Where do Japanese Kanji and words come from?

[Muz1234]

I know the Japanese borrowed Kanji from the Chinese, but did they borrow the words from Chinese as well?

 

[TGI-ECT]

If you were to identify for any of us what in this Wikipedia research you have qualms about it might be easier to discuss this matter:

Japanese language - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Muz1234]

If you were to identify for any of us what in this Wikipedia research you have qualms about it might be easier to discuss this matter:

Japanese language - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Qualms?

 

[joadbres]

I know the Japanese borrowed Kanji from the Chinese, but did they borrow the words from Chinese as well?

Yes, they borrowed words, as well. Many of them.

 

[Muz1234]

Yes, they borrowed words, as well. Many of them.

Why did the Chinese let them borrow?

 

[Lomaster]

Why did the Chinese let them borrow?

The same reason banks lend money - interest.
The Japanese paid back all the words they borrowed plus many new ones like kamikaze, sushi, geisha as an interest.
Don't underestimate foresight of the Chinese.

 

[Muz1234]

The same reason banks lend money - interest.
The Japanese paid back all the words they borrowed plus many new ones like kamikaze, sushi, geisha as an interest.
Don't underestimate foresight of the Chinese.

Paid back as some sort of tribute money? I assume that occurred some hundred years ago?

 

[bentenmusume]

At the risk of ruining the joke, people are just being silly with you. (In part because it's something of an obvious question, hence the link to Wikipedia. The answer to this question is easily researched.)

Anyhow, the simple truth is that almost all languages borrow words from other languages. English, for example, has borrowed countless words (and parts of words) from French, German, Greek, Latin, etc.

Nobody needs "permission" to borrow from any other language. Nobody says "We would like to borrow words from your language. Is this acceptable?" It is simply an organic process, and part of how almost all languages evolve. Languages do not exist in a vacuum.

 

[TGI-ECT]

Muz1234, I suspect you are correct in highlighting my use of "qualms" because it was not a good choice.

I was just wondering what you might have read in that Wikipedia piece that caused you some doubt, or such like that.

"Qualm" is a tad bit of a harsh choice for this sort of topic.