Archaic interjection expressing praise or approval; not used in modern everyday speech. Found in classical texts or stylized contexts.
"Well done, you have spoken well," said the lord.
In the classical literature lecture, the old interjection "yoikana" came up.
From 善い (よい, 'good') + 哉 (かな, archaic exclamatory particle). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with this meaning.