抱
to embrace; hold in arms; hug; harbor (e.g., grudge, suspicion); have sex
Kanji 1794
Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.
Discover key differences between two verbs written as 抱く. Learn about grudges and sitting on eggs and what connects these things. Read about (not) hugging in Japan, an odd translation of a Beatles song title, bundling products, armfuls of things, caretaking, patience, ambition, and being saddled with work. See how one book title sounds dull in English but erotic in Japanese.
Revision history:
June 28, 2021:
- p. 2: Replaced the Henshall etymology with the new one.
- p. 19: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.
May 22, 2015: On p. 19, I had defined ドジ (blunder) and 話 (はなし: story) separately. Now I've fixed it so that the vocabulary list under that sentence includes ドジ話 (ドジばなし: story of a blunder).
Apr. 25, 2014: Originally published.
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