Loek van Kooten’s Post

The word of the day is 吸入器, which can be broken down into three kanji characters: 吸, 入, and 器. Together, they form a term that translates roughly to "inhaler". The first kanji, 吸, means "to suck," "to inhale," or "to sip." Its etymology offers a vivid imagery of the action it represents. The character comprises of 及, which itself is a combination of 人 (person) and 又 (hand). This pairing depicts a hand suddenly reaching the back of a fleeing person, symbolizing an immediate action. Within the kanji 吸, 及 is paired with 口, which represents a mouth. This combination illustrates the swift action of reaching out and sucking something with the mouth. Next, we have the kanji 入. This character is associated with the concepts of "entrance," "to enter," "to insert," or "to put something in." Its design captures a thrusting motion toward the center of the shape ↑. This character can also be perceived as a depiction of an entrance. While 入 has a kin in 納, they have diverged in modern usage. Today, 入 mainly carries the meaning of "to enter," while 納 is used in the context of "to put something in" or "to store." The third kanji, 器, encompasses meanings related to "utensils," "vessel," "instrument," "skill," "container," "holder," "tool," or "set." The character composition is a testament to its diverse meanings. It combines four instances of 口 with 犬 (dog). The myriad mouths suggest various containers, while the inclusion of the dog implies a variety of types or kinds. And there you have it - another dip into the profound ocean of the Japanese language! If you've enjoyed this journey and appreciated our expertise, remember: when it comes to localizing your games, leave it to the specialists. We don't just translate, we understand. #gamedev #indiedev #gameloc #translation #localization #translate #localize #l10n