Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 耶

耶

Level:N1 High
Strokes:9
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji 耶 primarily conveys a sense of "question" or "interrogation," often implying a rhetorical question or a questioning tone. It can also suggest an expression of doubt or surprise. It is less commonly used in modern Japanese and often appears in names or older contexts.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): ya (ヤ) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): n/a

Usage Examples

⚫︎耶蘇 Translation: Jesus (archaic) ⚫︎阿耶 Translation: a respectful term for a woman (archaic) ⚫︎耶! Translation: (An interjection of surprise or doubt) - "Really?!" (archaic)

Origin and Formation

The kanji 耶 is a phonetic compound. The left side is a part of the character that looks like the character 耳 (ear). The right side is 也 (also; too). The original meaning of the character is "to question," possibly as a way of expressing "Did you hear?" or "Is that so?".

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