結構 etymology - from structure to quite


The word 結構 ([けっこう]{HLLL}), as in "結構幸せです", functions as either an adverb or
an adjective, and it now means something like "quite" or "fine" (the "no
thanks" meaning in "結構です" seems like an extension of "fine").

However, it very obviously derives from Chinese 結構 (jiégòu), which is a noun
meaning "structure".

How did it come to have its current meaning in Japanese? What steps did it go
through to get from "structure" to "fine"/"quite"?

[Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%B5%90%E6%A7%8B#Japanese)
claims that there's another meaning (pronounced [けっこう]{LHHH}) of "assembly",
which can also be used with -する to mean "assemble", but my wife has never run
across this meaning in the wild. Even assuming that's one of the steps, it's
not clear to me how you get from there to "quite"/"fine".




As you mentioned, 結構 comes from the Chinese language and means "structure" or
"composition," as in the "structure of buildings" or the "composition of
sentences." When the word landed in Japan, it came to mean "plan" or
"preparation," and later by extension, a "splendid plan" or "wonderful
preparation." Other layers such as "polite" or "good-natured" were added over
time.

The layer of "no, thanks!" evolved from the nuance of being "satisfied."

[「結構」って結構フクザツ？](https://www.tanomail.com/dyn/bf/tanokun-
room/keigo/index15.html#:%7E:text=%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%80%8C%E7%B5%90%E6%A7%8B%E3%80%8D%E3%81%A8%E3%81%84%E3%81%86%E8%A8%80%E8%91%89%E3%81%AF,%E5%8A%A0%E3%82%8F%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E8%A8%80%E8%91%89%E3%81%AA%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E3%80%82)

[語源由来辞典 > 結構](https://gogen-yurai.jp/kekkou/)




As you mentioned, 結構 comes from the Chinese language and means "structure" or
"composition," as in the "structure of buildings" or the "composition of
sentences." When the word landed in Japan, it came to mean "plan" or
"preparation," and later by extension, a "splendid plan" or "wonderful
preparation." Other layers such as "polite" or "good-natured" were added over
time.

The layer of "no, thanks!" evolved from the nuance of being "satisfied."

[「結構」って結構フクザツ？](https://www.tanomail.com/dyn/bf/tanokun-
room/keigo/index15.html#:%7E:text=%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%80%8C%E7%B5%90%E6%A7%8B%E3%80%8D%E3%81%A8%E3%81%84%E3%81%86%E8%A8%80%E8%91%89%E3%81%AF,%E5%8A%A0%E3%82%8F%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E8%A8%80%E8%91%89%E3%81%AA%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E3%80%82)

[語源由来辞典 > 結構](https://gogen-yurai.jp/kekkou/)

