Where does “お構いなく” come from?
お構いなく (Japanese) comes from Japanese お, from Middle Chinese 惡.
お構いなく (Japanese): please don't fuss over me; don't go to any trouble; don't bother
Definitions
- please don't fuss over me; don't go to any trouble; don't bother
Ancestry of “お構いなく”, step by step
お構いなく traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Japanese お
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | お | 諾 yes, alright, okay; オ a sign used in some... |
| 2 | Middle Chinese | 惡 | — |
via Japanese なく
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | なく | — |
via Japanese 構い
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 構い | usually prefixed with care, concern, attention |