田舎

/winaka/ → /inaka/

Possibly a compound of 居 (i, the 未然形 (mizenkei, “incomplete form”) and 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem form”) of verb 居る (iru), “to be, exist (of animate objects)”) +‎ 中 (naka, “inside, middle”).

The spelling is from Chinese 田舍 (tiánshè).

• (Tokyo) いなか (Heiban – )^[1][2][3]
• IPA^(key):

田舎(いなか) • (inaka) ^{←ゐなか (winaka)?}

1. (sensitive) the country (rural area), countryside

   生活(せいかつ)は都市(とし)より田舎(いなか)のほうが安泰(あんたい)だ。

   Seikatsu wa toshi yori inaka no hō ga antai da.

   Life is more secure in the country than in the city.

2. a remote area with a small population
3. a hometown
4. something crude or unrefined
5. (archaic women's speech, colloquial) Short for 田舎御樽 (inaka otaru): unrefined sake
6. (colloquial) Short for 田舎酒 (inakazake): sake made in the countryside; local sake
7. (colloquial) Short for 田舎汁粉 (inaka-jiruko): a red bean soup made with slightly crushed red bean paste

The "sensitive" sense refers to derived terms from this word, such as 田舎っぺ (“a bumpkin, a yokel”). It may suggest that the place or people described by that word are backwards.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Also read with rendaku (連濁), as denja.

• (Tokyo) でんしゃ (Heiban – )^[1]
• IPA^(key):

田(でん)舎(しゃ) or 田舎(でんじゃ) • (densha or denja) 

1. (archaic) the country (rural area), countryside; a house in the countryside