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Japanese terms - overused and underused
Keywords: Go term
Underused terms
ExplanationVarious SL discussions throw up comments about Japanese terms. These can relate to mistranslations, conceptual mistakes, poor definitions that have had currency in the English literature for decades, and so on. Equally, JF in particular argues that a better conceptual understanding of the pro attitude can go hand-in-hand with a technical vocabulary that is a better match to theirs. Therefore this is a To Do list of words to cut down on (in senses beyond the well-justified), and to promote (in some form ... by replacement, translation?). Many of these words have more-or-less standard English translations e.g. mamoru = to defend or protect nerai = aim, from nerau to take aim. tsurai = painful, bitter, trying ukeru = respond or answer yuuryoku = having strength or power. They are used very frequently in commentaries. The question is whether there is some subtle meaning of the Japanese term not captured by the normal translation. Ijime on the playground at school has been a big social problem in Japan. In that context it refers to bullying to force conformity. In go it seems to be close to the English word harassment, and ijimeru, to harass, to torment, etc.
Overused termsEarlier discussionI'm frankly at a loss as to why you say that some of these words are supposed to be overused and others underused. The exact words you say are overused (hane, for one) are words with no alternative. On the other hand, as other commentators have noted, the words you say are underused, "tsurai', for example, are words that are basically just everyday Japanese words that should be translated into everyday English. Are you saying that certain words are overused in the sense that an English equivalent is preferable? Or the concept is overused? Do you want to use some other term for "aji"? Or do you think that people are spending too much time talking about "aji"? On the other side, Are you saying that certain words are underused in the sense that the English equivalent is less preferable, so that we should use "osae" instead of "block" Or are you saying that the concept is underused? This is a copy of the living page "Japanese terms - overused and underused" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |