ずい

See also: すい

Japanese

Etymology 1

Unknown. Possibly from 髄 (zui, “bone marrow”); compare the sense development that led to the senses “something straight; an exact direction, an immediate area” for reading 髄 (zun).

First appears in the early 1500s.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ず​い [zúꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1]) adverb
• (Tokyo) ずい [zùí] (Heiban – [0]) adverb
• IPA^(key): [d͡zɨᵝi]

Adverb

ずい • (zui) 

1. straightforwardly, wholeheartedly, unreservedly, directly, immediately, all at once, in one go

   Synonym: 一気 (ikki)

Usage notes

Used with the adverbial particle と (to).

• ずいと歩(ある)き出(だ)す

  zui to arukidasu

  to set forth [walking] without reservation

Not to be confused with adverb 惴惴 (zuizui, “in a manner quaking with fear”).

Prefix

ずい • (zui-) 

1. (archaic) exactly that, directly or immediately that

Usage notes

Attaches to nouns or verbs.

In popular use during the late 1700s.

Etymology 2

Any of various on'yomi terms.

For pronunciation and definitions of ずい – see the following entries.

【随】S [noun] This term needs a translation to English. [adjective] This term needs a translation to English.

【髄】S [noun] bone marrow [noun] the pith of a plant [noun] (figurative) the pith or essence of something, such as a skill or cultural thing

【隋】H [proper noun] Sui dynasty

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

(The following entries are uncreated: 惴, 瑞, 蕊.)