Etymology of AV Idol (AV女優)

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

In Japan, porn star is called “AV Idol” (AV 女優)

AV stands for Adult Video.

Note that English alphabet is part of Japanese writing system.

yōu = simplified 优.

說文解字:

饒也。从人憂聲。一曰倡也。於求切

『說文解字注』: (優) 饒也。食部饒下曰。飽也。引伸之凡有餘皆曰饒。詩瞻卬傳曰。優、渥也。箋云。寛也。周語注曰。優、饒也。魯語注曰。優、裕也。其義一也。引伸之爲優游、爲優柔、爲俳優。商頌。布政憂憂。小雅。旣瀀旣渥。今本皆假優爲之。从人。憂聲。於求切。三部。一曰倡也。倡者、樂也。謂作妓者。卽所謂俳優也。左傳。陳氏、鮑氏之圉人爲優。晉語。公之優曰施。