English
Nio
Nio comes from Japanese 仁王, and goes back to Chinese 仁王 ‘Benevolent or Humane Kings’.
- Chinesemodern仁王Rénwáng‘Benevolent or Humane Kings’
- Japanesemodernsame formNiō
- Englishearliest quotation 2014Nio
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Chinesemodern仁王Rénwáng‘Benevolent or Humane Kings’
- Japanesemodernsame formNiō
- Englishearliest quotation 2014Nio
Earliest quotation: 2014, John H. Martin et al., Kyoto: 29 Walks in Japan's Ancient Capital: “Two Deva Kings (Nio) stand guard, as do two…”
Every English word from Chinese 仁王
Today it means
name A pair of door gods at the main gates of Buddhist temples.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Chinese 仁王 / Nio