であります

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Japanese

Alternative spellings
で有ります
で在ります

Etymology

Comprised of (de, (れん)(よう)(けい) (ren'yōkei, stem or continuative form) of the verb (copula)) + あり (ari, (れん)(よう)(けい) (ren'yōkei, stem or continuative form) of the verb ある (to exist)) + ます (masu, polite auxiliary).

The plain form である (de aru) first appears in the Muromachi period,[1] with this polite form であります (de arimasu) arising in the Edo period, first cited in 1800.[2] This latter form was initially used by the women of red light districts.[2] The sense later gained a more conversational tone through the influence of translations of Western works (Rangaku),[2] and by the Meiji period, the phrasing spread to include use by government and the armed forces.[2]

Pronunciation

Phrase

であります (de arimasu

  1. (now uncommon and formal) Polite form of である (de aru)
    • 1800, Sharebon (洒落本): Fūzokutsū (風俗通):
      なんであります
      Nan de arimasu e
      What is it? → How may I help you?

Conjugation

References

  1. ^ である”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 であります”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006