Author Topic: Matthew - How would you translate this? (Read 2106 times)

Vladimir · « **on:** September 21, 2011, 08:58:22 PM »

Perhaps you are familiar with this kanji (the center one):

How would you translate this into English? I've yet to find one word that describes it. CathInfo does not allow me to type in kanji - hence the image.

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2011, 09:30:49 PM »

Are you sure it's one of the ones used in Japanese? I don't recognize it.

Of course I've forgotten a lot of the Kanji I once knew, but I should be able to at least recognize a Kanji as being familiar...

Vladimir · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2011, 09:50:35 PM »

You may not know it because it wouldn't be a part of common dialogue.

They do use it in Japanese:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%BB%81

Its often translated as "benevolence" or rather, "humaneness", but those do not fully describe it.

I like the explanation of the ideograph as that of a man (the left radical) connecting heaven and earth. Perhaps that is the only way to describe it.

Graham · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2011, 10:09:41 AM »

How about 'Prudence'?

Ethelred · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2011, 03:35:20 PM »

That's Greek to me.

Vladimir · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2011, 05:13:56 PM »

Prudence is not the definition, but it could be applied as an attribute of one exhibiting this virtue.

The Latin translation of the word in my signature is "virtus", and perhaps "virtue" really is the best description.

Graham, can you read Chinese?

Quote from: Ethelred

That's Greek to me.

"Ich verstehe nicht"?

Graham · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2011, 09:00:45 AM »

Quote from: Vladimir

Prudence is not the definition, but it could be applied as an attribute of one exhibiting this virtue.

The Latin translation of the word in my signature is "virtus", and perhaps "virtue" really is the best description.

Graham, can you read Chinese?

No, it was just a thought.