つゆ

Japanese

Etymology 1

Alternative spellings
汁 露 液

First cited to a text from 1809-1813.

Unknown. Japanese references do not give any etymology.

One could speculate a connection to 露 (tsuyu, “dew”), as a liquid of a soup could look like dew. The pitch accent values match, giving support to the etymology. However, this is not backed up by any sources.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) つ​ゆ [tsúꜜyù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [t͡sɨᵝjɯ̟ᵝ]

Noun

つゆ • (tsuyu) 

1. broth, soup

   Synonyms: 汁 (shiru), スープ (sūpu), だし (dashi)

ざるそばとつゆ: soba noodles with tsuyu

1. sauce, dipping sauce

   Synonyms: 付け汁 (kakejiru), めんつゆ (mentsuyu)

2. juice; sap

   つゆの多(おお)い煮(に)物(もの)

   tsuyu no ōi nimono

   a juicy stew

Etymology 2

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

【露】S [noun] dew, dewdrop [noun] (by extension) a drop or drops of something [noun] transience [noun] (historical) the threads of the sleeve ends of 狩衣 (kariginu), 水干 (suikan), etc. [noun] tears [noun] a gratuity, tip [noun] (historical, colloquial) Synonym of 豆板銀 (mameitagin) a lump of silver used as currency in the Edo period [adverb] not one bit [adverb] a few, a little

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

Etymology 3

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

【梅雨】 [noun] the East Asian rainy season (from early June to early/mid-July) Alternative spelling 黴雨

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