呦よう呦よう

taru-adjective

crying (of a deer)

Archaic literary word describing the plaintive cry of a deer, often used in classical Chinese-influenced poetry or prose. Not used in modern everyday Japanese.

• 古こ詩しに「呦よう呦ようたる鹿しかの声こえ」とある。

  In an old poem, there is the phrase 'the crying voice of the deer'.

taru-adjective

sobbing

Archaic literary use for human sobbing or weeping, likely an extension of the deer-cry imagery. Extremely rare; modern Japanese would use すすり泣き or 嗚咽.

• 呦よう呦ようとして泣なくさまは、古ふるい物もの語がたりにのみ見みられる。

  The manner of sobbing described as 呦呦 is found only in old tales.