also: あら · にい
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Only with reading さら
Kansai dialect word meaning something is new or unused. Often used in contrast to 古い or 中古.
この服、さらやで。まだタグついとる。
These clothes are new. The tag is still on.
さらのノートを買うてきた。
I bought a new notebook.
prefix
Only when written 新
Prefix meaning 'new' or 'fresh', used in compounds like 新世界 (new world) or 新発売 (new release). The reading is often しん in standard Japanese; あら and にい are rare and limited to specific words.
新世界の発見は歴史を変えた。
The discovery of the New World changed history.
新発売のスナックを試してみた。
I tried the newly released snack.
na-adjective
Only when written 更 · Only with reading さら
Used with the kanji 更 and reading さら to mean something is obvious or natural. Often appears in negative constructions like 更ではない (it's not obvious).
彼が怒るのは更なことだ。
It's obvious that he would get angry.
そんなことは更だ。わざわざ言うまでもない。
That's obvious. There's no need to say it.
Rare reading for the prefix sense; mostly seen in fixed compounds.
Kanji spelling for the reading さら, used in the sense 'obvious/natural'.
Kana spelling is usual for the Kansai dialect sense.
Standard Japanese adjective for 'new', used nationwide. さら is a dialectal noun/no-adjective limited to Kansai.
Formal or literary word for 'new' or 'fresh', often used as a na-adjective. さら is more casual and dialectal.
Standard word for 'obvious' or 'clear'. 更 (さら) is less common and often used in fixed expressions.
The reading さら for 新 is a dialectal variant in Kansai, possibly related to the classical adjective さらなり (new, fresh). The prefix use with readings あら and にい is archaic and survives only in certain compounds. The 更 kanji for 'obvious' is a separate usage, likely derived from the adverbial さらに (furthermore, moreover).