恵え比び寿す

also: ひるこ · ゑびす · えべす

え

び

す

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

One of the Seven Gods of Fortune (七福神). Often depicted as a plump, smiling fisherman holding a sea bream and a fishing rod. Widely worshipped as a deity of prosperity and good luck, especially in business.

Written forms

恵比寿Usage47%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
- えびす
  Standard modern spelling for the deity Ebisu. This is an ateji (phonetic) reading.
- ゑびす
夷えびすUsage23%
Alternate kanji form, also used for the deity.
えびすUsage12%
戎えびすUsage5%
Alternate kanji form, also used for the deity.
恵比須Usage5%
rarely-used kanji form
- えびす
  Rare kanji form.
- えべす
  rarely-used kana form
- ゑびす
蛭子Usage4%
rarely-used kanji form
- ひるこ
  rarely-used kana form
  Rare kanji form with the reading ひるこ, associated with the mythological origin of Ebisu.
- えびす
ひるこUsage3%
rarely-used kana form
ゑびすUsage1%
Historical kana spelling using the obsolete kana ゑ.
水蛭子
rarely-used kanji form
- ひるこ
  rarely-used kana form
  Rare kanji form with the reading ひるこ.
- えびす
えべす
rarely-used kana form
Rare dialectal or variant reading, restricted to the 恵比須 form.

Kanji

恵favor, blessing, grace
比compare, race, ratio
寿longevity, congratulations, one's natural life
夷barbarian, savage, Ainu
戎warrior, arms, barbarian
須ought, by all means, necessarily
蛭leech
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
水water

Similar words

七しち福ふく神じん
Ebisu is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune; 七福神 refers to the group as a whole.
大だい黒こく天てん
Another member of the Seven Gods of Fortune, often paired with Ebisu as a duo of prosperity deities.

Etymology

The name Ebisu is of native Japanese origin. The deity's origins are linked to the mythological figure Hiruko (蛭子), the first child of Izanagi and Izanami, who was born deformed and set adrift. Over time, Hiruko became associated with the benevolent god Ebisu, a patron of fishermen and merchants.

Written forms

恵比寿Usage47%

ateji (phonetic kanji usage)

えびす
Standard modern spelling for the deity Ebisu. This is an ateji (phonetic) reading.
ゑびす

夷えびすUsage23%

Alternate kanji form, also used for the deity.

えびすUsage12%

戎えびすUsage5%

Alternate kanji form, also used for the deity.

恵比須Usage5%

rarely-used kanji form

えびす
Rare kanji form.
えべす
rarely-used kana form
ゑびす

蛭子Usage4%

rarely-used kanji form

ひるこ
rarely-used kana form
Rare kanji form with the reading ひるこ, associated with the mythological origin of Ebisu.
えびす

ひるこUsage3%

rarely-used kana form

ゑびすUsage1%

Historical kana spelling using the obsolete kana ゑ.

水蛭子

rarely-used kanji form

ひるこ
rarely-used kana form
Rare kanji form with the reading ひるこ.
えびす

えべす

rarely-used kana form

Rare dialectal or variant reading, restricted to the 恵比須 form.

Etymology