independent word; free-standing word
In Japanese grammar, a word that can form a phrase on its own, such as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb, as opposed to a dependent element like a particle or auxiliary verb. Antonym: 付属語.
Antonyms: 付属語
Japanese words are divided into independent words and dependent words.
"走る" is an independent word, but "ている" is a dependent element.
dependent word; bound form
Compound of 自立 (jiritsu, 'independence') + 語 (go, 'word'). A modern linguistic term.