Comments on: Kanji Craziness - Page and more http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:53:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: harvey http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-22410 harvey Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:44:57 +0000 http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-22410 Wow cool I didn't know 釦！ It's cool because the Kanji looks like "gold (metal) mouth". Heh. Kinda makes sense. Wow cool I didn’t know 釦！ It’s cool because the Kanji looks like “gold (metal) mouth”. Heh. Kinda makes sense.

]]> By: thefecklesspunster http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-22342 thefecklesspunster Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:08:54 +0000 http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-22342 How about these: 釦（ぼたん）: "botan" for button 珈琲（こーひー）: "koohii" for coffee How about these:

釦（ぼたん）: “botan” for button
珈琲（こーひー）: “koohii” for coffee

]]> By: bingobangoboy http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-21557 bingobangoboy Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:20:36 +0000 http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-21557 Well, there are two related but opposite kinds of words here (known as ateji) One kind is where kanji were assigned to a loan word based on the kanji's sounds -- someone just chose some kanji that could validly be read to sound the same as the loanword. The kanji's meanings are irrelevant. For example, this is typically the case with country names. Personally, I don't find this particularly peculiar. The other kind is where kanji are assigned according to their meaning, and then given a new reading to match the sound of the loan word (page, beer, kilometre). I guess this kind is somewhat wackier. But on the other hand, I guess in a way it's more mundane, since presumably this is where all Japanese readings come from, after all. I think the element of surprise comes out when the foreign or modern element is obvious. But the process isn't a new one. Here are two you're probably familiar with: 寿司 (sushi) -- kanji chosen for their sound 今朝 (kesa) -- kanji chosen for their meaning and given a unique new reading to match the existing Japanese word. You know all those words you encounter whose kanji don't seem to have any relationship to their meaning? They're likely ateji. Well, there are two related but opposite kinds of words here (known as ateji) One kind is where kanji were assigned to a loan word based on the kanji’s sounds — someone just chose some kanji that could validly be read to sound the same as the loanword. The kanji’s meanings are irrelevant. For example, this is typically the case with country names. Personally, I don’t find this particularly peculiar.
The other kind is where kanji are assigned according to their meaning, and then given a new reading to match the sound of the loan word (page, beer, kilometre). I guess this kind is somewhat wackier. But on the other hand, I guess in a way it’s more mundane, since presumably this is where all Japanese readings come from, after all.
I think the element of surprise comes out when the foreign or modern element is obvious. But the process isn’t a new one. Here are two you’re probably familiar with:
寿司 (sushi) — kanji chosen for their sound
今朝 (kesa) — kanji chosen for their meaning and given a unique new reading to match the existing Japanese word.
You know all those words you encounter whose kanji don’t seem to have any relationship to their meaning? They’re likely ateji.

]]> By: harvey http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-21541 harvey Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:01:52 +0000 http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-21541 Okay, I knew about the country Kanji, and 印度 for India is one of my favorite. But 粁 【きろめいとる】 kilometer blew my mind. Incredible! Okay, I knew about the country Kanji, and 印度 for India is one of my favorite. But 粁 【きろめいとる】 kilometer blew my mind. Incredible!

]]> By: Tadashi http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-21532 Tadashi Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:31:51 +0000 http://www.japannewbie.com/2007/06/15/kanji-craziness-page-and-more/#comment-21532 How about 粁? It stands for kilometer and is read like that (きろめいとる) as well. How about 粁?
It stands for kilometer and is read like that (きろめいとる) as well.

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