幸い

Etymology 1
→ →  →  →

Derived from sakiwai below.

More often spelled as with the final  to indicate the reading.

Adjective

 * 1) very fortunate and happy, especially as bestowed by gods, spirits, buddhas, or other entities
 * 2) favorable, ideal

Adverb

 * 1) fortunately, luckily, happily

Usage notes
When used as an adverb without a particle, this term usually comes at the start of the sentence. It also appears used with adverbial particles and, or, perhaps more commonly, in an adverbial construction as 幸なことに.

Noun

 * 1) very good fortune and happiness, especially as bestowed by gods, spirits, buddhas, or other entities
 * 2) an occurrence of good luck or good fortune
 * 3)  the tail and back fins of a carp or other fish, as used in cooking

Etymology 2
→ →  →

The of verb, itself a compound of.

More often spelled as with the final  to indicate the reading.

Noun

 * 1)  an occurrence of good luck or good fortune
 * 2)  good luck or good fortune itself

Usage notes
Obsolete in modern Japanese, replaced by saiwai above.

Etymology 3
→ →  →

The of verb, itself a compound of.

More often spelled as with the final  to indicate the reading.

Noun

 * 1)  an occurrence of good luck or good fortune
 * 2)  good luck or good fortune itself

Usage notes
Obsolete in modern Japanese, replaced by saiwai above. In historical Japanese, sachiwai appears to be a rarer variant of sakiwai above.