Loekalization Blog
Japanese/Chinese/Korean/English/Dutch game localization
Category: kanji
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When ‘broad’ secretly means ‘yellow’
Today’s word of the day is 鉱山 (kōzan). Which is just Japanese for “mine.” Not the fun “mine” as in Mine! Mine! Mine! from Finding Nemo. No, this is the delightful pit-in-the-ground, canary-killing, back-breaking, soul-draining kind. The kind you get assigned to in dystopias and black-and-white documentaries about children with no teeth. Let’s take a…
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The Kanji that Slaughtered a Cow
造 (tsukuru) is a kanji that started off as a complete snooze fest and somehow ended up with a far more dramatic and somewhat absurd history than anyone could have anticipated. Let’s rewind and look at how this character went from boring to “wow, now that’s something.” Originally, 造 (tsukuru) was made up of two…
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天才 – Tensai – Talent
Tensai, the sacred Japanese word we toss around whenever someone manages to not choke on their own shoelaces while solving a math problem. Let’s take a good, long, cynical look at what this word really means—because, clearly, the world needs one more overhyped buzzword to worship like a golden calf with a Rubik’s Cube. 天…
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温まる – Atatamaru – Warm up
温まる is the verb that shows up not to impress, but to remind you that comfort doesn’t always need a spotlight. On paper, it means “to become nicely warm,” but in practice, it’s the language equivalent of a warm hand on your shoulder. And just when you think it’s all about physical temperature, it casually…
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掛け布団 – Kakebuton – Quilt
The Japanese word 掛け布団 (kakebuton) refers to the warm quilt or duvet placed over your body while you sleep. It’s the upper half of the traditional Japanese bedding ensemble, which also includes the humble 敷き布団 (shikibuton)—its flattened underbelly. Though seemingly straightforward, 掛け布団 (kakebuton) has a name that reveals far more than just its job description.…
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閂 – Kannuki – Bolt
閂 (kannuki) is a deceptively simple little kanji sitting there like a quiet guardian of linguistic chaos. At first glance, it’s just a little horizontal line lounging under a gate, like it’s got nowhere better to be. But don’t be fooled—this kanji has a history, a career, and apparently a secret moonlighting gig in the…
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幽閉 – Yūhei – Confinement
幽閉 (yūhei) is a word that practically drips with the romance of locked doors and the thrill of someone else deciding, “Nope, you’re not going anywhere.” It’s not just a term; it’s a lifestyle choice—for your captor, anyway. This delightful piece of Japanese vocabulary means to lock someone away, imprison them in some dark, dank…
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X 本 – X hon – Measure word for long, thin objects
本 (hon) is a delightful Japanese counter that comes with more baggage than a tourist in Kyoto during cherry blossom season. Today, we delve into the twisted tale of this humble kanji, a simple root from which an entire forest of meaning has grown. And like any good forest, there are vines to trip over…
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糠 – Nuka – Rice bran
糠 (nuka) is the kanji for when life hands you rice, but you’re the part nobody asked for. Rice husks, people. That’s what we’re dealing with today. Not the fluffy, photogenic grains themselves, but their rejected siblings—the bitter, gritty underdogs of the grain world. The Kardashians have Kim, rice has 糠 (nuka). Welcome to the…
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人民 – Jinmin – People
人民 (jinmin) is a word that holds within it the hopes and dreams of humanity. Or at least it pretends to. What it actually holds is a spectacular history of oppression, sarcasm-worthy irony, and the linguistic equivalent of slapping a smiley face on a disaster. Before we dive into this word’s incredible rollercoaster through history,…
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