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kunitokotachi (Offline)
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Posts: 235
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 米国の何処だろう?
03-02-2008, 03:16 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Masato View Post
LOL. I wasn't going to go around flaunting a Japanese name! I just wanted to know what it would be if it were possible. But now that you talk about how hard it is to implement the idea, I guess I shouldn't worry about it.



OK, so understanding that I should use the Katakana version of my name for things, I'm still interested to know now: basing it off sound and not meaning, what would my name be in Kanji?
If you really want to see a variation of your name written in Japanese you should find a native speaker to think of an acceptable one for you. Here is the reason. Some of the kanji just aren't suitable to use for names because they carry a negative meaning; some you may not even notice right off hand.

For example:
矢(ya) = arrow - let's say you wanted to use this for the "ya" in Tanya. Having part of your name stand for arrows isn't good.

血(chi, ketsu) = blood - let's say you wanted to use this for the sound "chie" in Richie. Having part of your name stand for blood isn't good.

墓(haka, bo) = grave, tombstone - let's say you wanted to to use this for "bo" in Bob. Not a good choice.

I won't list anymore because there is just way too many. Using characters that have to do with weapons, violence, or Japanese superstitions are not good choices. Also, a lot of kanji have so many different readings. So, even if a native speaker chooses a decent one for you another Japanese person that you show it to will have trouble determining what you just wrote. I guess it can be fun just to see what it would look like but I would suggest that you don't try to use the kanji version for real. For example, your alien registration cards and what not. You won't be able to anyway.


宣告されてから弁論しても手遅れである。
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