H

[John Leo]

I've often heard the expression "etchi" (which I won't even try to
translate), but was surprised recently to discover that this is actually
the pronunciation of of the roman letter "H" (in written form H itself
is often used). So does anyone know the derivation of this word?

Shumi wa nandesuka, sensei. `/ / | | John Leo
--- Oreka? Benkyou o oshierukoto dayo. | --|-- l...@tds.lcs.mit.edu
Iyanaseikaku desune. \ / --| / . | / /| l...@athena.mit.edu
--- Omae no shumi wa nandayo. -| / | / / |
Benkyou o osowarukoto desu. --| \/ \/ / \| (Kazoku Geemu)

[Masahiro Noguchi]

In article <15...@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> l...@athena.mit.edu (John Leo) writes:
>I've often heard the expression "etchi" (which I won't even try to
>translate), but was surprised recently to discover that this is actually
>the pronunciation of of the roman letter "H" (in written form H itself
>is often used). So does anyone know the derivation of this word?

According to
Eugene E.Landy (translated and re-edited by Katsuaki Horiuchi),
the Underground Dictionary, Japanese edition,
Kenkyusha, (1975)

"etchi" or "H" derives from the first letter of "Hentai".
(See "wolf" in the dictionary.)


BTW, this dictionary is English-Japanese, but is actually
a comprehensive collection of Japanese four-letter words.

---- Masahiro

[Mark Crispin]

>In article <15...@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> l...@athena.mit.edu (John Leo) writes:
>I've often heard the expression "etchi" (which I won't even try to
>translate), but was surprised recently to discover that this is actually
>the pronunciation of of the roman letter "H" (in written form H itself
>is often used). So does anyone know the derivation of this word?

etchi = H = hentai ("pervert", possibly also "queer")

Mark Crispin / 6158 Lariat Loop NE / Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-2020
m...@CAC.Washington.EDU / M...@WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil / (206) 842-2385
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sumomo mo momo, momo mo momo, momo ni mo iroiro aru
uraniwa ni wa niwa, niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru

[Mitz Inohara]

In article <15...@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> l...@athena.mit.edu (John Leo) writes:

>I've often heard the expression "etchi" (which I won't even try to
>translate), but was surprised recently to discover that this is actually
>the pronunciation of of the roman letter "H" (in written form H itself
>is often used). So does anyone know the derivation of this word?
>

I believe I first heard the expression "H" in the 50's. It was usually
expressed by girls when calling a man "hentai" or pervert. "H" came from the
first letter of "hentai". I don't recall seeing this in any leterature and
still think this is a colloquialism. Some examples follow;

Anata etchi ne. (You pervert.)
Etchi na koto iwanaide. (Don't such a dirty word.)
Ano hito etchi dakara kirai. (I hate him becasue he is full of smut.(

Probably the best source to research this kind of words is to look up old
editions of "Gendai yogo no kiso chishiki", or "Basic knowledge of
contemporary words" by Jiyu Kokuminsha.

Speaking from experience,

Mitz Inohara

[gphg...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu]

I have been told, although I can't swear to the truth of it, that etchi
from the pronunciation of H, stands for the first letter of "henna"
meaning "strange" or by extension, "perverted."

Glenn Hoetker
ghoetker@UIUCVMD
hoetker%gsl...@gslisa.lis.uiuc.edu

[me...@s.cs.uiuc.edu]

Actually, "hen (na)" means 'strange' or 'unusual,' but there is little doubt
that "etchi" comes from the word "hentai" (which usually means 'perverted').
Seward states in one of his books that it stands for "hentai sei"
("hentaisei" = '[degree of] perversion', not 'sexual perversion' as
was mentioned), but "hentai" is a much simpler and more likely origin.