【No. 1322】Tegami (手紙 - Letter)
Aug 1, 2018 21:58
Tegami
A paper, on which messages or information is written, is called "letter" in English, whereas it is called tegami (手紙) in Japanese.
Te (手) means "hand" and gami/kami (紙) means "paper."
Therefore, the word tegami was originally used to mean a convenient paper at hand.
The most accepted theory about its etymology is that the character te could also mean "technique to write letters" or "characters."
Incidentally, I heard that 手紙 means "toilet paper" in China.
When I was writing this entry, I remembered that I needed to buy toilet papers for my apartment.
A paper, on which messages or information is written, is called "letter" in English, whereas it is called tegami (手紙) in Japanese.
Te (手) means "hand" and gami/kami (紙) means "paper."
Therefore, the word tegami was originally used to mean a convenient paper at hand.
The most accepted theory about its etymology is that the character te could also mean "technique to write letters" or "characters."
Incidentally, I heard that 手紙 means "toilet paper" in China.
When I was writing this entry, I remembered that I needed to buy toilet papers for my apartment.
手紙
用件や情報を書いて人に送るものを英語で "letter" を言いますが、日本語では「手紙」と言います。
「手」は "hand," 「紙」は "paper" を意味します。
このため、「手紙」はもともと「手元に置いて使う紙」を意味していました。
これが "letter" を意味するようになった有力な説としては、「手」という字に「文字を書く技」や「文字」という意味が含まれているからというものがあります。
ちなみに、中国で「手紙」はトイレットペーパーを意味するそうです。
この記事を書いていて、自宅のトイレットペーパーを補充しなければいけないことを思い出しました。
用件や情報を書いて人に送るものを英語で "letter" を言いますが、日本語では「手紙」と言います。
「手」は "hand," 「紙」は "paper" を意味します。
このため、「手紙」はもともと「手元に置いて使う紙」を意味していました。
これが "letter" を意味するようになった有力な説としては、「手」という字に「文字を書く技」や「文字」という意味が含まれているからというものがあります。
ちなみに、中国で「手紙」はトイレットペーパーを意味するそうです。
この記事を書いていて、自宅のトイレットペーパーを補充しなければいけないことを思い出しました。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 ariso07
- A paper, on which messages or information is written, is called "letter" in English, whereas it is called 'tegami' (手紙) in Japanese.
-
A paper, on which messages or information is written, is called a "letter" in English, whereas it is called 'tegami' (手紙) in Japanese.
No need for commas here.
- 'Te' (手) means "hand" and 'gami/kami' (紙) means "paper."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Therefore, the word tegami was originally used to mean a convenient paper at hand.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- The most accepted theory about its etymology is that the character 'te' could also mean "technique to write letters" or "characters."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Incidentally, I heard that 手紙 means "toilet paper" in China.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- When I was writing this entry, I remembered that I needed to buy toilet papers for my apartment.
-
When I was writing this entry, I remembered that I needed to buy toilet papers for my apartment.
Toilet paper is a non-countable noun (so no plural).
Very interesting and well written.
Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections. :)
Thank you so much for the corrections. :)