Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/su

This Proto-Japonic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Japonic

Etymology 1

Noun

*su

  1. nest
Descendants
  • Old Japanese: (su)
    • Japanese: (su)
  • Proto-Ryukyuan: *su
    • Northern Ryukyuan:
      • Kikai: ()
      • Kunigami: (shī)
      • Northern Amami Ōshima: (sï, shi)
      • Okinawan: (shī)
      • Okinoerabu: (shī)
      • Southern Amami Ōshima: (sïï)
      • Tokunoshima: (sïï)
      • Yoron: (shī)
    • Southern Ryukyuan:
      • Miyako: (sïï)
      • Yaeyama: (sïï)
      • Yonaguni: (chī)

Etymology 2

Perhaps a native Japanese term, with the su reading somehow related to the way that very sour things cause one to pucker.

Alternatively, may be a prehistoric borrowing from Middle Chinese (MC tshuH), borrowed earlier than the systematic introduction of kanji (vinegar was historically introduced to Japan in the 300-400s from China), and then later mistaken as a native Japanese term. Compare modern Mandarin () or Cantonese (cou3).

Noun

*su

  1. vinegar
Descendants
  • Old Japanese: (su)
    • Japanese: (su)
  • Proto-Ryukyuan: *su
    • Northern Ryukyuan:
      • Kunigami: (shī)
      • Northern Amami Ōshima: (shi, sïï)
      • Okinawan: (shī)
      • Okinoerabu: (shī)
      • Southern Amami Ōshima: (sïï)
    • Southern Ryukyuan:
      • Miyako: (sïï)
      • Yaeyama: (sïï)