也

也 U+4E5F, 也 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E5F ← 乞 [U+4E5E] CJK Unified Ideographs 习 → [U+4E60]

Stroke order

Stroke order

也 (Kangxi radical 5, 乙+2, 3 strokes, cangjie input 心木 (PD), four-corner 4471₂, composition ⿻乜丨)

• 他, 吔, 地, 她, 弛, 彵, 忚, 扡, 池, 𮋭, 阤, 𤜣, 肔, 杝, 灺, 牠, 迆, 𥐨, 𦧇, 祂, 䄬, 毑, 䊶, 𦏸, 虵, 衪, 訑, 貤, 酏, 釶, 䪧, 馳, 䶔, 乸, 㐌, 㦾, 竾, 髢, 匜, 𥒃, 𮌊
• 𰀸

• ㄝ (Zhuyin alphabet)
• ㆤ (Zhuyin alphabet)
• や (Hiragana character derived from Man'yōgana)
• ヤ (Katakana character derived from Man'yōgana)

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 84, character 4
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 171
• Dae Jaweon: page 170, character 4
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 50, character 5
• Unihan data for U+4E5F

trad.		也
simp. #		也
alternative forms		𠃟 ancient 𦫴 𦬀 𠔄 𠃒 𠃟 ancient 𦫴 𦬀 𠔄 𠃒 啊 Wu 叶 Wu 亦 Hokkien

Pictogram (象形) — A child (子) with their mouth (口) open crying. The original form of 嗁 (OC *l'eː, “to cry”) (Ji Xusheng, 2004). The child's arms were removed during bronze inscriptions and the two components fused together in the modern form.

Other various possible explanations include:

• The traditional glyph origin given in Shuowen explains the character to be a pictogram (象形) of female genitalia.
• It was once interchangeable with 它 and may have originated as a simplification. Hence, it could be the pictogram of a snake.
• It may have been created to represent the modal particle (語氣詞／语气词 (yǔqìcí)). In some bronze inscriptions, it appears to be a mouth (口) with a curved line descending from it to represent air coming out of the mouth.
• It is possibly a pictogram (象形) of an ancient funnel or wash basin. It may be an early form of 匜.
• It may have signified a big-headed scorpion with its legs flattened, signifying as something very "flat" or "stretched out".

classical sentence-ending copulative particle, topic particle

Unclear. Possibly Sino-Tibetan, connectable to Tibetan ལ (la), which is often used as a marker (for oblique locative, dative, possessor in constructions with a copula verb, etc.) but also a topicalizer like ནི (ni, “as for”) (Schuessler, 2007).

On the other hand, Pulleyblank (1995) notes the similarity with anteclassical 唯 (OC *ɢʷi) as a copula and a topicalizer.

also, too, as well

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

也

1. also; too; as well; (in negative sentences) neither; either

   我也去了。  ―  Wǒ yě qù le.  ―  I also went.

   我也是中國人。／我也是中国人。  ―  Wǒ yě shì zhōngguórén.  ―  I am Chinese too.

   你如果不去，我也不去。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]

   Nǐ rúguǒ bù qù, wǒ yě bù qù. [Pinyin]

   If you don't go, I won't either.

   我也沒有看見過它。 [MSC, trad.]
   我也没有看见过它。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ yě méiyǒu kànjiàn guò tā. [Pinyin]

   I haven't seen it either.

2. Used for emphasis.

   這也太不像話了。 [MSC, trad.]
   这也太不像话了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè yě tài bùxiànghuà le. [Pinyin]

   This is way too outrageous.

   1. With object fronting.

      他飯也不吃，覺也不睡。 [MSC, trad.]
      他饭也不吃，觉也不睡。 [MSC, simp.]

      Tā fàn yě bù chī, jiào yě bù shuì. [Pinyin]

      (Disappointingly) he neither eats nor sleeps.

   2. Used in the 連……也……／连……也…… constructions for stronger emphasis. Interchangeable with 都. even

      他連畜生也不如，連自己的父母也不養活。 [MSC, trad.]
      他连畜生也不如，连自己的父母也不养活。 [MSC, simp.]

      Tā lián xùshēng yě bùrú, lián zìjǐ de fùmǔ yě bù yǎnghuó. [Pinyin]

      He is no better than an animal, because he doesn't even support his own parents.

