蛇之助

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 蛇之助. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 蛇之助, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 蛇之助 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 蛇之助 you have here. The definition of the word 蛇之助 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of蛇之助, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
じゃ
Grade: S

Jinmeiyō
すけ
Grade: 3
goon kun'yomi

Etymology

Appears to be composed of (ja, snake, serpent) +‎ 之助 (nosuke, a common suffix component amongst male given names).

Two explanations are suggested:

  • An allusion to the Japanese legend in which the storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto fells the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi by first intoxicating it with large quantities of alcohol.[1][2][3]
  • In reference to snakes' tendency to swallow things whole, therefore likening this to excessive drinkers' habitual consumption of large quantities of alcohol.[1][2]

Pronunciation

Noun

(じゃ)()(すけ) (janosuke

  1. heavy drinker; alcoholic

Synonyms

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Shinmura, Izuru, editor (1998), 広辞苑 [Kōjien] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN