Questions tagged [symbols]
記号. Typographic symbols in Japanese writing such as ×, ﹅, ・, ※, etc., that are neither kana, kanji, nor punctuation.
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Can someone please help me figure out what this symbol means? [closed]
This is a tattoo a friend of mine got and he doesn't remember what it means. Please help and thanks in advance!!
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1answer
121 views
quotation marks「」vs ””
In japanese writing, the ubiquitous 「」is used to mark speech. I have seen "" being used instead of 「」especially on messaging apps. Question is, what's the difference? For the record, I have only seen "...
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1answer
112 views
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3answers
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What does this symbol mean? [closed]
Can anyone please let me know what this is supposed to mean? I heard that it’s a sound effect or sfx like Japanese symbol, but I’m not sure. Thank you!
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1answer
14k views
What do these symbols in manga mean?
In the manga Shinya no Dame Koizukan (深夜のダメ恋図鑑), I spotted four different symbols (marked in red in the picture). The Ψ symbol is even repeated a few times, but I can't figure out what it means.
I've ...
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1answer
434 views
What is the significance of the ☆ symbol?
I have noticed that “☆” appears in Japanese stories.
For example, the Japanese comic book titled “La☆BlueGirl”. The title is also written as ラ・ブルー・ガール. I get the impression that “☆” is a stylish ...
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1answer
142 views
Romanizations of Japanese using consonant diacritics?
The Hepburn romanization, to express the different realizations of some consonants before /i/ or /u/, uses different spellings from the other syllables in their groups:
/si/ > "shi"
/zi/ > "ji"
/ti/ >...
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3answers
1k views
What does 〇〇〇〇 mean when combined with おじさん？
I saw the term 〇〇〇〇おじさん written in a chat profile. What does the 〇〇〇〇 mean?
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1answer
147 views
Usage of ★●■▲◆▼ shapes in different combinations
I'm aware that "●▲■" is a famous drawing from a Zen Buddhist priest by the name of Gibon Sengai. This drawing can be interpreted in different ways but the most common is that the circle represents ...
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2answers
820 views
Can 々 stand for a duplicated kanji with a different reading?
The title may not be so clear, here is what I mean:
々 is used to avoid repeating a kanji. In some cases, the two may not be pronounced the same because the first consonant of the second kanji is ...
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1answer
1k views
What does it mean when multiple 々 marks follow a 、?
I was glancing at some old manuscripts from the Heian period (左経記 pg. 10) when I saw the following:
I know that typically 々 means to repeat the previous kanji, but what does it mean when its ...
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1answer
195 views
What does × mean in titles of Japanese TV shows and comics? [duplicate]
What does × mean in titles of Japanese TV shows and comics? Whether it's a NHK show like Designer × Artisan or a comic like Hunter × Hunter, I've seen this symbol occur very often in titles. What does ...
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1answer
147 views
What are these symbols?
ゐ and ゑ. Looks like an odd looking hiragana, but i never seen it before in the hiragana list.
ゝandゞ. What does it mean, and why there is a dakuten in the second one.
ヶ. It looks like ケ. Maybe it is ケ. ...
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2answers
280 views
How to pronounce “×”?
The symbol × is sometimes used in titles like 「ラビ×ラビ -パズルアウトストーリーズ-」 or headlines like this one: 「スシロー×寿司ストライカー スペシャルキャンペーン」.
I imagine native speakers who read it might pronounce it as と, since it ...
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1answer
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What is the meaning of 金〇
I wanted to ask what the '◯' symbol underneath the 金 means below? It seems the black-haired guy is asking the other guy something that's to do with drinking?
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1answer
100 views
What are these marks that sometimes appear above kanji/kana? [duplicate]
I've seen these comma-like marks above kanji/kana in Japanese novels a few times, but I have no idea what they're called or their purpose:
I tried looking online and I haven't found anything (it's ...
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1answer
2k views
Usage of Encircled Kanji
There appear to be some kanji and other characters such as ①, ②, ③, Ⓐ, ㊄, ㊗, ㊛, ㊑, and many more, which are enclosed in circles.
