茄子

Noun

 * 1) eggplant; aubergine
 * 2)  tomato

Interjection

 * 1)  cheese!

Etymology 1
→ * *  →  →  →

First attested in the late 1400s, originally a  term.

Shift from nasubi below.

Noun

 * , the eggplant or aubergine
 * 1) a  in the shape of an eggplant

Etymology 2
First attested in the  (938 ).

Various theories exist regarding the ultimate derivation:
 * Shift from a compound of 🇰🇲
 * Same as above, but with the なす part being a loanword or substrate word of or  origin, compare 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬 and 🇨🇬
 * Shift from.

.

Noun

 * , the eggplant or aubergine
 * 1)  a  in the shape of an eggplant
 * 2)  poverty, destitution
 * from the inexpensiveness of eggplants even the impoverished can eat
 * 1) a  with designs of eggplant fruits, flowers, and leaves

Proper noun

 * 1) a placename