けんけん

Japanese

Etymology

Attested from at least the 18th century. There are two theories of the word’s origin: either from 蹴(け)る (keru, “kick, stomp”) via reduplication as 蹴蹴, or onomatopoeic from the sound of foot-falls.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [kẽ̞ŋkẽ̞ɴ]

Noun

けんけん • (kenken) 

  1. hopping, jumping on one foot
    Synonym: 片足跳び (kata-ashi tobi)
    けんけん跳(と)ぶ
    kenken tobu
    move by hopping, hop

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
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