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Anonymous
Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 04:55 pm:   

I REALLY need assistance. Whenever I go to a translating site, it always says "Usagi" means "rabbit". But whenever I go to a name site, it says Usagi is Japanese name meaning "moon". How can it mean two completely different things? I'm wanting to know so badly because I have a roleplaying character with that name, and only recently did I find out about it also meaning "rabbit". Any help would be appreciated!!!
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Anonymous
Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 11:30 am:   

Umm, in every language there are words can mean two completely different things:

Mr. Black =

1- The color black
2- The darkness/evil of black

One meaning is literal, while the other is figurative.
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Anonymous
Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 12:17 pm:   

Mm, yes, but this is quite a bit different really. They say as a NAME it means moon, and as a WORD it means rabbit. It doesn't make any sense. Usually in names, if the name can also be used as a word, then it means the same thing as the word.
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Anonymous
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:18 am:   


quote:

Usually in names...




Well, this is the exception that proves the rule.
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Taka
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:23 am:   

Actually there is an ancient belief that the moon looks like a rabbit pounding mochi during the New Year celebrations.
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Anonymous
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 04:24 pm:   

Now that you mention it...I think I did hear that somewhere! Maybe that explains it...?
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Anonymous
Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 08:51 pm:   

yea, and most japanese words/symobls are based on how things look or appear. So because the moon looks like a rabbit and the fact that it is the moon, would make sense that they are the same word.

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