Tegami (手紙 - Letter)

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.

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。

• 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.