荒城
Japanese
Etymology 1
| Kanji in this term | |
|---|---|
| 荒 | 城 |
| こう Grade: S |
じょう Grade: 4 |
| on'yomi | goon |
/kʷau zʲau/ → /kʷɔːʑɔː/ → /koːʑoː/
From Middle Chinese-derived elements 荒 (kō, “desolate”) + 城 (jō, “castle”).
Pronunciation
Noun
荒城 • (kōjō) ←くわうじやう (kwauzyau)?
- a castle in ruins
- 1901, “Kōjō no Tsuki [Moon over the Ruined Castle]”, Bansui Doi (lyrics), Rentarō Taki (music):
- 今荒城の夜半の月 替はらぬ光誰がためぞ
- ima kōjō no yowa no tsuki kawaranu hikari ta ga tame zo
- Now, for whose sake, doth the ruined castle [under the] midnight moon shine with Her unchanging light?
- 今荒城の夜半の月 替はらぬ光誰がためぞ
See also
Etymology 2
| Kanji in this term | |
|---|---|
| 荒 | 城 |
| あら Grade: S |
き Grade: 4 |
| kun'yomi | |
| Alternative spelling |
|---|
| 殯 |
From 荒 (ara-, “crude, rough”) + 城 (ki, “fortified structure → castle, fortress”).
Noun
荒城 • (araki)
- (archaic) a temporary location where a deceased nobleman is enshrined during a period of mourning before the proper burial mound is completed
Derived terms
- 大荒城 (ōaraki)