まずくなってきました

The word 'まずくなってきました' (mazuku natte kimashita) is a compound expression in Japanese that conveys a gradual decline in quality, specifically related to taste. Let's break down its components to understand its etymological roots: 1. **まずい (mazui):** This is the core adjective meaning 'unappetizing,' 'bad-tasting,' 'unpleasant,' or 'poor quality.' * **Origin:** The precise etymology of 'まずい' is somewhat debated, but several theories exist. * **Theory 1 (from まずし/mazushi):** One prominent theory suggests it derives from the classical adjective 'まずし' (mazushi), which meant 'poor,' 'destitute,' or 'insufficient.' Over time, the meaning could have shifted from 'lacking in something (like flavor)' to directly meaning 'bad-tasting.' This transformation from a general state of lacking to a specific gustatory evaluation is plausible in language evolution. * **Theory 2 (from 味なし/aji nashi):** Another theory proposes it comes from '味なし' (aji nashi), meaning 'without taste' or 'tasteless.' This would naturally lead to 'bad taste.' However, phonetic shifts required for this theory are a bit more challenging to trace directly. * **Theory 3 (Mimetic/Onomatopoeic):** Some suggest it might have an onomatopoeic or mimetic origin, mimicking an unpleasant sensation, though this is less documented. * **Historical Usage:** 'まずい' has been used for centuries, with its meaning centered around unpleasantness or bad quality, particularly concerning food and drink. 2. **なって (natte):** This is the 連用形 (ren'yōkei - continuative form) or the て形 (te-form) of the verb なる (naru), which means 'to become,' 'to get,' or 'to turn into.' * **Origin:** The verb 'なる' is a fundamental Japanese verb with ancient roots. It has been present in various forms in Old Japanese and has consistently maintained its core meaning of transformation or change of state. * **Function in the phrase:** When attached to an adjective (by first changing the adjective to its adverbial form, which for 'まずい' is 'まずく'), 'なって' indicates that something *becomes* or *gets* into that state. So, 'まずくなって' means 'becoming bad-tasting' or 'getting unappetizing.' 3. **きました (kimashita):** This is the past polite form of the verb くる (kuru), meaning 'to come.' * **Origin:** 'くる' is another fundamental and ancient Japanese verb, widely used across all periods of the language. * **Function in the phrase (Auxiliary Verb Usage):** When 'くる' (or its te-form 'きて') is used as an auxiliary verb following another verb's て形, it indicates a change or action that has been *progressing up to the present moment* or *is moving towards the speaker's perspective*. In this context, '～てくる' (te-kuru) implies a process that started in the past and has continued or developed up to now. * Therefore, 'まずくなってきました' literally means something like 'it has come to be bad-tasting' or 'it has become bad-tasting (and this process has been ongoing/is now evident).' It strongly conveys the sense of a gradual or progressive change over time. **Overall Etymological Summary:** The entire phrase 'まずくなってきました' combines an adjective for 'bad taste' ('まずい'), a verb indicating a change of state ('なる' - to become), and an auxiliary verb implying progressive action or a change coming towards the present ('くる' - to come). The etymology traces back to ancient Japanese vocabulary for states of being (poor, lacking), transformation, and movement. The modern usage as 'it has gradually started tasting worse' or 'it has come to taste bad' perfectly reflects the combined meanings of its historical components, emphasizing a perceptible decline in taste quality over a period leading up to the present.