attending; keeping company; serving a noble
Polite noun for attending upon someone, especially a noble or superior, or acting as a companion/confidant. Often used in historical or formal contexts.
Abbreviation of おとぎ話 (fairy tale). Used mainly in compounds or as a short form in casual contexts.
See also: おとぎ話
I was ordered to attend upon the princess.
This fairy tale is popular with children.
fairyland; never-never land
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 御伽 and お伽 are rare and mainly seen in historical or literary contexts.
Formal kanji spelling; rarely used in modern writing.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; also rare.
Derived from the verb とぐ (解く) with the honorific prefix お, originally meaning 'to keep someone company and help them pass the time', especially by telling stories. The 'fairy tale' sense comes from abbreviation of おとぎ話.