照る照る坊主

Japanese

Kanji in this term
照	照	坊	主
て Grade: 4	て Grade: 4	ぼう Grade: S	す > ず Grade: 3

Alternative spelling
てるてる坊主

Etymology

A phrase, composed of 照る (teru, “to shine, to be sunny”) + 坊主 (bōzu, “Buddhist monk”). Literally, “shine, shine monk”, whereby “shine” is partially in reference to fair weather.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) てるてるぼーず [tèrú térú bóꜜòzù] (Nakadaka – [5])^[1]^[2]^[3]
IPA^(key): [te̞ɾɯ̟ te̞ɾɯ̟ bo̞ːzɨ]

Noun

照(て)る照(て)る坊(ぼう)主(ず) • (teru teru bōzu) ^{←てるてるばうず (teru teru bauzu)^?}

a small, traditional handmade doll made of white paper or cloth

Usage notes

Japanese farmers began hanging these outside of their windows on a string. This folk amulet is supposed to have magical powers to bring good weather, and to stop or prevent a rainy day.

References

^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ 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

[DJR-1] Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[SMK5-2] Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-3] 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

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