kanji for, and meaning of, suki

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[Kevin Morrison]

I usually take suki to mean an opening for a technique. What is the kanji for, and the meaning of, suki?

From a short search on-line, http://jisho.org/kanji/details/%E9%9A%99, I got 隙 with the possible meanings

1: gap; space;
2: break; interlude; interval;
3: chink (in one's armor, armour); chance; opportunity

with 隙 made from the parts
小 thousand
阡 small
日day/japan/sun

Is this the character usually used? If so how do the the three symbols combine to mean suki?

[JohnSeavitt]

Previously discussed at http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14829

Regarding your last question, it is probably worth mentioning that it is not reliably possible to arrive at contemporary usage by an "etymological" deconstruction in the case of many, many kanji ...

John

[Peter Goldsbury]

Hello Mr Morrison,

I think the issues are discussed quite thoroughly on the other thread, mentioned by John Seavitt.

There is a very good discussion of the origin of Chinese writing in the Cambridge History of Ancient China.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Cambridge+History+of+Ancient+China&x=15&y=18

The essay is "Language and Writing", by William G Boltz. The three stages in the evolution of Chinese script are worth special attention.

Best wishes,

P A Goldsbury

PS. Give my best wishes to Sean MacR.

I usually take suki to mean an opening for a technique. What is the kanji for, and the meaning of, suki?

From a short search on-line, http://jisho.org/kanji/details/%E9%9A%99, I got 隙 with the possible meanings

1: gap; space;
2: break; interlude; interval;
3: chink (in one's armor, armour); chance; opportunity

with 隙 made from the parts
小 thousand
阡 small
日day/japan/sun

Is this the character usually used? If so how do the the three symbols combine to mean suki?

[niall]

The radical on the left hand side I think means bridge.
On the right hand side there is
小 small
日 day or sun
小 small

So although John and Peter are right of course about etymology it is not inconceivable that there is a nuance of a chink of sunlight... It helps me to remember it, anyway!

A book I liked a lot was A guide to remembering Japanese characters by Kenneth G. Henshall. It explains a lot of interesting stuff about etymology clearly and simply.

[Kevin Morrison]

My apologies for starting a redundant thread.

Mr. Goldsbury: I will.

Thank you all for your help,

Kevin

[Josh Reyer]

Per Kanjigen, a Japanese kanji dictionary, Niall is on the right track. The 小日小 represent small rays of sunshine, and the 阝(阜) represents an earthen wall, with an overall sense of "sunlight poking through an earthen wall → an opening".

Incidentally, if you consider this sense of "suki", it becomes clear what the "kage" (shade, shadow) of "Shinkage-ryu" means!

[Peter Goldsbury]

Hello Niall,

Actually, I stated nothing about etymology in this thread except to give a book reference.

Best wishes, as always.

PAG

The radical on the left hand side I think means bridge.
On the right hand side there is
小 small
日 day or sun
小 small

So although John and Peter are right of course about etymology it is not inconceivable that there is a nuance of a chink of sunlight... It helps me to remember it, anyway!

A book I liked a lot was A guide to remembering Japanese characters by Kenneth G. Henshall. It explains a lot of interesting stuff about etymology clearly and simply.

[niall]

Thanks, Peter. I know very little about China. I'll try to get hold of a copy of that book you recommended. It looks very interesting - not just for the language.

Best regards,

Niall