砂利

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
砂	利
しゃ > じゃ Grade: 6	り Grade: 4
irregular	on’yomi

Listed in one source as possibly a shift from the sazare portion of 細石 (sazareishi, “gravel, pebble”, literally “small + stone”).

• /sazare/ → */zare/ → /zari/ → /d͡ʑari/

However, the first attestation of the zari form is not until 1677, while the jari form is first cited to 1619.

The child sense originates as a jargon term at places such as a theatre, initially in reference to child visitors.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じゃり [jàrí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑa̠ɾʲi]

Noun

砂(じゃ)利(り) • (jari) 

1. [from 1619] gravel
2. [from 1804] a magistrate's office for adjudicating issues from commoners (from the rock gardens that were common at these during the Edo period)

   Synonym: 白洲 (shirasu)

3. [from 1844] child

Derived terms

• 切込(きりこ)み砂利(じゃり) (kirikomi jari)
• 砂利(じゃり)タレ (jari tare)
• 砂利場(じゃりば) (jari ba)
• 玉砂利(たまじゃり) (tama jari)
• 山砂利(やまじゃり) (yama jari)

See also

• じゃりじゃり (jarijari)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
砂	利
さ > ざ Grade: 6	り Grade: 4
irregular	on’yomi

Appears to be a shift from the jari reading.

• /d͡ʑari/ → /zari/

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ざり [zàrí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [d͡za̠ɾʲi]

Noun

砂(ざ)利(り) • (zari) 

1. [from 1677] gravel
2. [uncertain, possibly from early 1800s] a magistrate's office for adjudicating issues from commoners (from the rock gardens that were common at these during the Edo period)

   Synonym: 白洲 (shirasu)

3. [from 1932] rice (either cooked or as raw grains)