和語(わご)

わご
noun
native Japanese word; yamato kotoba
academiclanguage
1. native Japanese word, yamato kotoba
A word of native Japanese origin, as opposed to words borrowed from Chinese (漢語) or other languages (外来語). Also called 大和言葉 (yamato kotoba).
「山(やま)」や「川(かわ)」は和語(わご)だ。
'Yama' (mountain) and 'kawa' (river) are native Japanese words.
和語(わご)は漢語(かんご)に比(くら)べて柔(やわ)らかい響(ひび)きがある。
Native Japanese words have a softer sound compared to Sino-Japanese words.
日本語(にほんご)の語彙(ごい)は和語(わご)、漢語(かんご)、外来語(がいらいご)の三(みっ)つに大(おお)きく分(わ)けられ、それぞれが異(こと)なる特徴(とくちょう)を持(も)っている。
Japanese vocabulary is broadly divided into three categories — native words, Sino-Japanese words, and loanwords — each with distinct characteristics.

Usage

A linguistic term used when discussing the origins and layers of Japanese vocabulary. Japanese vocabulary is traditionally classified into three categories: 和語(わご) (native Japanese), 漢語(かんご) (Sino-Japanese, borrowed from Chinese), and 外来語(がいらいご) (loanwords from other languages). 和語(わご) is also called 大和言葉(やまとことば).

Key characteristics

和語(わご) tends to sound softer and more emotional than 漢語(かんご). Many basic, everyday words are 和語(わご): 食(た)べる (to eat), 歩(ある)く (to walk), 美(うつく)しい (beautiful). Kanji used for 和語(わご) are read with 訓読(くんよ)み (native readings).

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 漢語(かんご) (Sino-Japanese word)
Compare: 外来語(がいらいご) (loanword)
general
Added 2026.2.20 13:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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