Japanese word

由来

Pronunciation

Romajiyurai

Meaning

  • nounorigin

Example

この名前の由来を知っていますか？ko no na mae no yu rai o shi tte i ma su ka

Do you know the origin of this name?

Illustration for 由来 (origin)

More examples

この祭りの由来を調べると、地域の歴史がよく分かります。ko no matsu ri no yu rai o shira be ru to chi iki no reki shi ga yo ku wa ka ri ma su

If you look into the origin of this festival, you can learn a lot about the area's history.

Core concept

It points to the source or background from which a name, thing, or custom comes into being.

Common phrases

  • 名前の由来na mae no yu rai

    the origin of a name

  • 由来を知るyu rai o shi ru

    know the origin

  • 由来を調べるyu rai o shira be ru

    look into the origin

  • 由来を説明するyu rai o setsu mei su ru

    explain the origin

Similar words

起源kigen: The beginning or source from which a thing or custom develops.
いわれiware: The history or reason behind a name, place, or custom.
成り立ちnaritachi: The way a thing, system, or custom has been formed.

Definition in Japanese

物事や名前などが、何をもとにして生じたかということ。mono goto ya na mae na do ga nan o mo to ni shi te shō ji ta ka to i u ko to

Word origin

由来 (yurai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 由 (yu, "cause") and 来 (rai, "come"), expressing what something comes from.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 由来 (yurai) often appears when asking how a name or custom came about, while origin is the usual English noun for the same question.

Other meanings

  • historynoun
  • derivationnoun

Related words

  • 由来するyuraisuruoriginate fromverb

Word lists with this word