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July 3, 2022

Origin of Japanese Words – 相棒 Partner and Pal

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Meaning of the Kanji

First, let's break down the kanji:

相

Readings: ソウ; ショウ; あい-

Meaning: inter-; mutual; together

棒

Readings: ボウ

Meaning: rod; stick; pole

Origin of the Word

相棒あいぼうとは、一緒いっしょに何なにかをする人ひと、仲間なかまという意味いみです。
江戸えど時代じだいに籠かごを担かつぐとき、一本いっぽんの棒ぼうを二人ふたりの人ひとが持もつのですが、その時とき、一緒いっしょに担かつぐ人ひとを「相棒あいぼう」と呼よんでいました。これが、一緒いっしょに仕事しごとをする仲間なかま、何なにかをする友ともだちという意味いみになりました。

Translation, Vocabulary, & Notes

The word "Aibou" means a companion, a person with whom one does something together. In the Edo period (1603-1868), when carrying a basket with a shoulder pole, the pole was carried by two people, and the people who carried it together were called "aibou”. This came to mean a colleague to work with, a friend to do something with.

語源 etymology; origin of a word

相棒 partner; pal; buddy; friend

とは (indicates the word or phrase being defined)

一緒に together (with); at the same time; along

何か something; some; any

を (indicates the direct object of action)

する to do; to perform; to carry out

人 person; people

仲間という意味 mean “a companion” [仲間なかま　(companion; buddy; partner; helpmate) + という (is used to define, describe, and generally just talk about the thing itself) + 意味いみ　(sense; meaning)]

です be; is

江戸時代に in the Edo period (1603 - 1868) [江戸時代えどじだい (Edo period (1603 - 1868)) + に (in; indicates the specific time)]

籠を担ぐとき when carrying a basket [籠かご (basket) + を (indicates 籠かご as the direct object of action) + 担かつぐ (to carry on one’s shoulder) + とき (when; at this time; how to form: Verb (casual form) + とき)]

一本の棒 one pole [一本いっぽん (one long cylindrical thing; 一 (one) + 本 (counter for “stick-shaped” or “thin and long” things)) + の (modifier) + 棒ぼう (pole; rod; stick)]

一本の棒を二人の人が持つ two people carry the pole [一本いっぽんの棒ぼう (one pole) + を (indicates the direct object of action) + 二人ふたり　(two people; 二 (two) + 人 (counter for people)) + の (modifier) + 人 (person; people) + が (identifies who performs the action described by the verb 持もつ) + 持もつ (to hold (in one’s hand); to carry)]

のです can say with confidence that … [it is used to explain something, give reasoning, or to emphasize something; how to form: Verb (casual) + のです]

が and [conjunction; is used to combine two sentences together into one compound sentence]

その時 at that time; on that occasion; at that moment [その (that; the) + 時とき (time; moment; occasion)]

一緒に担ぐ人 people who carry (it) together [一緒いっしょに (together) + 担かつぐ (to carry on one’s shoulder) + 人ひと (people; person)]

一緒に担ぐ人を「相棒」と呼んでいました people who carry (it) together are called “aibou” [一緒いっしょに担かつぐ人ひと (people who carry (it) together) + を (indicates the direct object of action) +「相棒」(“aibou (partner; pal)”) + と (quotation marker) + 呼よんでいました (polite past form of 呼んでいる (ている form of 呼よぶ (to call) which is used to describe a continuous action))]

これが this [これ (this) + が (emphasizes the preceding word これ)]

一緒に仕事をする仲間 colleague to work with [一緒いっしょに (together (with); with) + 仕事しごとをする (do a job; perform work; do tasks) + 仲間なかま　(colleague; companion; partner)]

何かをする友だち a friend to do something (with) [何なにか (something; some) + を (indicates the direct object of action) + する (to do; to carry out; to perform) + 友ともだち (friend; companion)]

という意味 means [is used when you explain the definition of a word, sentence, sign, etc.]

になりました turned out to; came to; became [polite past form of になる (turn out to; become; come to)]

Kusakabe_Kimbei_-_49._Kago,_Travelling_Chair

From Wikipedia

Cultural Notes:

A popular detective show (season 21 just started!) is called 相棒(あいぼう) and stars 水谷(みずたに) 豊(ゆたか) who acts like an English gentleman (英国紳士(えいこくしんし)) and his first 相棒(あいぼう), 亀山薫(かめやまかおる) returns this season after a ten year absence.

In the manga/anime Disastrous Life of Saiki K, one of the characters (Nendou) always calls Saiki 「相棒(あいぼう)」. They aren't friends. They are "partners."

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