Wednesday, May 7, 2008

構 - I Don't MIND If You Build Two Wooden Houses

Readings & Meanings:

かま(う)

コウ

structure, posture, construct, to mind

Common Usage:

構う

構図

お構いなく

結構

Examples:

そんな細かいことに構っていられない。

経済の本を読むに従って階級社会の構図が見えてきた。

どうぞ、お構いなく。

結構な御点前で。

Translations:

I can't be bothered to care about such a small thing.

I read a book on economics, and, therefore, I could get to see the structure of our hierarchical society.

Go ahead, don't worry about me.

Splendidly arranged. (You say this in a tea ceremony.)

Radical:

木 is the radical.

冓 is the phonetic and shows two "symmetrical" constructions (at least, they were symmetrical back in BC).

The definition of "to mind" arose from the older meaning of "join wood and build a structure." First it was "to construct," then "prepare for construction," then "mental preparation," then "to mind."

References:

http://www.kanjinetworks.com/indices/radindex.html
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/node/kanji/7.htm

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