I need help identifying an Asian character.
May 28, 2011 11:56 AM Subscribe
Can anyone identify this Asian character? The pendant was bought in Thailand by a family friend who has since passed away so we can't ask him.
My little sister is headed to Thailand to teach for 6 months and my Mom is re-gifting this pendant a close family friend gave her after returning from a tour of the continent. While that alone gives the present sentimental value, it would be nice to know what the character says. Thanks!
On another note, how do dictionaries for character based written languages work? I'm sure I could find out on my own but if can already read this character, you can probably give me a good, short answer.
My little sister is headed to Thailand to teach for 6 months and my Mom is re-gifting this pendant a close family friend gave her after returning from a tour of the continent. While that alone gives the present sentimental value, it would be nice to know what the character says. Thanks!
On another note, how do dictionaries for character based written languages work? I'm sure I could find out on my own but if can already read this character, you can probably give me a good, short answer.
Best answer: Chinese dictionaries can work either by spelling how the word is pronounced or by a combination of counting the strokes in the characters and determining which "radicals" (separate parts of the character) make up the word.
posted by subtle-t at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by subtle-t at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks! Are there any other interpretations?
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2011
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2011
Best answer: Fortune / happiness and things like that. It's often hung upside down around new years. Here's an explanation for why.
posted by subtle-t at 12:04 PM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by subtle-t at 12:04 PM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for being a polyglot!
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:06 PM on May 28, 2011
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:06 PM on May 28, 2011
Not an answer about your Chinese character, but I am chiming in because of the dictionary question and the fact that your sister is going to Thailand.
Written Thai uses an alphabet of consonants, plus another set for the vowels. Dictionaries are ordered by the consonants.
I lived in Thailand for a number of years. Feel free to MeMail.
posted by jaruwaan at 1:10 PM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Written Thai uses an alphabet of consonants, plus another set for the vowels. Dictionaries are ordered by the consonants.
I lived in Thailand for a number of years. Feel free to MeMail.
posted by jaruwaan at 1:10 PM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by subtle-t at 11:58 AM on May 28, 2011 [1 favorite]