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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

四通八達

しつう はったつ
shitsuu hattatsu

4 and 8 both get used in Japanese to convey totality: on all sides (四面楚歌) or in all directions (八方美人). Using them together increases this effect.

Definition:
道路や鉄道が四方八方伸びていて大変便利なこと。
Translations:
1. Accessible from everywhere/providing access to everywhere.
2. At the center of a comprehensive traffic network.

Like how the definition includes another yo-ji that makes use of the same 4/8 effect?

Note: Don't confuse the 4/8 in 四苦八苦 to mean "suffering from all sides." In this case, it actually refers to a specific number of pains and sufferings. See our post on it for more information.

例文:眼の下に大坂の町なみがひろがり、道は四通八達し、ゆききする人の姿が、蟻のように小さい。
From up here, looking at the way Osaka sprawls out below us, the roads run in all directions and the people coming and going are as small as ants.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

You guys crazy busy, or are you waiting until you see proof that people are still reading? That would be fair enough. Here is the proof. Now get back to your yo-ji! Unless you're too busy, of course ^^

By the way, are you guys familiar with www.lang-8.com?

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for another post..^^

jljzen88 said...

Ditto!

Defendership said...

Incoming in about an hour!