身を尽くす

Japanese

Kanji in this term
身 尽
み
Grade: 3
つ
Grade: S
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
身を盡くす (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Literally "exhaust one's body".

Phrase

身(み)を尽(つ)くす • (mi o tsukusu) 

  1. (figurative) to wear out with one's heart and soul [since Heian period]
    • c. 951–953, Gosen Wakashū (book 13, poem 860; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 20)
      わびぬれば今(いま)はたおなじ難(なに)波(は)なる身(み)をつくしても逢(あ)はむとぞ思(おも)ふ
      wabinureba ima hata onaji Naniwa naru mi o tsukushite mo awan to zo omou
      Such misery this; let my name grow again common as the channel stakes of Naniwa, I would cast this body away to gaze on you once again![1]

Usage notes

Especially in its 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) mi o tsukushi, puns against 澪標 (miotsukushi, “dolphin, channel marker”).

Conjugation

References

  1. Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen (2008) Murmured Conversations: A Treatise on Poetry and Buddhism by the Poet-Monk Shinkei, annotated edition, Stanford University Press, →ISBN, page 28
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