優やさ

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

Prefix used in a few set words like 優しい (やさしい) and 優男 (やさおとこ). Not freely productive; mostly encountered inside established compounds.

「優やさしい」の「優やさ」は、やさしさを表あらわす接せっ頭とう語ごとして使つかわれている。
The 優 in 優しい is used as a prefix expressing gentleness.
「優やさ男おとこ」という言こと葉ばには、優やさしい印いん象しょうの男だん性せいという意い味みがある。
The word 優男 carries the meaning of a man with a gentle impression.

Expressions

優やさしくするbe kind to; treat kindly

Kanji

優tenderness, excel, surpass

Related words

優やさしい
The common i-adjective meaning 'gentle' or 'kind'. 優 is the prefix form that appears in this and a few other compounds.

Word family

優やさしいN5
kind; gentle; tender
優やさ男おとこ
gentle-natured man · man of delicate features; slender man · effeminate man; feeble man
優やさ女おんな
gentle woman; affectionate woman · beautiful graceful woman
優やさ姿すがた
graceful figure; elegant appearance
優やさ形がた
slender figure; slim build
優やさしげ
gentle-looking; kind-looking; sweet-looking

Etymology

The prefix 優 (やさ) is related to the adjective 優しい (やさしい) and carries the core meaning of gentleness or tenderness. Its historical derivation is uncertain, but it appears in a small set of native Japanese words.