   3. Used in the 再……也…… concessive constructions. still, anyway, nevertheless

      你再聰明，也回答不了這個問題。 [MSC, trad.]
      你再聪明，也回答不了这个问题。 [MSC, simp.]

      Nǐ zài cōngmíng, yě huídá bùliǎo zhè ge wèntí. [Pinyin]

      No matter how smart you are, you won't be able to answer this question.

3. (Classical) Particle used at the end of copular constructions involving a nominal predicate; to be (although not grammatically a verb)

   我亦人也。 [Literary Chinese]  ―  Wǒ yì rén yě. [Pinyin]  ―  I am a person, too.

   其西有大山，天下至高者也。 [Literary Chinese, trad. and simp.]

   Qí xī yǒu dà shān, tiānxià zhì gāo zhě yě. [Pinyin]

   In the west there are great mountains, which are the tallest in the world.

   • 君子人與？君子人也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     君子人与？君子人也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Jūnzǐ rén yú? Jūnzǐ rén yě. [Pinyin]

     Is he a noble person? He is a noble person.

   • 滕小國也，間於齊楚。事齊乎？事楚乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     滕小国也，间于齐楚。事齐乎？事楚乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Téng xiǎoguó yě, jiān yú Qí Chǔ. Shì Qí hū? Shì Chǔ hū? [Pinyin]

     Teng is a small kingdom, between Qi and Chu. Should we serve Qi? Or Should we serve Chu?

   • 由是觀之，無惻隱之心，非人也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     由是观之，无恻隐之心，非人也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Yóushì guān zhī, wú cèyǐn zhī xīn, fēi rén yě. [Pinyin]

     From this we may see that if somebody lacks a commiserating heart, they are not a human being.

   • 萬物雖多，其治一也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     万物虽多，其治一也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Wànwù suī duō, qí zhì yī yě. [Pinyin]

     Though the myriad things are many, their government is one.

   1. Often used more loosely than the English copula to indicate a cause or relation.

      • 死生，命也，其有夜旦之常，天也。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

        From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

        Sǐ shēng, mìng yě, qí yǒu yè dàn zhī cháng, tiān yě. [Pinyin]

        Life and death are [matters of] destiny. That there is the constancy of night and dawn is [a matter of] Heaven.

      • 桀紂之失天下也，失其民也；失其民者，失其心也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        桀纣之失天下也，失其民也；失其民者，失其心也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

        Jié Zhòu zhī shī tiānxià yě, shī qí mín yě; shī qí mín zhě, shī qí xīn yě. [Pinyin]

        That Jie and Zhou lost the empire was because they lost their people; that they lost their people was because they lost their hearts.

4. (Classical) Topic-marking particle used at the end of noun phrases.

   Synonym: 者 (zhě)

   • 回也，不愚。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Huí yě, bù yú. [Pinyin]

     Hui is not foolish.

   • 人之生也，固若是芒乎！其我獨芒，而人亦有不芒者乎！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     人之生也，固若是芒乎！其我独芒，而人亦有不芒者乎！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Rén zhī shēng yě, gù ruò shì máng hū! Qí wǒ dú máng, ér rén yì yǒu bù máng zhě hū! [Pinyin]

     As for a man's life, is it hazy like this all along? Or is it mine alone which is hazy, and there are others who are not?

   • 凡法術之難行也，不獨萬乘，千乘亦然。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     凡法术之难行也，不独万乘，千乘亦然。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Han Feizi, circa 2^nd century BCE

     Fán fǎshù zhī nán xíng yě, bù dú wànchéng, qiānchéng yì rán. [Pinyin]

     Generally concerning the difficulty of carrying out the law, not only the imperial realm but kingdoms are also [faced with] this.

   1. when, at the time of; especially commonly used for temporal topics, often as 及其……也.

      • 丈夫之冠也，父命之；女子之嫁也，母命之。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

        From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

        Zhàngfū zhī guàn yě, fù mìng zhī; nǚzǐ zhī jià yě, mǔ mìng zhī. [Pinyin]

        When a man is capped [at the age of twenty], his father instructs him; when a girl is married, her mother instructs her.

