由ゆい緒しょ

ゆ

い

しょ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

Refers to a distinguished or storied background, often of a family, institution, or object. Carries a nuance of prestige and long-standing tradition.

この神じん社じゃは千せん

年ねん

以い

上じょう

の

由ゆい

緒しょ

が

ある

。

This shrine has a history of over a thousand years.

彼かれは由ゆい緒しょ正ただしい家いえ柄がらの出しゅっ身しんだ。

He comes from a family of distinguished lineage.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に由ゆい緒しょがあるfor a place to have a distinguished history
この神じん社じゃには千せん年ねんの由ゆい緒しょがある。
This shrine has a thousand-year history.
〈物もの・場ば所しょ〉の由ゆい緒しょを調しらべるto look into the history or provenance of a place or object
古ふるい家いえの由ゆい緒しょを調しらべてみた。
I looked into the history of the old house.
由ゆい緒しょを誇ほこるto take pride in one's distinguished lineage or history
この寺てらは千せん年ねん以い上じょうの由ゆい緒しょを誇ほこる。
This temple boasts a history of over a thousand years.

Kanji

由wherefore, a reason
緒thong, beginning, inception

Related words

歴れき史しN4
歴史 is the neutral, general word for "history," while 由緒 specifically implies a prestigious or storied lineage, often of a family, shrine, or heirloom.
家か系けいN1
家系 refers neutrally to a family's lineage or genealogy, whereas 由緒 adds a sense of honor and distinguished tradition to that background.
来らい歴れき
来歴 describes the plain history or provenance of a person, object, or place, while 由緒 carries a stronger nuance of prestige and honor.

Don't confuse with

由ゆ来らいN2
由来 explains where something originated or how it came to be, while 由緒 focuses on the prestige and long tradition of that background, not just its origin.

Word family

由ゆい緒しょある
venerable; prestigious; with a long history
由ゆい緒しょ正ただしい
of ancient and honorable origin; of good lineage; of noble birth

Etymology

Composed of 由 (reason, origin) and 緒 (thread, beginning). The combination conveys the idea of a thread of origin, i.e., a distinguished history or lineage. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji are conventionally associated with this meaning.