This word literally means “something growing in a tray”: 盆 = tray 栽 = growing It is of course used to refer to those mini trees for which Japan is famous.
Tag Archives: Japanese language
寿 (Kotobuki) “congratulations” or “long life”
This kanji is often found on Japanese greetings cards, and also on those fancy paper envelopes you put money in when you go to a wedding. It means “congratulations”. It can also mean “long life”. It is also the first kanji in the most common way to write sushi -（寿司）. This kanji is used forContinueContinue reading “寿 (Kotobuki) “congratulations” or “long life””
絆 (ki-zu-na) “bonds”
絆 can refer to any kind of “bond”, but it usually refers to the “bonds” that structure human relationships. Although the word “bond” sounds inflexible and unforgiving, in Japanese it usually has a positive nuance when used to describe human relationships. Even if the nature of a human relationship leads to a reduction in one’sContinueContinue reading “絆 (ki-zu-na) “bonds””
神 (ka-mi) “divine spirit”
Often translated as “god”, a Japanese kami is closer to the concept of a spirit. They are (mostly) not considerd to be omniscient nor omnipotent, but rather they influence the human world within a certain capacity. It is often said that in Japan there are 8 million kami. Some of the more well known are Amaterasu-o-mi-kami the sun goddess,ContinueContinue reading “神 (ka-mi) “divine spirit””
関 (kan) “barrier, connection, boundary”
This kanji character is rarely used on its own, but is often found combined with other characters. One meaning is “barrier”. There used to be many post stations along the road from Tokyo to Kyoto. At the mid-way point there was a large gate. This led to people thinking of towns in Japan as beingContinueContinue reading “関 (kan) “barrier, connection, boundary””
和 (wa) “peace”
This kanji also means “Japanese style” (opposed to “Western style”) as it is an ancient name for Japan. It can also be pronounced “Yamato”.
あおいうみ、さかなつり
(aoi umi, sakana tsuri) “blue sea, catching fish” You might notice that the above characters are a different style to the characters I usually write. Usually I write calligraphy in kanji, which is a logographic script in which each complex character has a meaning. The above is in hiragana, which is a syllabary – eachContinueContinue reading “あおいうみ、さかなつり”
仁 (jin) “benevolence”
One of the 7 virtues of bushido. “Jin” is also one of the most fundamental virtues of Confucianism (from which much of traditional Japanese morality was based), which could be defined as to treat each other with tenderness; to love each other. Samurai were expected to be benevolent. However, this was not the blind benevolenceContinueContinue reading “仁 (jin) “benevolence””
礼 (rei) “courtesy”
One of the 7 virtues of bushido, the samurai code of chivalry.
結 (ketsu)“Connections”
Literally meaning “tying together”, this word can be used to refer to the relationships that tie humans together, in particular romantic relationships. In Japan (as well as China and Korea) lovers who are destined to be together are thought to be joined by the “red thread of fate”. Romantic partners are often depicted with aContinueContinue reading “結 (ketsu)“Connections””
Calligraphy by Vicky 