単于

Japanese

Kanji in this term
ぜん
Grade: 4

Hyōgai
goon
Alternative spelling
單于 (kyūjitai)
Kanji in this term
せん
Grade: 4

Hyōgai
kan'on
Alternative spelling
單于 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 單于 (MC dzyen hju).

The two pronunciations are readings of the Chinese term with goon and kan'on respectively. The goon reading ぜんう (zen'u) was probably the earlier borrowing, with the kanon reading せんう (sen'u) probably a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [d͡zẽ̞ɰ̃ɯ̟]
  • IPA(key): [sẽ̞ɰ̃ɯ̟]

Noun

(ぜん)() or (せん)() • (zen'u or sen'u

  1. (historical) chanyu (a supreme ruler of one or more nomadic tribes of Inner Asian peoples, at some point between the 4th century BCE and the 4th century CE; most notably a ruler of the Xiongnu)

References