せせらぎ

Etymology

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) verb せせらぐ (seseragu, “of shallow water, to flow with a soft sound”), itself attested in the Ruiju Myōgishō (c. 12th century).^[1]

Also archaically spelled せせらき (seseraki) or せぜらき (sezeragi).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) せせらぎ [sèsérágí] (Heiban – [0])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [se̞se̞ɾa̠ɡʲi]

Noun

せせらぎ (rōmaji seseragi)

1. small stream; brooklet
   • 1977, 千昌夫 (lyricist いではく), 「北国の春」

     雪 (ゆき)どけ　せせらぎ　丸木橋 (まるきばし)

     yukidoke seseragi marukibashi

     the thawing snow, the small stream, and the log bridge

   • 1989, 美空ひばり (lyricist 秋元康), 「川の流れのように」

     青 (あお)いせせらぎ　聞 (き)きながら

     aoi seseragi kikinagara

     while listening to the cerulean brook

2. the sound of such a stream
   • 1954, 窪田聡, 「かあさんの歌」

     小 (お)川 (がわ)のせせらぎが聞 (きこ)える　なつかしさがしみとおる

     ogawa no seseragi ga kikoeru natsukashisa ga shimitōru

     ...hearing the sound of the stream, piercing me with nostalgia.

References