These characters are listed in unicode and there are quite a lot of ...
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1answer
105 views
How to represent prefixes and suffixes in a L2 context
An Anki deck I've downloaded is representing a word as "o-miyage" and "おーみやげ". The deck isn't using any kanji - it's based on JFBP book 1, which doesn't teach any kanji. I've hidden the romaji, so I'm ...
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2answers
188 views
日本人は日本語で番号を書くなら、アメリカの小数点かヨーロッパのを書きますの？
皆さん、こんにちは！
日本人は日本語に番号を書くことを学びますなら、
アメリカ風の小数点(1.0)か、ヨーロッパ風の(1,0)を書くことを学びますか？
日本語だけで尋ねてみたいですよ。
でも私の日本語もよくないんで、すみません。:)
ありがとう！:D
エディット:今、日本語だけで、英語じゃないです。
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3answers
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What is the meaning of「一強・安倍政権」?
I was reading a political news when I came across this phrase 「一強・安倍政権」 My guess is that this is meant to say the Abe administration is "strong" (has strong support from the people, can withstand ...
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2answers
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Could someone please explain what this Japanese symbol means? [closed]
Hopefully someone is able to let me know what this symbol means. I took a guess that it might be Japanese, but please direct me elsewhere if it is not! Thanks!
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1answer
188 views
Name of レ点 in 漢文
In 漢文, why is the レ used for レ点? Is it purely a graphic representation of returning to an earlier point in the text, or does レ stand for some word?
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2answers
625 views
What does ㊙︎DVD mean?
everyone,
Ran across this line ㊙︎DVD, with the 秘 encircled. Do any of you know what this might mean?
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1answer
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What does 「／＼」 mean in this sentence?
皆さん、こんにちは！
Now, I've been reading 竹取物語 and have come across (another) set of symbols that I've yet to understand. Given the following sentence.
かくて翁やう／＼豐になり行く。
What does the sudden 「／＼」 mean?
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1answer
806 views
What does「ゝ」mean?
Now, I've been at least trying to read 竹取物語, and in the second sentence of my version it shows a odd symbol that I've yet to see.
野山にまじりて、竹を取りつゝ、萬づの事に使ひけり。
The symbol in question is the 「ゝ」 what ...
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2answers
589 views
What is the difference between a daimon and a mon or kamon?
Normally, when I have seen a family crest they are termed mon or kamon. However, I have also seen the term daimon. What is the difference?
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4answers
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What do the shapes △ ◯ ╳ ◻ mean in Japanese? And are there variations in meaning, depending on whether or not the shape is filled?
I am interested in Japanese culture and the symbolism used in Japan, specifically I'd like to know what the △ triangle, ◯ circle, ╳ cross and ◻ square mean to a Japanese person.
How are those shapes ...
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3answers
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How do I read 100°C in Japanese?
In English, I just read it "one hundred degrees Celsius".
In Japanese, I don't know how to read it.
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4answers
443 views
Symbol for smiling
I've often seen a symbol that is used in context of smiling or happy expressions. It is sort of a circle with three lines above it.
Can anyone tell me what it's called and where it comes from?
...
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2answers
390 views
Describing lego brick dimensions in Japanese
In English in order to describe a Lego brick which has dimensions or 2 pegs by 4 pegs, we could say "2 x 4" and pronounce this "2 by 4". How is this expressed in Japanese?
I have seen "2 x 4" ...
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2answers
391 views
How to pronounce “R → ∞ ” in a mathematical context
For example on this wikipedia page:
一方、右辺第二項は R → ∞ のとき 0 に収束するので、...
In English it would be something like "as R goes to infinity".
How would you usually read this in Japanese?
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2answers
544 views
Uses of [◯]{まる} symbol in Japanese typography
What is [◯]{まる} symbol is typically used for?
The only usage I know of is the "correct" mark. But the dictionary says it is also used as a placeholder and for censorship, see ◯ and ◯◯.
Here are more ...
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1answer
160 views
θ波はどういう意味ですか？~What does θ波 mean?
