神酒

Japanese

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神酒

神酒 (shinshu, miki, miwa): two bottles of sacramental sake used as a Shinto offering.

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
神	酒
しん Grade: 3	しゅ Grade: 3
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
神酒 (kyūjitai)

Possibly from Middle Chinese compound 神酒 (ʑiɪn t͡sɨu^X, literally “god + wine”).

Alternatively, coined in Japan of Middle Chinese-derived elements, as a compound of 神 (shin, “god, spirit”) +‎ 酒 (shu, “wine, liquor, alcohol”).

The individual character readings are kan'on shin + goon shu, suggesting either an innovation in the reading after borrowing, or a Japanese coinage.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) しんしゅ [shíꜜǹshù] (Atamadaka – [1])^[1]
(Tokyo) しんしゅ [shìńshú] (Heiban – [0])^[1]
IPA^(key): [ɕĩɰ̃ɕɨ]

Noun

神(しん)酒(しゅ) • (shinshu)

sacramental sake used in a Shinto ceremony
ambrosia, nectar

Synonyms

聖酒(せいしゅ) (seishu): sacramental sake, sacramental wine
アンブロシア (anburoshia): ambrosia
ネクター (nekutā): nectar of the gods

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
神	酒
み Grade: 3	き Grade: 3
kun'yomi

Alternative spellings
神酒 (kyūjitai) 御酒

From Old Japanese 御酒 (mi₁ki₁). Appears in the Kojiki of 712 CE. In turn, from Proto-Japonic *mi-ki.

Compound of 神 (mi, “honorific prefix used in spiritual contexts”) +‎ 酒 (ki, “wine, liquor, alcohol”, ancient root, not found in many words).^[1]^[2]^[3]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) みき [mìkí] (Heiban – [0])^[1]
(Tokyo) みき [míꜜkì] (Atamadaka – [1])^[1]
IPA^(key): [mʲikʲi]

Noun

神(み)酒(き) • (miki)

sacramental sake used in a Shinto ceremony
ambrosia, nectar

Usage notes

In Shinto contexts, often prefixed with the honorific o- as 御神酒, 大御酒 (omiki), or ō- “great” as 大神酒 (ōmiki).

Synonyms

聖酒(せいしゅ) (seishu): sacramental sake, sacramental wine
アンブロシア (anburoshia): ambrosia
ネクター (nekutā): nectar of the gods

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
神	酒
み Grade: 3	わ Grade: 3
irregular

Alternative spellings
神酒 (kyūjitai) 御酒

From Old Japanese. Appears in the Man'yōshū of 759 CE. Compound of 神 (mi, “honorific prefix used in spiritual contexts”) +‎ わ (wa, a morpheme of uncertain derivation).^[1]^[2]^[3] The final wa may be related to 泡 (awa, “bubble”) in reference to the bubbles of fermentation (compare 泡盛 (awamori, “Okinawan rice-based strong spirits”, literally “lots of bubbles”)), but this is only speculation.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [mʲiβ̞a̠]

Noun

神(み)酒(わ) • (miwa)

(obsolete) sacramental sake used in a Shinto ceremony
(obsolete) ambrosia, nectar

Usage notes

The miwa reading appears to be obsolete.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[DJR-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[DJS-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[KDJ-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

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