Where does “中納言” come from?

中納言 (Japanese) comes from Japanese 中, from Japanese 中今, from Japanese 今 — now; just now; soon.

中納言 (Japanese): a middle counselor in the 太政官

Definitions

  1. a middle counselor in the 太政官

Ancestry of “中納言”, step by step

中納言 traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Japanese

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanesemiddle, medium; average; neither good nor poor;...
2Japanese中今the present, as a privileged moment in eternity
3Japanesenow; just now; soon

via Japanese 助け

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanese助けaid, rescue, relief, help, assistance, support
2Japanese助けるto help; to save; to rescue
3Japanese助く

via Japanese 納言

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanese納言an umbrella term for 大納言, 中納言 and 少納言
Every word from Japanese Every word from Japanese Every word from Japanese 中今