On Thu, 1 Mar 2012 11:53:44 -0800
"Tad Perry" <
tadp...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > I consider all of them, etymologically the same word.
>
> Muchan, I have a question regarding this.
>
> In Japanese, there are a couple handful of verbs (like よごす/
> けがす) where the same kanji is used, but the reading differs
> depending if the word is being used literally (dirty with real dirt)
> or figuratively (soiled or stained, like one's spirit or soul). I've
> also seen words, where the reading is the same, but the kanji changes
> depending on if the term is being used literally or figuratively.
> (Unfortunately, an example does not spring to mind.)
Japanese language did not have characters until certain century.
So, as for Japanese word(s), if they (it) sound(s) the same and
share(s) the same origin and broader level of meaning, then they
are the same word(s).
Kanji was imported from foreign culture/civilisation, and Chinese
people may not consider the two meanings of this word as the same
concept, then they (Chinese uses) separate characters.
In the process of Japanses people to learn to use (Chinese) characters,
they found that chinese people use separate characters for the same
Japanese (phonetical) words, then they further learn the concepts
in Chinese so that the misusage would be confusing to more fruent
Chinese readers.
Oops. Now I see your example was contraly, when Chinese uses the same
kanji and Japanese distinguishes the two. But the process is the same.
In the case of yogosu/kegasu, kegasu is used in the sense that when
the something sacred becomes dirty. (But I think Chinese may use
涜 for this purpose like 冒涜? Japanese read this as kegasu, but not
yogosu...)
>
> In the case of ぼけ to mean "out of focus," are different kanji
> commonly preferred when using the term literally ("out-of-focus"
> photograph) versus figuratively ("out-of-focus" mind)?
>
> tvp
>
Now a days both are often written with katakana. Probably to make the
word stand out from the context. (you can't say where is word bounary
when all is written in hiragana in a glance). I feel that such katakana
usage of Japanese origin words are increasing these days. (-- or already
significantly increased in the recent past.
Because of media, or internet, I don't know...)
muchan