      • 三代之得天下也以仁，其失天下也以不仁。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

        From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

        Sāndài zhī dé tiānxià yě yǐ rén, qí shī tiānxià yě yǐ bù rén. [Pinyin]

        When the Three Dynasties gained the empire, it was through benevolence; when they lost the empire, it was through lack of benevolence.

      • 昔者，魯昭公少喪其母，有慈母良。及其死也，公弗忍也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        昔者，鲁昭公少丧其母，有慈母良。及其死也，公弗忍也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

        Xīzhě, Lǔ Zhāogōng shào sàng qí mǔ, yǒu címǔ liáng. Jí qí sǐ yě, gōng fú rěn yě. [Pinyin]

        Duke Zhao of Lu was once bereaved of his mother when he was a child, and had a foster mother who was kind. When she died, the Duke could not bear it.

5. (Classical) Verb phrase-final particle marking continuous aspect, especially common for assertions of unchanging fact.

   • 孟武伯問：「子路仁乎？」子曰：「不知也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     孟武伯问：「子路仁乎？」子曰：「不知也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Mèng Wǔ Bó wèn: “Zǐlù rén hū?” Zǐ yuē: “Bù zhī yě.” [Pinyin]

     Meng Wu Bo asked. "Is Zilu benevolent?" The Master said, "I do not know."

   • 當是之時，堅車良馬不知貴也，刻鏤文采不知喜也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     当是之时，坚车良马不知贵也，刻镂文采不知喜也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mozi, c. 4^th century BCE

     Dāngshì zhī shí, jiānchē liángmǎ bù zhī guì yě, kèlòu wéncǎi bù zhī xǐ yě. [Pinyin]

     In that age, they did not find value in sturdy chariots and good horses; they did not find pleasure in carvings and adornments.

   • 人皆知有用之用，而莫知無用之用也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     人皆知有用之用，而莫知无用之用也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Rén jiē zhī yǒuyòng zhī yòng, ér mò zhī wúyòng zhī yòng yě. [Pinyin]

     Everybody knows the use in being useful, but nobody knows the use in being useless.

6. (Teochew) if
7. a surname. Ye

• Caboara, Marco (2010) The particle ye 也 and related constructions in the Guodian manuscripts of IV century BCE (PhD)‎^[1], University of Washington

(Jinmeiyō kanji)

1. to be
2. (uncommon) also

• Go-on: や (ya)、え (e)
• Kan-on: や (ya)
• Kun: なり (nari, 也)、か (ka)、また (mata, 也)

As an alternative form of 迆:

• Go-on: い (i)
• Kan-on: い (i)
• Kun: これ (kore, 也)

Kanji in this term
也
なり Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

Orthographic borrowing from Literary Chinese 也 (yě, copula).

For pronunciation and definitions of 也 – see the following entry.

【なり】 [verb] (Classical Japanese or literary) the classical copula “to be”, equivalent to modern Japanese である (de aru) or だ (da), or adjective particle な (na) [particle] Used when giving an example, without the implication that it might be the best or the only option [particle] ... or ... [suffix] (Classical Japanese) A modal auxiliary verb indicating hearsay or conjecture based on what is heard: it sounds like; it is said that Alternative spellings 𬼂, 𬻿

(This term, 也, is an alternative spelling (terminal form) of the above term.)

Kanji in this term
也
また Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

Orthographic borrowing from Mandarin 也 (yě, “also”). Probably an early modern innovation.

For pronunciation and definitions of 也 – see the following entry.

【また】 [conjunction] and, also Alternative spellings 又, 亦, 復

(This term, 也, is an alternative spelling (literary, uncommon) of the above term.)

也 (eumhun 잇기 야 (itgi ya))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

也 (eumhun 어조사 야 (eojosa ya))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

也 (eumhun 잇달을 야 (itdareul ya))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

也: Hán Việt readings: giã, dã
也: Nôm readings: dạ, dã, giã, rã

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

• Hồ Lê (1976). Bảng Tra Chữ Nôm. Hanoi: Viện Ngôn Ngữ Học.
• Nguyễn, Quang Hồng (2014). Tự Điển Chữ Nôm Dẫn Giải (Nôm Characters with Quotations and Annotations). Hanoi: Nhà xuất bản Khoa học Xã hội (Social Sciences Publishing House).
• Williams, Noriko Kurosawa (2010). "The Key to Kanji". Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company, Inc.