うい

Japanese

Etymology 1

For pronunciation and definitions of うい – see the following entry.

【初】4 [noun] [from early 900s] a first, start [prefix] [from early 900s] the first of something

(This term, うい, is the hiragana spelling of the above term.) For a list of all kanji read as うい, see Category:Japanese kanji read as うい.)

Etymology 2

Alternative spelling
憂い

⟨usi⟩ → /uɕi/ → /uki/ → /ui/

From the 連体形 (rentaikei, “attributive form”) of Early Middle Japanese adjective 憂し (ushi), with the medial /-k-/ falling out.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) う​い [úꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟ᵝi]

Adjective

うい • (ui) -i (adverbial うく (uku))

1. sad, gloomy

Inflection

Inflection of うい

Stem forms
Imperfective (未然形)	うかろ	ukaro
Continuative (連用形)	うく	uku
Terminal (終止形)	うい	ui
Attributive (連体形)	うい	ui
Hypothetical (仮定形)	うけれ	ukere
Imperative (命令形)	うかれ	ukare
Key constructions
Informal negative	うくない	uku nai
Informal past	うかった	ukatta
Informal negative past	うくなかった	uku nakatta
Formal	ういです	ui desu
Formal negative	うくないです	uku nai desu
Formal past	うかったです	ukatta desu
Formal negative past	うくなかったです	uku nakatta desu
Conjunctive	うくて	ukute
Conditional	うければ	ukereba
Provisional	うかったら	ukattara
Volitional	うかろう	ukarō
Adverbial	うく	uku
Degree	うさ	usa

Derived terms

• 愛(う)い (ui)
• 物(もの)憂(う)い (monoui)
• うきめ (ukime)

Proverbs

• 旅(たび)は憂(う)いもの辛(つら)いもの (tabi wa ui mo no tsurai mo no)

Etymology 3

Alternative spelling
愛い

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟ᵝi]

Adjective

うい • (ui) 

1. fine (person), good, nice, splendid, admirable (referring to someone of lower status)

Etymology 4

For pronunciation and definitions of うい – see the following entry.

【有為】 [adjective] (Buddhism) impermanent due to being born of nidāna (causes and effects) [noun] (Buddhism) impermanent existences born of nidāna (causes and effects)

(This term, うい, is the hiragana spelling of the above term.) For a list of all kanji read as うい, see Category:Japanese kanji read as うい.)