よいしょ

interjection

heave-ho!; hup!; oof!

Exclamation when exerting physical effort, like lifting something heavy or standing up with strain. Equivalent to English 'heave-ho' or 'oof'.

• 重おもい箱はこを持もち上あげるとき、「よいしょ」と言いった。

  When lifting the heavy box, he said, 'Heave-ho!'

interjection

yoisho! (sumo chant)

In sumo, shouted by spectators during a yokozuna's ritual stomping (dohyō-iri). A traditional rhythmic call.

See also: 横綱

• 横よこ綱づなの土ど俵ひょう入いりで、観かん客きゃくが「よいしょ、よいしょ」と声こえをかけた。

  During the yokozuna's ring-entering ceremony, the spectators chanted 'Yoisho, yoisho!'

interjection

yoisho (filler in folk music)

A rhythmic filler word or interjection used in folk songs (min'yō) and similar traditional music, similar to 'heave-ho' in sea shanties.

See also: はやし詞

• 民みん謡ようの合あいの手てに「よいしょ」が入はいる。

  The folk song includes 'yoisho' as a rhythmic interjection.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

flattery; buttering up; sucking up

Colloquial noun or suru-verb meaning insincere praise or flattery to gain favor. Often used in the phrase よいしょする (to butter someone up).

• 彼かれは上じょう司しにいつもよいしょしている。

  He's always buttering up his boss.

• そんなよいしょは必ひつ要ようないよ。

  You don't need to flatter me like that.