) (omae, “you (familiar or derogatory)”).

Kanji in this term 御 おんGrade: S kun’yomi

/oɸomʉ/ → /owomʉ/ → /oːɴ/ → /oɴ/

Early-Late Middle Japanese shift from ōn- below.[2]

  • (Tokyo) おん [óꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
  • IPA(key): [õ̞ɴ]

御(おん) • (on-)

  1. indicates that the [word] is honorific; often used to indicate that the [word] belongs or is related to the listener (as opposed to the speaker)

Kanji in this term 御 おおんGrade: S kun’yomi Alternative spelling 大御 Kanji in this term 御 おおむGrade: S kun’yomi Alternative spelling 大御

⟨opomi1⟩ → */opomʲɨ/*/əpəmʲɨ/ → /oɸomʉ/ → /owoɴ/ → /oːɴ/

First attested in the Wamyō Ruijushō (938 CE), as man’yōgana form 於保无 (opomu- → ōmu-) within 於保无太加良 (opomutakara → ōmutakara, “people”, as a kun reading of 人民).

Shift from older Old Japanese 大御 (⟨opomi1⟩ → ōmi-, prefix of maximum honorific).

Both ōmu- and ōn- readings likely existed in free variation until the development of the ん (n) grapheme.

  • IPA(key): [õ̞ːɴ]
  • IPA(key): [o̞ːmɯ̟]

御(おおん) or 御(おおむ) • (ōn- or ōmu-) ←おほん (ofon-) or おほむ (ofomu-)?

  1. (obsolete) indicates that the [word] is honorific; often used to indicate that the [word] belongs or is related to the listener (as opposed to the speaker)
  • 御(おおん)時(とき) (ōntoki)
  • 御(おおん)身(み) (ōnmi)

Kanji in this term 御 みGrade: S kun’yomi Alternative spellings 美深

⟨mi1⟩ → */mʲi/ → /mi/

From Old Japanese.

Cognate with 霊(み), 神(み) (mi, “spirit, god”), as this prefix was originally used to refer to gods and other spiritually important things. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

  • (Tokyo) み [mì] (Heiban – [0])
  • IPA(key): [mʲi]

御(み) • (mi-)

  1. (honorific, archaic) added to gods and other spiritually important things
  2. (honorific, archaic) added to nouns to indicate godlike respect
  3. 美, 深: (honorific, archaic) added to placenames to emphasize beauty

Primarily used or religious words, pertaining to gods or the emperor, as in 御(み)輿(こし) (mikoshi, “portable shrine”). However, in this context it is often replaced by its homophone 神(み) (mi-, “god”), and a further 御(お) (o-) may be added, as in 御(お)神(み)輿(こし) (omikoshi). The mi- prefix has also been merged into the readings of other kanji, such as 宮(みや) (miya, “imperial palace”).

Kanji in this term 御 ごGrade: S goon

From Middle Chinese 御 (MC ngjoH).

The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

  • (Tokyo) ご [góꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
  • IPA(key): [ɡo̞]

御(ご) • (go-)

  1. (honorific) used to respectfully refer to something that belongs to or is related to the listener or a third party 意(い)見(けん)go-iken ― (your esteemed) opinion 両(りょう)親(しん)go-ryōshin ― (your) parents
  2. (attaches to nouns denoting actions)
    1. (honorific) used to respectfully describe the actions of another
    2. (humble, with する (suru), 致(いた)す (itasu), etc.) used to humbly describe one’s own actions that affect someone else 案(あん)内(ない)いたします。Go-annai itashimasu. ― I shall show you around.
  3. (polite) adds refinement 飯(はん)go-han ― cooked rice 御(ご)馳(ち)走(そう)go-chisō ― feast
  • This term is often spelled in kana.
  • Chiefly attaches to Sino-Japanese words (漢語(かんご) (kango)).
  • May also be used with modern foreign borrowings. 本(ほん)日(じつ)はニコニコ動(どう)画(が)に御(ご)アクセス頂(いただ)き、ありがとうございます。Honjitsu wa Nikoniko Dōga ni go-akusesu-itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you for accessing Niconico today.
  • Also appears with a limited number of native words such as ゆっくり (go-yukkuri) and もっとも (go-mottomo).
  • In many cases the prefixed form has been so common that the base word is no longer used in isolation, as in 御(ご)飯(はん) (go-han, “rice”) — the form ×飯(*はん) (*han) is not used alone (though the reading is of course used in other compounds, such as 炊飯(すいはん) (suihan, “cooking (of) rice”)).

Kanji in this term 御 ごGrade: S goon

Short form of 御(ご)前(ぜん) (gozen, “noble person”).

  • IPA(key): [ɡo̞]

御(ご) • (-go)

  1. (honorific) indicates that the [word] is familiar to the speaker and slightly honorific

御(ご) • (go)

  1. (obsolete, archaic, honorific) a lady suffixed to the given name, via genitive particle の (no): 伊(い)勢(せ)の御(ご)Ise no GoLady Ise
  2. (obsolete, archaic, honorific) form of address to a woman or a court lady: my Lady used in the plural form 御達 (gotachi)
  • 御(ご)達(たち) (gotachi)

Kanji in this term 御 ぎょGrade: S kan’on Alternative spelling 馭

From Middle Chinese 御 (MC ngjoH).

The kan’on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

  • (Tokyo) ぎょ [gyóꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
  • IPA(key): [ɡʲo̞]

御(ぎょ) • (gyo) ←ぎよ (gyo)?

  1. equestrianism, horseriding
  2. a coachman
  3. (by extension) serving nearby (to an aristocrat, etc.)
  • 御(ぎょ)する (gyo suru)

御(ぎょ) • (gyo) ←ぎよ (gyo)?

  1. control (a machine, etc.)
  2. govern, rule
  3. servant
  4. alternative spelling of (gyo): defend, protect

Kanji in this term 御 ぎょGrade: S kan’on

From Middle Chinese 御 (MC ngjoH).

The kan’on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

  • (Tokyo) ぎょ [gyò] (Heiban – [0])
  • IPA(key): [ɡʲo̞]

御(ぎょ) • (gyo-) ←ぎよ (gyo-)?

  1. prefixed to make an honorific kanji compound, especially used to indicate that the [word] belongs or is related to the emperor and/or the equivalents
  • 御(ぎょ)意(い) (gyoi)
  • 御(ぎょ)慶(けい) (gyokei)
  • 御(ぎょ)製(せい) (gyosei)

御(ぎょ) • (-gyo) ←ぎよ (-gyo)?

  1. suffixed to make an honorific kanji compound which means the action belongs or is related to the emperor and/or the equivalents
  • 還(かん)御(ぎょ) (kangyo)
  • 渡(と)御(ぎょ) (togyo)
  • 崩(ほう)御(ぎょ) (hōgyo)

• (eo, a) (hangeul 어, 아, revised eo, a, McCune-Reischauer ŏ, a, Yale e, a)

  1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Cognate with 霊, 神 (mi1, “spirit, god”), as this prefix was originally used to refer to gods and other spiritually important things.

(mi1-) (kana )

  1. (honorific) added to gods and other spiritually important things
  2. (honorific) added to nouns to indicate godlike respect
  3. (honorific) added to placenames to emphasize beauty
  • Japanese: 御, 美, 深 (mi-)

御: Hán Nôm readings: ngự, ngợ, ngừ, ngừa

  1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.