Shoes and Socks,

[Msnoir]

kutsu くつ : shoes
kutsu shita くつ下 : socks. But literally its says: under shoes correct?
I just want to know if I read it correct

 

[nekojita]

Yep. See also: 下着

 

[HotBoxx666]

Sounds hard.

 

[Toritoribe]

kutsu くつ : shoes
kutsu shita くつ下 : socks. But literally its says: under shoes correct?
I just want to know if I red it correct

In that case, 下 means "not being seen on the surface / inside", thus, 下 has similar usage as "under" in English (antonym of both "outside" and "up").

靴下 = inside shoes = socks
下着 = inside wear = underware
下塗り = inside paint = undercoat of paint

した【下】
２ 表側に現れていないところ。
㋐覆われている部分。「―にセーターを着込む」

した【下】の意味 - 国語辞書 - goo辞書

した【下】
③表面から見えない部分。内側。 「 －にとのこを塗り，上に漆を塗る」 「 －にシャツを着る」

下とは - Weblio辞書

 

[Msnoir]

Thank you
I am using a book, that are teaching me the different kinds of Kanjis.
The 下 was explained as: under, below and inferior. But I did understand the meaning of the word. I was just curious to hear, if it was that literal.
The book tho explains the inside with: 中．たか
So why 下 and not 中?

 

[Msnoir]

So is 中 used when something is inside an object. Like a house, centered and so on. ?

 

[nekojita]

Same reason in English it's "underpants" and "undercoat" not "insidepants" and "insidecoat"?

Anyway these words, since they use kun'yomi, may predate the introduction of the kanji.

 

[Msnoir]

Inside, and under, is an interpretation. In Denmark we would say: Inden under. Inside under.
But what I do understand is, that when learning Japanese, you cannot be conservative in your way of thinking, or your knowledge of things.
You need to be able to make some leaps. The book I am using is showing with pictures how the kanjis originally came to be, and also the written way of the kun'yomi, and the om'yomi.
It has made it a lot easier for me, to make the rights connections

 

[Angel Valis]

Look at it this way: your body is the surface and your shoes and clothing sit "above" your body. Your underwear and socks sit "below" or "under" your clothing or shoes. Same with "undercoat (of paint)" above, the building or object is the surface, the main layer of paint is "above" the surface, and the undercoat is "under" the paint.