借しゃく音おん

noun

phonetic loan; using kanji for sound only

Technical term in Japanese historical linguistics. Refers to the practice in Man'yōgana where a kanji is used solely for its Chinese-derived sound to write a native Japanese word, ignoring the kanji's meaning. Primarily encountered in discussions of the Man'yōshū and early writing systems.

See also: 万葉仮名

• 借しゃく音おんは、漢かん字じの意い味みではなく音おんを借かりる表ひょう記き法ほうです。

  Shakuon is a writing method that borrows sound rather than the meaning of kanji.

• 借しゃく音おんの用よう法ほうは、漢かん字じの意い味みを無む視しして音おんだけを借かりる点てんが特とく徴ちょうだ。

  The use of phonetic loan is characterized by borrowing only the sound of a kanji while ignoring its meaning.