A Puzzle

[Mike Cash]

I'm currently reading an old novel and came across an interesting word which was apparently once common slang in Japanese but which is now seemingly largely forgotten and long out of use. I found unmistakable visual evidence that the word is known by at least some young speakers of Japanese, though.

The word is 姑娘.

Can you read it?

Here is the visual evidence. (Quite frankly, this whole post is just a ruse for showing the pictures):

The English jokes write themselves, don't they?

 

[Toritoribe]

I've never seen 姑娘 and can't read it(こむすめ or maybe the Chinese reading クーニャン?), but somehow I can recognize she is しょこたん.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

As much as I love my cats , haven't gone that far yet.

 

[Mike Cash]

I've never seen 姑娘 and can't read it(こむすめ or maybe the Chinese reading クーニャン?), but somehow I can recognize she is しょこたん.

The photos are a hint to the correct reading. それで分からなかったらオヤジの失格ですよ。

 

[Toritoribe]

Ah, I see. That's 駄洒落. うろ覚えの中国語でも役に立ちますね。

 

[Kraise]

なんか、食うにゃんか