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懐中物 (kaichuumono) Japanese meaning: purse | Kotomora

懐かい中ちゅう物もの

か

い

ちゅ

う

も

の

Meanings

1

purse; handbag; pocketbook

A somewhat dated term for a small bag or purse carried on one's person; in modern Japanese 財布 or ハンドバッグ are more common.

祖そ母ぼはいつも懐かい中ちゅう物ものを

大だい

事じ

そう

に

持も

っ

て

い

た

。

My grandmother always carried her purse with great care.

Kanji

懐feelings, heart, yearn
中in, inside, middle
物thing, object, matter

Related words

財さい布ふ
財布 is the standard modern word for a wallet or purse, while 懐中物 is an older, less common term.
ハンドバッグ
ハンドバッグ is a common loanword for a handbag, whereas 懐中物 sounds dated and is rarely used today.

Built from

懐かい中ちゅう+物もの

Etymology

Compound of 懐中 (かいちゅう, 'in one's pocket or bosom') and 物 (もの, 'thing'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it refers to an item carried on one's person.