Learning the Forms of Japanese from Classical Literature
Table of Contents
1. Learning the Forms of Japanese from Classical Literature
2. What is “音便“？
3. 〜き (Rentai Form)
4. 〜う / 〜しゅう (Renyō Form)
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment
Q: Recently I heard the expression ”おいしゅうございました.” When I looked it up, I found there are also forms like ”うつくしゅう.”
Could you explain this in more detail?
A: The Japanese language has gradually changed its forms over time. As a result, when we trace words back to their origins, we often find expressions that look different from today.
For example, ”美しい” was expressed in classical Japanese as ”美しう (美しゅう)” or ”美しき.” In this article, we will clearly explain these differences, using historical grammar to make them easier to understand.
What is “音便“？
In classical Japanese grammar, there is a sound change called onbin (音便). Simply put, it means altering a sound to make it easier to pronounce.
For example, ”美しき” ends with the vowel i, so it takes i-onbin. On the other hand, ”美しう (美しゅう)” ends with u, so it uses u-onbin.
美しい → 美しう（美しゅう）
[Example] 花、美しう咲きたり。
⇒ Modern Japanese: 花が美しく咲いている。 (The flowers bloom beautifully)
おいしい → おいしう（おいしゅう）
[Example] この料理、おいしうございます。
⇒ Modern Japanese: この料理はおいしいです。(This dish is delicious)
麗しい → 麗しう（うるわしゅう）
[Example] ご機嫌麗しゅうお過ごしでございますか。
⇒ Modern Japanese: お元気でお過ごしですか。 (How are you doing?)
In this way, adjectives ending in ”〜い” in classical Japanese often changed to ”〜う” (ウ音便), which corresponds to ”〜く” in modern Japanese.
〜き (Rentai Form)
For example, ”美しき” corresponds to the modern ”美しい.” In classical grammar, when the adjective ending ”-い” took the rentai (attributive) form, it changed to ”-き” and was used to directly modify nouns.
[Example] 美しき世界
⇒ Modern Japanese: 美しい世界 (a beautiful world)
[Example] 若き人の志は、高くあるべし。
⇒ Modern Japanese: 若者の志は、高くあるべきだ。 (A young person’s ambition should be lofty)
[Example] 高き山に雲かかれり。
⇒ Modern Japanese: 高い山に雲がかかっている。(Clouds hang over the tall mountain)
This way of expression, shown through イ音便, was not only used in classical Japanese but can still appear today in song lyrics, poetry, or literary writing. While it is rarely used in everyday conversation, it is chosen when one wishes to create a more emotional or literary tone.
[Examples]
愛しき日々の記憶が、まだ心に残っている。
The memories of those beloved days still remain in my heart.
少年たちは高き目標を抱いて、日々がんばっている。
The boys hold high goals and work hard every day.
苦しき日々も振り返れば輝きに変わるものだ。
Even the painful days turn into something shining when you look back on them.
〜う / 〜しゅう (Renyō Form)
The form ”美しう (美しゅう)” corresponds to the modern ”美しく” and is used adverbially. It was mainly combined with verbs or with ”ございます,” as in ”美しう咲く” (to bloom beautifully) or ”美しゅうございます” (it is beautiful).
Originally, in classical grammar, it was written as ”美しう.” Later, with changes in pronunciation, modern kana usage adopted the spelling ”美しゅう.”
[Rule of Modern Kana Usage]
When an い adjective ending in ”-い” takes the renyō (continuative) form, ”-い” changes to ”-う,” and in some cases it is pronounced as ”-しゅう.” This shift is especially common in adjectives ending with ”〜しい.”
うつくしい → うつくしう → うつくしゅう
あやしい → あやしう → あやしゅう
愛しい → 愛しう → 愛しゅう
くるしい → くるしう → くるしゅう
よい → よろしう → よろしゅう（Note: 良い has an irregular pattern of change.）
[Example] 花、うつくしう咲きたり。
⇒ Modern Japanese: 花が美しく咲いている。(The flowers are blooming beautifully)
[Example] 時もよろしうて、花盛りなり。
⇒ Modern Japanese: 時期もよく、花が盛りである。(The season is favorable, and the flowers are in full bloom)
[What is Modern Kana Usage?]
Modern kana usage is a way of writing Japanese words based on contemporary pronunciation. It was officially announced by the Japanese Cabinet in 1946.
Before this reform, there were significant differences between spoken and written Japanese. For example, characters such as 「ゐ」 and 「ゑ」 were still in use, and words like “てふてふ” were written that way but pronounced ”ちょうちょ” (butterfly).
Summary
- In classical Japanese, adjectives had forms such as ”〜き” and ”〜う (〜しゅう),” which correspond to the modern ”〜い” and ”〜く.” These are changes caused by onbin (sound changes) that made pronunciation easier.
- Although classical adjectives took different forms from modern Japanese, their roles were the same: they modified nouns and connected to verbs or predicates.
[〜き(rentai form)]
- Corresponds to the modern ”〜い” and directly modifies nouns.
- Example: ”高き山” = ”高い山” (a tall mountain), ”若き人” = ”若い人” (a young person)
[〜う／〜しゅう(renyō form)]
- Corresponds to the modern ”〜く” and is used adverbially.
- Example: ”花うつくしう咲く” = ”花が美しく咲く” (the flowers bloom beautifully), ”時もよろしゅうて” = ”時期もよく” (the timing is good)
Similer Articles
- Must-Know for Foreigners Working in Japan: Do You Really Need a Hanko (Personal Seal)?
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English②
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English①
- Learning the Forms of Japanese from Classical Literature
- Idioms Using “頭” ② – Useful in Everyday Conversations
▼ Subscribe to Our Newsletter ▼
Receive free tips for learning Japanese!
