謂
reason, origin, history, oral tradition
Readings
On'yomi
- イ
Kun'yomi
- い.う
- いい
- おも.う
- いわゆる
Meaning
謂 centers on the idea of something being said or told, especially to explain why or how something came to be. Its meanings extend naturally from spoken explanation to the reason, origin, or history behind something, and to oral tradition as a body of passed-down sayings.
Most common words using 謂
- 所謂いわゆるN2
what is called; what you call; what they call; so-called
- 謂いい
what was said; what it means; origin of a story (or tradition, etc.)
- 謂れいわれ
reason; cause
- 謂れのないいわれのない
unjustified; unwarranted; unfounded; baseless; groundless
- 謂れ因縁いわれいんねん
origin; history
- 謂れ無いいわれない
unjustified; unwarranted; unfounded; baseless; groundless
Study
Etymology
謂 combines 言 (speech, words) with 胃, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally meant 'to say' or 'to speak of', and from that developed the extended senses of reason, origin, and oral tradition.
Meaning mnemonic
Words (言) about the stomach (胃) might be an old story about where food comes from—an oral tradition explaining the origin of a meal. 謂 is the spoken reason or history behind something.
Reading mnemonic
For イ, imagine an eager (イー) storyteller beginning an oral tradition: 'Ee! Let me tell you the reason...' The eager 'Ee!' cues イ.