Kanji use still decreasing?

[PaulTB]

Personally I'm not sure that's the case, but I have noticed that in relatively, but not horribly, old books (e.g. 昭和５２年) there are quite a few kanji that don't have furigana and I still need to look up.

Here are a fewof the words (with a bit of context) as I come across them - how many do you know?


惻々たる孤独感
頸部に片手をのばした
意思の疎通をはかることができる
変貌
いかにも精悍なイメージをサメジマに与えていた ( サメジマ = his name )


Rep vote for anybody who gets one without using a dictionary.

 

[Ewok85]

Kanji use decreasing - Katakana use increasing...

That would be my impression in japan at the moment. When on the news they hit the street and asked people what they thought "simulation" and "portfolio" meant there were no answers even close to what their meanings are.

Im kinda clueless with those kanji but the first one on the bottom is read sei, dunno about the second one

 

[PaulTB]

Kanji use decreasing - Katakana use increasing...

That would be my impression in japan at the moment.

Possibly, although there were plenty of katakana words in that book.

I'm kinda clueless with those kanji but the first one on the bottom is read sei, dunno about the second one

You're right about 'sei' but no point for you :sorry: because it's the second one that's tricky.

 

[Glenn]

Well, as far as kanji use decreasing, it doesn't seem to be that way on the internet, at least.

 

[TwistedMac]

damn the internet!

why can't they just conform and get in line like everyone else?

 

[Ewok85]

Using kanji on the internet is a no brainer, just type it in. In the real world tho.... was at my local international airport with a japanese friend seeing her little sister off, i had to read the rules out of the book to the kids (12-13ish) cause they couldnt read the kanji added a few more questions like "are you carrying any white powders or tablets? Big sharp swords? no? ok, your good"

That second kanji aint kan by any chance? seikan?

 

[akihabara]

I didn't know the word "惻々たる". It's not embarrassing for average Japanese Ojisan, I hope. But others, we must read and know the meanings, but maybe we could not write correctly. (it's me, hehe)

 

[Elizabeth]

Overdoing it on kanji conversationally will look "katai" or harsh and unnatural to a lot of Japanese -- at least I've been criticized enough for this to try and now follow in lock step with my partner. A lot of things are said in very set fashion as well, you can't necessarily be as creative in your phraseology or word choice as in English. Which as a beginner I don't mind too much, it's just a different mindset.

 

[Ewok85]

The thing that gets me is the use of katakana where there is a perfectly good japanese word, ie. stop-suru. That one gets me the most.

 

[Elizabeth]

The thing that gets me is the use of katakana where there is a perfectly good japanese word, ie. stop-suru. That one gets me the most.

In that case most likely for stopping appliances or electronic goods or something. There are of course perfectly good words for stop in the language, but nothing universal, such as for start in this sentence. The project that was scheduled for a Feb start, closer to start date (and for that you'd have to somehow work in 始日）. The alternative of 始まる・始める予定だった, the project which was scheduled to begin/have gotten underway in February.... Which sounds better to you? :haihai:

２月にスタート予定だったプロジェクトは４月スタートに延期に
なり、ちよっと楽なスケジュールになりました。