【No. 1150】人 (Hito - Person)
Feb 10, 2018 20:24
Today I'd like to talk about the Kanji: 人 (hito), which means "person" or "human."
In the famous Japanese drama, "Kinpachi-sensei," this kanji was introduced something like the following:
"This kanji, 人, represents that a person supports another person. That is to say, people are support each other."
I think that many Japanese people remember this etymology about 人.
However, this theory is wrong -- actually this kanji represents one person who is standing sideways.
It's difficult to explain with only words, but the line extending to the upper side, the lower left, and the lower right represent a head, arms, a lower body, respectively.
In the famous Japanese drama, "Kinpachi-sensei," this kanji was introduced something like the following:
"This kanji, 人, represents that a person supports another person. That is to say, people are support each other."
I think that many Japanese people remember this etymology about 人.
However, this theory is wrong -- actually this kanji represents one person who is standing sideways.
It's difficult to explain with only words, but the line extending to the upper side, the lower left, and the lower right represent a head, arms, a lower body, respectively.
人
今日は「人」という漢字について語ります。
「人」は "person" もしくは "human" を意味します。
日本で有名なドラマ「金八先生」で、この漢字の成り立ちは次のように紹介されました。
「「人」という字は、ひとりの「人」がもうひとりの「人」を支えている。つまり、人と人が支え合っているから「人」である。」
この言葉を覚えている日本人は、とても多いと思います。
しかし、実際のところこの漢字は、一人の人が横を向いて立っていることを表しているようです。
言葉で説明するのは難しいですが、上に伸びている線が顔で、左下に伸びている線が腕で、右下に伸びている線が下半身を表しています。
今日は「人」という漢字について語ります。
「人」は "person" もしくは "human" を意味します。
日本で有名なドラマ「金八先生」で、この漢字の成り立ちは次のように紹介されました。
「「人」という字は、ひとりの「人」がもうひとりの「人」を支えている。つまり、人と人が支え合っているから「人」である。」
この言葉を覚えている日本人は、とても多いと思います。
しかし、実際のところこの漢字は、一人の人が横を向いて立っていることを表しているようです。
言葉で説明するのは難しいですが、上に伸びている線が顔で、左下に伸びている線が腕で、右下に伸びている線が下半身を表しています。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 Zyzzyx
- Today I'd like to talk about the Kanji: 人 (hito), which means "person" or "human."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- In the famous Japanese drama, "Kinpachi-sensei," this kanji was introduced something like the following:
- In the famous Japanese drama, "Kinpachi-sensei," this kanji was introduced as something like the following:
- "This kanji, 人, represents that a person supports another person.
- "This kanji, 人, represents a person supporting another person.
- That is to say, people are support each other."
- That is to say, people who support each other."
- I think that many Japanese people remember this etymology about 人.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- However, this theory is wrong -- actually this kanji represents one person who is standing sideways.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
To me, this kanji looks like a person standing with feet far apart, but with the arms not represented. Is that what you mean?
Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections!
Actually, the original form of 人 is something like the following:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E4%BA%BA-oracle.svg
Since the person is looked from the side, arms (feet) are represented by one line.
Thank you so much for the corrections!
Actually, the original form of 人 is something like the following:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E4%BA%BA-oracle.svg
Since the person is looked from the side, arms (feet) are represented by one line.
Zyzzyx
Ah, I see it now - interesting!
Ah, I see it now - interesting!