yodan verb with 'hu/fu' ending (archaic), intransitive verb
to serve (by a superior's side)
Only when written 候ふ
Archaic intransitive verb meaning to attend or serve in a respectful, often courtly context. Restricted to the spelling 候ふ.
auxiliary verb, yodan verb with 'hu/fu' ending (archaic)
Archaic polite auxiliary verb used in place of ある after で or に to form a copula. Equivalent to modern であります or でございます.
auxiliary verb, yodan verb with 'hu/fu' ending (archaic)
Archaic polite auxiliary verb used in place of ます. Attaches to the continuative form of verbs to express polite action.
Ancient warriors took pride in serving by their lord's side.
This is at my house. (archaic polite)
I humbly hear/understand. (archaic polite)
Archaic kanji spelling with historical kana usage; the okurigana ふ reflects the classical Yodan verb ending.
Irregular okurigana usage; the same kanji without ふ is also attested in historical texts.
Derived from classical Japanese 候ふ (そうろう), originally meaning 'to serve' and later grammaticalized into a polite auxiliary. The reading そうろう is a sound shift from earlier さぶらふ (侍ふ).