Friday, April 07, 2006

Today's kanji : 放


Today's kanji is .

The blue part describes
"dead person is hanged on tree for charm against evil spirits".

The red part describes "hit, knock, beat".

Dead person is hanged on tree and hit by people!
Hope the evil spirits will...

Can you guess the meaning?

See the comments page for the answer!

10 comments:

  1. "Dead person is hanged on tree and hit by people!
    Hope the evil spirits will..."

    放 means "to release, to let go".

    For example...
    放す (hanasu) : to release, to let go
    放置 (hoochi) : neglect
    放送 (hoosoo) : broadcasting

    The way of using 放 now is understandable.
    But the history is scary... (*_*)

    ReplyDelete
  2. >how do you know when someone means "to release, to >let go" or "to talk"?

    Well, as my understanding goes, it all depends on the context of the sentence. For instance, the words yomu 読む(to read) and yobu 呼ぶ(to call) are different in these forms, right? But, they share the same te form よんで (読んで or 呼んで). So, in a conversation, one would say "sono tegami wo yonde kudasai." Which "yonde" are they referring to? Based on the object that is being verbed, a tegami or "letter" is something we generally read and not call, it would be safe to assume that you mean to read this letter, not to call it.

    While this seems like a lot of work on paper (no pun intended) Its really not that hard.

    English has a few equivalents, such as the words "letter", one being a basic symbol of writing, and a "letter" being a body of sentences arranged in a purposeful manner of addressing someone in written form. How do we know which we are talking about? Simply put, context. For us native speakers, this seems like a very minor thing, and I'd imagine it'd be the same for a native speaker.

    On the other hand, if a Japanese introduces her husband, who seems to be cowering in fear with shackles on his wrists and ankles with tattered clothing, I think it would be safe to assume that she's referring to her 'prisoner' (as Akiko posted earlier).

    ReplyDelete
  3. As Jair said, it depends on the situation.
    Usually there isn't problem to guess like Jair's example.
    But there are so many words which have same pronunciation.
    So sometimes it's confusing.

    For example...

    Kami is 紙 (kami, paper) and 髪 (kami, hair).
    "He is cutting kami."
    Both 紙 and 髪 could be used.

    Kawaisoo is 可哀想 (kawaisoo, poor, sorry, pitiable) and 可愛そう (kawaisoo, seems cute, sounds cute).
    "His girlfriend is kawaisoo."
    Which meaning do you guess!??


    >Life in the superStructure

    The website you posted a link is interesting.
    They have a lot of materials. don't they!?
    Did you see picture for "kusai" (stink, smell bad)?
    There is a photo of nattoo!! (>_<)


    >Jair

    Your explanation for "shuujin" is funny. (^o^)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love Umeboshi! We (mexicans) eat umeboshi all the time, but its called 'chamoi' in Spanish. Its more like a candy than anything else though. I surpised my friend's family when I told them I loved umeboshi, is it really that unusual for someone to like it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! w(゜O゜) w
    Big surprise!
    Both Life in the superStructure and Jair like Japanese original foods!
    Most of foreigners I know say they don't like (almost can't eat) nattoo and umeboshi.
    I like both nattoo and umeboshi, but I understand they seem kind of strange for people who hadn't eaten them before.
    Even for Japanese people, most of children don't like them.

    By the way, Life in the superStructure, did you say "it's good in noodles, or ume wine... but to sour raw. "...!?
    Umeboshi in noodles!?
    I've never heard that!
    Let me know how you cook them!

    ReplyDelete
  6. >Life in the superStructure

    I haven't tried noodles with umeboshi, but it seems nice...!
    I'll try to do that. (^ ^)
    Looking forward to your photos!

    By the way, today, I ate pasta with "nattoo meat sauce" in a restaurant.
    Can you imagine the taste?
    It was delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  7. >I have noticed that most T.V. shows in japan have to do with food... mostly comedy and food!!

    Exactly!
    Lots of my students say same thing.
    What do you think about it?
    Actually, I'm tired of TV programs about food...
    Recently, it's too much! (*_*)

    I didn't know the "Tarako QP".
    I saw the website and find her (him!?) now.
    So cute! (^o^)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh nattou!
    Yes, it stinks, but it's delicious~~.
    How can some really yummy foods smell
    so bad.. 不思議~~

    Of course, 水戸納豆 is the best!

    But, I just can't imagine nattou
    meat sauce...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, you know Mito nattoo? (^o^)
    Yes, that's the best nattoo!!

    It must be easy to make nattou meat sauce.
    I guess just mix nattoo and meat sause and then put some fresh cream.
    You should try to make it and let me know how it was! (^ ^)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hmmm.. Maybe I'll try 納豆
    meat sauce. You think cream would
    be good in there? Hmmmm...

    Yes, I know 水戸納豆 because Mito is
    my hometown. Well.. It's the first
    place I lived in Japan! へへ
    (おお昔の話ですが。。。)

    If I make the sauce, I'll post my
    results! (assuming I survive).

    ;-)

    ReplyDelete