遊あそばせ言こと葉ば

あ

そ

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せ

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Meanings

noun

polite language used by women

Refers to a style of speech historically associated with upper-class or refined women, characterized by the use of the honorific auxiliary verb あそばせ (e.g., いらっしゃいませ → いらっしゃいあそばせ). Now largely archaic or stereotyped.

遊あそばせ言こと葉ばは、昔むかしの上じょう流りゅう階かい級きゅうの女じょ性せいが使つかった丁てい寧ねいな話はなし方かたです。
Asobase-kotoba is a polite way of speaking used by upper-class women in the past.
「ごめんあそばせ」は遊あそばせ言こと葉ばの典てん型けい的てきな表ひょう現げんだ。
"Gomen asobase" is a typical expression of asobase-kotoba.

Kanji

遊play
言say, word
葉leaf, plane, lobe

Related words

あそばせ
The auxiliary verb itself; 遊ばせ言葉 is the broader term for the speech style that uses it.
女にょう房ぼう言こと葉ば
Another historical women's speech register, but originating from court ladies and often involving word substitutions, whereas 遊ばせ言葉 is defined by the use of あそばせ.

Built from

遊あそばせる+言こと葉ば

Written forms

遊あそばせ言こと葉ば
Standard kanji spelling for this term.
あそばせ言こと葉ばUsage100%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; the first part is often written in kana to emphasize the polite auxiliary verb あそばせ.

Etymology

From 遊ばせ (asobase), the imperative form of the honorific verb 遊ばす (asobasu, 'to do' honorific), combined with 言葉 (kotoba, 'language'). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it became a stereotypical feature of refined feminine speech.