元気

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Japanese

Kanji in this term
げん
Grade: 2

Grade: 1
kan'on
Alternative spelling
元氣 (kyūjitai)

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese compound 元氣 (MC ngjwon khj+jH, literally “first, fundamental, source + vapor, spirit, energy”). In Chinese cosmology, this represented the fundamental force that permeates all matter and life. Early Japanese borrowed this word and meaning. Later, this spelling was conflated with the meaning of homophone 減気 (genki, recovery from illness), adding in the modern senses related to healthy and wellness.

Pronunciation

Adjective

(げん)() (genki-na (adnominal (げん)() (genki na), adverbial (げん)() (genki ni))

  1. healthy
    (げん)()になる
    genki ni naru
    to get well (recover from sickness)
    (げん)()で!
    O-genki de!
    good luck (to you)!/Take care of yourself./Stay healthy.
    (げん)()
    Genki?
    Are you well? / How are you?
  2. energetic
  3. in a good mood; peppy; lively
    ()(ちょう)今日(きょう)(げん)()だね。
    Buchō wa kyō mo genki da ne.
    Our club president looks pretty peppy today again.
    (いもうと)(げん)()にさせる
    imōto o genki ni saseru
    to cheer up one's little sister
Inflection

Noun

(げん)() (genki

  1. the fundamental force that permeates through all matter and life
    • 835, Koubou Daishi, Shōryōshū, volume 2:
      元氣倐動して葦牙乍ちに驚く
      genki shukudō shite ige tachimachi ni odoroku
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 1687, Hōjō Dansui, Kōshoku Hasha Genshō, volume 1:
      元気(げんき)いまだわかたず、(こん)じて(いち)とす
      genki imada wakatazu, konjite ichi to su
      the life force not yet divided, combined as one
  2. health, healthfulness
  3. (personal) energy
    (げん)()()
    genki o dasu
    to cheer up; to recover one's strength
  4. good spirits; vitality; cheer; liveliness; enthusiasm
    (げん)()よく(こた)える
    genki yoku kotaeru
    to answer enthusiastically
    (げん)()いっぱいでかわいい
    genki ippai de kawaii
    cute and full of energy

Proper noun

(げん)() (Genki

  1. a male given name

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
もと
Grade: 2

Grade: 1
kun'yomi kan'on
Alternative spelling
元氣 (kyūjitai)

Compound of (moto, origin, beginning) +‎ (ki, sense; mood; energy; spirit).

Pronunciation

Proper noun

(もと)() (Motoki

  1. a male given name

References

  1. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN