やんす

Japanese

Etymology

Originally, occupational dialect of prostitutes in Kamigata (Kansai region) at the beginning of the early modern period. Later generalized, and became limited to the usage of politeness.

There are some theories about the etymology; said to be changed from the following phrases:

• あります (arimasu)
• やしゃります (yasharimasu)
• あんす (ansu)

Verb

やんす • (yansu) 

1. (auxiliary, obsolete, dialectal) indicating respect [17th–18th c.]

   Synonym: なさる (nasaru)

   • 1749, Takeda Izumo, Miyoshi Shōraku, Namiki Sōsuke, Futatsu Chōchō Kuruwa Nikki (双蝶々曲輪日記):

     ほほこれは皆(みな)若(わか)い衆(しゅう)、寒(かん)取(どり)前(まへ)で精(せい)が出(で)やんすよ

     ho-ho kore wa mina wakai shū, kandori mae de sei ga deyansu yo

     Ho-ho, there're all young fellows; you would work hard toward kandori [sumo practice in the cold].

2. (auxiliary, dated, now dialectal) indicating politeness [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: ます (masu)

   • 1799, Shiba Shinkō, Shinagawa Yōji (品川楊枝):

     今(いま)はかういふ顔(かほ)がはやりやんす

     ima wa kō iu kao ga hayariyansu

     Now this kind of face is popular.

Usage notes

Attached to the 連用形 (“adverbial form”) of conjugated words and で (de, 連用形 (“adverbial form”) of だ (da)).

Conjugation

Stem forms
Imperfective (未然形)	やんせ やんしょ	yanse yansho
Continuative (連用形)	やんし	yanshi
Terminal (終止形)	やんす	yansu
Attributive (連体形)	やんす	yansu
Hypothetical (仮定形)	-	-
Imperative (命令形)	やんせ	yanse
Key constructions
Passive	-	-
Causative	-	-
Potential	-	-
Volitional	-	-
Negative	-	-
Negative continuative	-	-
Formal	-	-
Perfective	-	-
Conjunctive	-	-
Hypothetical conditional	-	-

Conjugation of "やんす" (See Appendix:Japanese verbs.)

Derived terms

• でやんす (de yansu)
• 通(とお)りゃんせ (tōryanse)

See also

• ありんす (arinsu)