幸い

Kanji in this term
幸
さいわ Grade: 3
kun'yomi

/sakipapi/ → /sakiɸaɸi/ → /sakiwawi/ → /sakiwai/ → /saiwai/

Derived from sakiwai below.^[1][2]

More often spelled as 幸い with the final い to indicate the reading.

• 幸

• (Tokyo) さいわい [sàíwáí] (Heiban – [0])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [sa̠iβ̞a̠i]

幸(さいわ)い • (saiwai) ^{←さいはひ (saifafi)?}-na (adnominal 幸(さいわ)いな (saiwai na), adverbial 幸(さいわ)いに (saiwai ni))

1. very fortunate and happy, especially as bestowed by gods, spirits, buddhas, or other entities
2. favorable, ideal (often used in polite constructions)

   お返(へん)事(じ)をいただければ幸(さいわ)いです。

   O-henji o itadakereba saiwai desu.

   It would be favorable if I could have your reply. → I would greatly appreciate your reply.

幸(さいわ)い • (saiwai) ^{←さいはひ (saifafi)?}

1. fortunately, luckily, happily

   幸(さいわい)、怪(け)我(が)人(にん)はでなかった。

   Saiwai, keganin wa denakatta.

   Luckily, no one was hurt.

When used as an adverb without a particle, this term usually comes at the start of the sentence. It also appears used with adverbial particles に (ni) and と (to), or, perhaps more commonly, in an adverbial construction as 幸なことに.

幸(さいわ)い • (saiwai) ^{←さいはひ (saifafi)?}

1. very good fortune and happiness, especially as bestowed by gods, spirits, buddhas, or other entities
2. an occurrence of good luck or good fortune
3. (derivation unknown) the tail and back fins of a carp or other fish, as used in cooking

• (favorable occurrence): 幸(しあわ)せ (shiawase)
• (happiness): 幸(しあわ)せ (shiawase), 幸(こう)福(ふく) (kōfuku)
• (fish tail and back fins): 尾(お)鰭(ひれ) (ohire)

Kanji in this term
幸
さきわ Grade: 3
kun'yomi

/sakipapi/ → /sakiɸaɸi/ → /sakiwahi/ → /sakiwai/

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 幸う (sakiwau, “to meet with good fortune; to prosper”), itself a compound of 幸 (saki, “good fortune, happiness”) +‎ 這う (hau, “to spread out widely”).^[1]

More often spelled as 幸い with the final い to indicate the reading.

• 幸

• IPA^(key): [sa̠kʲiβ̞a̠i]

幸(さきわ)い • (sakiwai) ^{←さきはひ (sakifafi)?}

1. (obsolete) an occurrence of good luck or good fortune
2. (obsolete) good luck or good fortune itself

Obsolete in modern Japanese, replaced by saiwai above.

• (good fortune): 幸(こう)福(ふく) (kōfuku); 幸(さいわ)い (saiwai); 幸(さち) (sachi)

Kanji in this term
幸
さちわ Grade: 3
kun'yomi

/sat͡ɕipapi/ → /sat͡ɕiɸaɸi/ → /sat͡ɕiwahi/ → /sat͡ɕiwai/

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 幸う (sachiwau, “to meet with good fortune; to prosper”), itself a compound of 幸 (sachi, “good fortune, happiness”) +‎ 這う (hau, “to spread out widely”).^[1]

More often spelled as 幸い with the final い to indicate the reading.

• 幸

• IPA^(key): [sa̠t͡ɕiβ̞a̠i]

幸(さちわ)い • (sachiwai) ^{←さちはひ (satifafi)?}

1. (obsolete, rare) an occurrence of good luck or good fortune
2. (obsolete, rare) good luck or good fortune itself

Obsolete in modern Japanese, replaced by saiwai above. In historical Japanese, sachiwai appears to be a rarer variant of sakiwai above.

• (good fortune): 幸(こう)福(ふく) (kōfuku); 幸(さいわ)い (saiwai); 幸(さち) (sachi)