I asked ChatGPT about the etymology of 倶楽部. Is it telling the truth?

Me:

The word 倶楽部 is borrowed from English, as it is a transliteration of the word “club”. Was the suffix 部 already in use in Japanese at the time, or was it adopted later as a contraction of 倶楽部?

ChatGPT:

You are correct that the word 倶楽部 is borrowed from English and is a transliteration of the word “club.” The suffix 部, however, was already in use in Japanese at the time and was not adopted later as a contraction of 倶楽部.

The use of the suffix 部 in Japanese dates back to ancient times and has a long history. It has been used to indicate a part or division of something, such as a group, organization, or system. For example, in the ancient Japanese government system, the central government was divided into different bureaus, each with its own specific responsibilities, and these bureaus were referred to as 部.

So when the word 倶楽部 was introduced to Japan in the late 19th century, it was simply combined with the existing suffix 部 to create the term 倶楽部 (くらぶ), meaning “club.” Therefore, the suffix 部 was not adopted later as a contraction of 倶楽部, but rather, it was already an established part of the Japanese language.