KANJI: KA uta (sing, song)

ASCII Art Representation:

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Character Etymology:

At right, a radical from the character lack which is from a pictograph of a yawning, gaping mouth. At left, the radical meaning can (as in, what?), used here to express the phonetic sound, KA, doubled, ie; KA-KA. This was the ancient Chinese equivalent of (TRA-)LA-LA, and it indicated singing. Also, from its literal meaning of emerge from the mouth, the radical for can may of reinfroced the idea of a gaping mouth and thus we get KA-KA from a wide open mouth: singing.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: KA
kun-yomi: uta uta(u)

English Definitions:

  1. KA, uta(u): sing, recite, chant, carol.
  2. uta: poem, tanka, ballad, poetry; singing.

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 2945
Henshall: 84

Unicode Encoded Version:

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

(kajin): poet.
(kashu): singer.
短歌 (tanka): short verse.

 

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Sing (?), v. i. [imp. Sung (?) or Sang (); p. p. Sung; p. pr. & vb. n. Singing.] [AS. singan; akin to D. zingen, OS. & OHG. singan, G. singen, Icel. syngja, Sw. sjunga, Dan. synge, Goth. siggwan, and perhaps to E. say, v.t., or cf. Gr. voice. Cf. Singe, Song.]

1.

To utter sounds with musical inflections or melodious modulations of voice, as fancy may dictate, or according to the notes of a song or tune, or of a given part (as alto, tenor, etc.) in a chorus or concerted piece.

The noise of them that sing do I hear. Ex. xxxii. 18.

2.

To utter sweet melodious sounds, as birds do.

On every bough the briddes heard I sing. Chaucer.

Singing birds, in silver cages hung. Dryden.

3.

To make a small, shrill sound; as, the air sings in passing through a crevice.

O'er his head the flying spear Sang innocent, and spent its force in air. Pope.

4.

To tell or relate something in numbers or verse; to celebrate something in poetry.

Milton.

Bid her . . . sing Of human hope by cross event destroyed. Prior.

5.

Ti cry out; to complain.

[Obs.]

They should sing if thet they were bent. Chaucer.

 

© Webster 1913.


Sing (?), v. t.

1.

To utter with musical infections or modulations of voice.

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Rev. xv. 3.

And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise. Keble.

2.

To celebrate is song; to give praises to in verse; to relate or rehearse in numbers, verse, or poetry.

Milton.

Arms and the man I sing. Dryden.

The last, the happiest British king, Whom thou shalt paint or I shall sing. Addison.

3.

To influence by singing; to lull by singing; as, to sing a child to sleep

.

4.

To accompany, or attend on, with singing.

I heard them singing home the bride. Longfellow.

 

© Webster 1913.

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