Isu (椅子 - Chair)

May 18, 2019 22:35
Isu

Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese 'koshikake' (腰掛け), which means "chair" or "makeshift job."

However, when you want to mean "chair," it is more common to use another word, 'isu' (椅子).

椅 is a kanji that means a thing or wood to lean on, and 'su' (子) is a suffix attached to small things.

It is thought that this comes from the fact that most chairs in the past in Japan (or China) were made of wood.

The chair has a long history -- it is said that the oldest chair in the world is the chair of Queen Hetepheres used in ancient Egypt (about 2500 BC).
椅子

昨日は「腰掛け」という言葉を紹介しました。

しかし、"Chair" を意味したい場合は、「椅子」という言葉のほうがより一般的に利用されます。

「椅」は「寄りかかるもの」や「寄りかかる木」を意味する漢字、「子」は小さいものにつける接尾語です。

これは、かつて日本(もしくは中国)の多くの木製であったということに由来すると考えられます。

椅子の歴史は古く、現存する世界最古の椅子は古代エジプト(紀元前約2500年)のへテプへレス王妃の椅子だと言われています。
No. 1 Oceansea's correction
  • Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese 'koshikake' (腰掛け), which means "chair" or "makeshift job."
  • Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese term 'koshikake' (腰掛け), which means "chair" or "makeshift job."
     I think I'd use either "term" or "word" here.
  • However, when you want to mean "chair," it is more common to use another word, 'isu' (椅子).
  • However, when you want to mean "chair," it is more common to use another word, 'isu' (椅子).
     Your sentence is correct. But I think it might be more common to use the word "say" instead of "mean."
Toru
Thank you very much always for correcting me! :)
Oceansea
You are welcome!
No. 2 sjstrauss's correction
  • Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese 'koshikake' (腰掛け), which means "chair" or "makeshift job."
  • Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese word 'koshikake' (腰掛け), which means "chair" or "makeshift job."
  • However, when you want to mean "chair," it is more common to use another word, 'isu' (椅子).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • 椅 is a kanji that means a thing or wood to lean on, and 'su' (子) is a suffix attached to small things.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It is thought that this comes from the fact that most chairs in the past in Japan (or China) were made of wood.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The chair has a long history -- it is said that the oldest chair in the world is the chair of Queen Hetepheres used in ancient Egypt (about 2500 BC).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
I hadn't researched it, but I always wondered about the 子 in this word, and how it related to the meaning. Your explanation makes sense, though ^^
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! (^^)
I'm glad to hear you say that. :)
sjstrauss
No problem ^^
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