I've been listening to a couple 勉強用BGM soundtracks lately while I'm studying for any number of things, and I keep seeing this θ波 notation at the end of the title. It finally got to bothering me enough ...
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1answer
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What does ♢ mean on an assignment?
I know what the circle, triangle, and "X" notations mean, but this is a new one to me entirely. Next to ◇ was the letter grade "B", but I'm not sure of the relevance since I'm seeing the triangle ...
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what does this symbol mean? ⊂((・x・))⊃
⊂((・x・))⊃
I see it in chat in some multiplayer games from Japanese players
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3answers
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How to read 「！」 as a clock chime?
Are there any rules for reading "!" as an onomatopoeia?
先刻、 ！ ！ ！ ！ ！ ！
と、喫茶店ナイルの時計が、私の肩の上で鳴ったが、黒住は、まだ現れなかった。
蘭{らん} 郁二郎{いくじろう} 著 『蝕眠譜{しょくみんふ}』 青空文庫 No.43433
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2answers
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Is it possible to use 々 and co (ヽ、ゝ、…) even if the shortened part is from another word?
For exemple is it possible to write 部分々数 in place of 部分分数 or is it considered bad practice?
I am asking this primarily because it is convenient for taking notes. But I would want to know if it is ...
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1answer
673 views
Use of ◯ in titles
I came across something that had favorite works of characters.
One was:
「好きな漫画」
『神風怪盗◯ャンヌ』
And another was:
「好きな映画」
『ゴッド◯ァーザー』
Is this simply a way of not actually putting the titles to avoid ...
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1answer
1k views
Why does this word have the registered trademark symbol ® on it? [closed]
On the weather app on my phone, the word 体感温度 has a ® next to it. Here's a screenshot:
And here's the corresponding shot in English:
Am I correct in believing that what is really trademarked is ...
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1answer
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How to read: the “~” (tilde) in “3~4 行”
How should I read the "~" mark that stands for range, as described in the title?
I saw this in the following sentence:
3~4行ごとに1行あけると読みやすい。
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2answers
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What does “＝” equals sign mean in Japanese news headlines?
I try to read news in Japanese and sometimes I see equals sign used inside sentences. I tend to think text to the right side of "＝" is kind of a consequence of the left part. It does not look like it ...
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3answers
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My teacher wrote a triangle on my Japanese homework. What does it mean? [duplicate]
One of my Japanese senseis corrected my homework, and several times she drew a triangle next to the item she was correcting. Does this have a special meaning in Japan?
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1answer
395 views
Pronouncing ＋ in dictionary definitions
Dictionary definitions often use plus signs when describing what words or phrases are made of. For example, the definition for たところで…ない in 大辞泉 says:
《「たところで」は過去の助動詞「た」の連体形＋名詞「ところ」＋格助詞「で」。「ない」...
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1answer
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Some Japanese dictionaries (e.g. 大辞林, 大辞泉, and 明鏡国語辞典) use this inverted triangle outline symbol (▽) for some kanji compounds. What does it mean?
It doesn't apply to all the words, just some. Here are examples of words from that are marked with that symbol
悪い (with reading にくい): 大辞泉; 大辞林
面倒くさい (with reading めんどくさい): 大辞泉; 大辞林
皆 (with reading ...
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2answers
977 views
Inequality symbols in Japanese writing
In English, when we wish to write a non-strict mathematical inequality, we will write something like this:
x ≤ 3 or y ≥ 5
In Japanese writing, however, I have also seen the symbol ≦ used to mean "...
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1answer
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How to Make a Large 々 With the Keyboard
I have only seen the sub character 々 used before. Now I am encountering the full size character, but cannot figure out how to enter it into a keyboard.
Also, I know 々 is a repetition marker. Is ...
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1answer
3k views
Why are points used where furigana would be normally?
Sometimes in mangas there are points where you would expect normally furigana. What meaning is it supposed to have?
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1answer
2k views
〒 symbol in a resume
I have a doubt concerning the symbol 〒. What does it mean when in a resume it's followed by a number? e.g: 〒 331-0811
