うやうやしい

• Reading: うやうやしい
• Romaji: uyauyashii
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ja.ɯ.ja.ɕiː/

Meaning

Respectful; reverential; deferential. Describes an exaggeratedly humble or formal manner of address or behaviour.

An i-adjective conveying deep outward respect, often to the point of seeming theatrical or obsequious. Formed by reduplication of うや (reverence), reinforcing the intensity of the deference. The adverb form うやうやしく frequently appears in literary depictions of court life, ceremonies, or scenes of deliberate obsequiousness. In modern usage it can carry a slightly ironic tone.

Examples

1. 若い社員は部長に対してうやうやしい態度を崩さず、周囲は少し引いていた。 The young employee never dropped his deferential manner towards the department head, and those around him were slightly put off.
2. 彼はうやうやしく頭を下げたが、その目には反発の色が浮かんでいた。 He bowed with elaborate reverence, but a flash of defiance showed in his eyes.
3. 宮廷ではうやうやしく王に礼をし、声も低く抑えるのが慣例だった。 At court, it was customary to bow reverentially to the king and keep one's voice low and restrained.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, historical settings, ceremony, irony

Tone: deferential

Origin & History

Formed by reduplicating the archaic noun うや (reverence, awe), which itself derives from Old Japanese. The reduplicated root intensifies the quality, then receives the i-adjective suffix しい.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated