|
|
So, what does "ai" mean in "aikido," anyway? There's been a lot of
discussion and even some heated arguments over this Japanese term.
In essence, the character ai  means:
- to fit or to suit.
- to join together
- to agree with, match, be correct
- to be opposite (to face)
- to unite, combine, connect
- to add up
- to mix
- to match
- to compare, check with
- to get together
- to pay, be profitable
However, I think that there is some good in taking a look at how we,
the Japanese people, use the term in everyday life. I think that a
lot of people attribute a whole lot of esoteric meaning behind words
that aren't all that esoteric; this is the reason why I chose very
common Japanese words to illustrate how we use this term in our
everyday life. After all, isn't that what we hope to do in the first
place in aikido -- use "ai" and "ki" in our everyday lives?
Here are some contexts in which the word "ai" and some of its
derivations are used in everyday Japanese.
|
|
|
|
| Ai ai gasa |
 |
"together with umbrella" |
to share an umbrella |
| Ai in |
 |
"match seal" |
verification seal |
| Ai kotoba |
 |
"matching word" |
secret password |
| Aizu |
 |
"matching diagram" |
sign, signal |
| ai kagi |
 |
"matching key" |
duplicate key |
| ai ma |
 |
"matching space" |
interval, space between |
| ai noko |
 |
"a child of a meeting" |
crossbreed, hybrid |
| ai note |
 |
"A hand that matches" |
accompaniment, interlude |
| awaseru |
 |
"to cause to come together" |
to put together |
| daki au |
 |
"to embrace each other" |
to embrace each other |
| dashi ai |
 |
"to send out together" |
to contribute jointly |
| de ai |
 |
"to go out and meet" |
rendezvous |
| deki au |
 |
"to go and arrive together" |
to be ready-made, to become intimate with |
| deki guai |
 |
"condition after having come and gone" |
result, effect |
| fure au |
 |
"to touch each other" |
to touch each other |
| furi ai |
 |
"matching manners" |
consideration |
| guai |
 |
"vessel suiting or agreeing" |
health, condition |
| hagemi au |
 |
"to inspire each other" |
to vie with another |
| hanashi au |
 |
"to talk with each other" |
to discuss |
| hari au |
 |
"to strain each other" |
to rival, to compete with |
| hatashi ai |
 |
"to meet to die" |
duel |
| hiki ai |
 |
"to pull and meet" |
comparison, deal |
| iiai |
 |
"to say opposite" |
quarrel, argument |
| imi ai |
 |
"meaning to match" |
implication, nuance |
| iro ai |
 |
"color to match" |
hue, tinge, tint |
| kakari ai |
 |
"relation opposite" |
unfortunate relationship |
| kake au |
 |
"to levy each other" |
to negotiate with |
| kane ai |
 |
"simultaneously matching" |
equilibrium, poise |
| karami au |
 |
"to intertwine with each other" |
to become intertwined |
| katari au |
 |
"to talk with each other" |
to talk together |
| kawari au |
 |
"to switch places with each other" |
to relieve each other |
| kiai |
 |
"intent to match" |
scream, yell, fighting spirit |
| kiga au |
 |
"energies/intents match" |
to get along with |
| kiri ai |
 |
"cut to match" |
crossing swords |
| koro ai |
 |
"time to match" |
suitable time, propriety |
| kumi ai |
 |
"paired meeting" |
association |
| kumo ai |
 |
"cloud to match" |
look of the sky |
| maai |
 |
"space between" |
interval, space between |
| machi ai |
 |
"to wait and match" |
assignation |
| mani au |
 |
"to match an interval" |
to be in time for |
| meguri ai |
 |
"to tour and to match" |
chance meeting |
| miai |
 |
"to see opposite each other" |
formal marriage interview |
| niai |
 |
"to seem alike and match" |
well matched, becoming |
| oshi ai |
 |
"to push each other" |
jostling, crowding |
| sasoi au |
 |
"to invite each other" |
to invite each other |
| shi ai |
 |
"testing by meeting" |
contest |
| shiri ai |
 |
"to know each other" |
acquaintance |
| suji ai |
 |
"fiber that matches" |
reason, right |
| tasuke au |
 |
"to help each other" |
to help each other |
| tsuki au |
 |
"to attach to each other" |
to associate with, to get on with |
| tsuri ai |
 |
"to ensnare each other" |
balance, equilibrium |
| uchi au |
 |
"to shoot each other" |
to fight, to exchange blows |
| umano au |
 |
"horses that match" |
to get along well with |
| wake au |
 |
"to divide for each other" |
to share |
| wari ai |
 |
"fraction of each other" |
ratio |
| yori ai |
 |
"to stop by and meet" |
a meeting |
| yuzuri au |
 |
"to give to each other" |
to compromise |
 |
|
|
