万歳

Japanese

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Etymology 1

Shift in reading from 万(ばん)歳(ぜい) (banzei) below, keeping the older goon reading for the second character and adopting the relatively newer kan'on reading for the first character.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ばんざ​い (Nakadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

万(ばん)歳(ざい) • (banzai) 

1. an extremely long period of time
   • 1936, “第五章　母音と父音 [Chapter 5: Vowels and Consonants]”, in 誰にも分かる獨習英語の學び方 [Self-Taught English for Everyone], 英語研究会, page 30:

     大(だい)日(にっ)本(ぽん)帝(てい)國(こく)萬(ばん)歲(ざい)！

     Dai Nippon Teikoku banzai!

     Long live the Japanese Empire!

2. (raising one's hands three times in cheer) raising ones hands
3. (raising one's hands in defeat) business troubles, bankruptcy

Interjection

万(ばん)歳(ざい) • (banzai) 

1. an expression of celebration

Synonyms

• (specialized) マンセー (mansē), ウラー (urā)

Descendants

• → English: banzai
• → Indonesian: banzai

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “see Wiktionary:Requests for cleanup#万歳”)

From Middle Chinese 萬歲 (MC mjonH sjwejH). The kan'on, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

万(ばん)歳(ぜい) • (banzei) 

1. an extremely long period of time
2. long life and glory
3. death

Interjection

万(ばん)歳(ぜい) • (banzei) 

1. an expression of celebration

Etymology 3

From Middle Chinese 萬歲 (MC mjonH sjwejH). The goon, so likely the initial borrowing.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) まんざ​い (Nakadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

万(まん)歳(ざい) • (manzai) 

1. an extremely long period of time
2. (historical) alternative form of 萬歳 (“Edo manzai (a traditional New Year performance)”)
3. a song and dance to celebrate a new year
4. a song sung to celebrate a new year

Interjection

万(まん)歳(ざい) • (manzai) 

1. an expression of celebration

References