also: なこうど · なかひと
Archaic term for a person who arranges marriages or acts as an intermediary. In modern Japanese, 仲人 is almost always read なこうど for this meaning; the readings なかびと and なかひと are historical.
See also: 仲人 (なこうど)
In the past, a go-between played an important role in marriage.
「なかびと」という読みは古い文献に見られる。
The reading なかびと is found in old documents.
The modern standard reading for the same kanji spelling, meaning 'matchmaker' or 'go-between'. なかびと is its archaic predecessor.
Standard modern spelling for the common reading なこうど.
Archaic reading; the same kanji form is now almost always read なこうど.
Archaic reading; the same kanji form is now almost always read なこうど.
Archaic kanji variant for the reading なかびと.
Archaic single-kanji spelling for the reading なかびと.
The reading developed from older なかひと, literally “a person in the middle,” through contraction and sound change to なこうど. The spelling 仲人 reflects the person’s intermediary role.