Translation and Meaning of: 奴 - yako

Etymology and Definition

The Japanese word 「奴」 (yako) has a rich etymology. This kanji character is composed of two radicals: 「女」 (woman) and 「又」 (right hand), which reflects the pictographic structure of traditional characters. The word in hiragana, やっこ, is a reading derived from the kanji, whose pronunciation emphasizes simplicity in the informal use of the Japanese language.

The term「奴」originally had a broader meaning in ancient Japanese society, referring to servants or helpers, usually from lower social classes. This usage of the word can be found in historical texts, where it described individuals who worked for nobles or samurais during Japan's feudal era. However, over time, the word acquired additional connotations, sometimes being used pejoratively to indicate submission or an inferior position.

Origin and Modern Use

In the modern context, 「奴」 (yako) is less common in daily use, except in specific cultural or historical contexts. In current conversations, the expression can be interpreted as offensive if used to describe someone in a subservient or inferior manner. It is important to note how linguistic evolution reflects cultural and social changes, highlighting the historical role that the word has played in Japan.

Interestingly, the term "yako" can also be found in contexts such as traditional festivals, where it refers to certain masks or characters representing figures from ancient times. This cultural representation shows how words can transcend their original meaning to become symbols of cultural identity.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 彼 (kare) - He
• 彼奴 (ayatsu) - That guy (informal/pejorative)
• やつ (yatsu) - That person (informal/pejorative)
• あいつ (aitsu) - That (informal/pejorative)
• こいつ (koitsu) - This (informal/pejorative)
• そいつ (soitsu) - This (informal/pejorative)
• あの人 (ano hito) - That person (formal/neutral)
• あの子 (ano ko) - That child (informal/neutral)
• あの男 (ano otoko) - That man (neutral)
• あの女 (ano onna) - That woman
• かれ (kare) - He
• かのじょ (kanojo) - She
• かの女 (kano onna) - That woman
• かの男 (kano otoko) - That man (neutral)

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奴

Romaji: yako
Kana: やっこ
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: servant; partner

Meaning in English: servant;fellow

Definition: A derogatory term that describes a person or action that offends someone's feelings.

Example Sentences - (奴) yako

See below some example sentences:

彼は本当に奴だ。

Kare wa hontō ni yatsu da

He really is a guy.

• 彼 - The Japanese pronoun that means "he" is 彼 (かれ, kare).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "he".
• 本当に - Japanese adverb that means "really" or "truly"
• 奴 - Japanese noun that can be used pejoratively to refer to a person, in this case "he"
• だ - Japanese verb that indicates the affirmative present form, in this case "is"