元もと結ゆい

も

と

ゆ

い

Meanings

paper cord for tying the hair

A traditional cord made of twisted paper, used to bind the hair in Japanese hairstyles such as those worn by sumo wrestlers or in historical contexts. The reading もとゆい is standard; もとい and もっとい are variant readings.

力りき士しは髷まげを結ゆうときに元もと結ゆいを使つかう。
Sumo wrestlers use a paper cord when tying their topknot.
この元もと結ゆいは和わ紙しでできている。
This hair cord is made of Japanese paper.

Kanji

元beginning, former time, origin
結tie, bind, contract

Related words

髷まげ
Refers to the topknot or hairstyle itself, while 元結い is the cord used to tie it.
和わ紙し
Japanese paper, the material from which 元結い is traditionally made.

Built from

元もと+結ゆう

Written forms

元結いUsage4%
- もとゆい
  Standard kanji spelling for the paper cord used to tie traditional hairstyles.
- もとい
- もっとい
元結Usage89%
- もとゆい
  Abbreviated kanji form; also common.
- もとい
- もっとい
もっといUsage7%
もとい

Etymology

Compound of 元 (moto, 'base') and 結い (yui, 'tying'), referring to the cord used to tie the base of the hair. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.