expression, noun, pronoun
my dear; my beloved; my Buddha
Archaic idiomatic expression used as a term of endearment, literally 'my Buddha'. It carries a deeply affectionate, almost worshipful tone. Rare in modern Japanese.
古い手紙に「吾が仏、いとおしき人」と書かれていた。
In an old letter, it was written, 'My dear, my beloved person.'
「あがほとけ」は
'Agahotoke' is an old term of endearment that literally means 'my Buddha'.
Modern adjective meaning 'dear' or 'beloved'. Unlike 吾が仏, it is standard and not archaic.
Common modern second-person pronoun. 吾が仏 is far more intimate and old-fashioned, closer to 'my darling'.
From 吾が (archaic possessive 'my') + 仏 ('Buddha'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely arose from a religiously influenced expression of deep affection.