シャボン

1631 is an early printed point for シャボン: Seisenban Nihon Kokugo Daijiten cites Tashikihen with the form 志也保牟. Digital Daijisen gives Portuguese sabão as the source, while Seisenban notes an old Spanish jabón explanation as possible. The related form サボン fits Portuguese sabão more directly. The word belongs to the Nanban contact period, when Iberian goods and words entered Japan. In Edo usage, シャボン first meant soap, and by 1700 the dictionary records a シャボン玉-related use in Sumiyoshi Otaue. In the Meiji period, 石鹸 became the main everyday and written word for soap, while シャボン remained in compounds. Modern Japanese mostly uses シャボン in シャボン玉, シャボン液, and product names. Portuguese sabão is still the normal word for soap, but Japanese シャボン alone sounds older or branded. English uses soap for the material and soap bubble for the toy. Example: シャボン玉が割れた.