荒城

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
荒	城
こう Grade: S	じょう Grade: 4
on’yomi	goon

/kʷau zʲau/ → /kʷɔːʑɔː/ → /koːʑoː/

From Middle Chinese-derived elements 荒 (kō, “desolate”) +‎ 城 (jō, “castle”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) こーじょー [kòójóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ko̞ːʑo̞ː]

Noun

荒(こう)城(じょう) • (kōjō) ^{←くわうじやう (kwauzyau)?}

1. a castle in ruins
   • 1901, “Kōjō no Tsuki [Moon over the Ruined Castle]”, Bansui Doi (lyrics), Rentarō Taki (music):

     写(うつ)さんとてか今(いま)も尚(なほ)　嗚呼(ああ)荒(くわう)城(じやう)の夜半(よは)の月(つき)

     utsusan tote ka ima mo nao ā kōjō no yowa no tsuki

     Does it still show [the same thing,] now and always? Ah! that ruined castle [under] the midnight moon.

See also

• 古(こ)城(じょう) (kojō)
• 名(めい)城(じょう) (meijō)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
荒	城
あら Grade: S	き Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
殯

From 荒 (ara-, “crude, rough”) +‎ 城 (ki, “fortified structure → castle, fortress”).

Noun

荒(あら)城(き) • (araki) 

1. (archaic) a temporary location where a deceased nobleman is enshrined during a period of mourning before the proper burial mound is completed

Derived terms

• 大(おお)荒(あら)城(き) (ōaraki)