Question about kanji (亡神)

DranoK · Apr 1, 2006, 05:18

Hi

It's been a while since I've posted. I've learned a lot over the past year or so and have learned the basic meanings of just over 1000 kanji.

I'm trying to form a compound now for something akin to "deadgod"; loosely, "a dead god". It doesn't need to be literal or verbose; for example "deadgod" in english is still a bit ambiguous.

Is 亡神 close enough? Also, how would this be pronounced? (ぼうしん?)

Thanks ^^;

nice gaijin · Apr 1, 2006, 05:38

in the sense that it's a deceased deity? or a god of death?

DranoK · Apr 1, 2006, 06:05

In the sense of a deceased deity.

Thanks ^^;

nice gaijin · Apr 1, 2006, 06:26

by the individual meanings it seems ok, though it doesn't really make sense. If you intend this for a creative work or something like that, it's probably acceptable.

DranoK · Apr 1, 2006, 06:37

Thanks. Does it not make sense in the same way as an english speaker would probably say "a god that's dead" rather than "deadgod", or doesn't make sense in terms of it being total gibberish?

This is for a creative project that has nothing to do with gods or death. The english name is "deadgod"; I wanted a close approximation with kanji. I guess I'd like it to make as much sense in Japanese as if I were to go up to an english speaker and say "deadgod" and nothing else.

Thanks again ^^;

nice gaijin · Apr 1, 2006, 07:16

I wouldn't call it total gibberish, nor would I call it exactly coherent. As long as the context make things clear it doesn't matter as much, even moreso since it's clearly a made-up name.

It depends on your audience. Someone who knows Japanese will recognize it as a non-word, whereas someone who doesn't know Japanese will just see asian characters they don't understand. If your target demographic is the latter, it doesn't make any difference what kanji you use.

DranoK · Apr 1, 2006, 08:16

Cool, thanks again for your help. One last question (I'm taking advantage of your generosity!):

If a Japanese speaker saw it as a made-up word, how would he try to pronounce it?

Thanks again ^^;

nice gaijin · Apr 1, 2006, 08:20

probably onyomi, so boushin most likely.

DranoK · Apr 1, 2006, 08:31

Yay! I guessed right ^^;

Apr 1, 2006, 05:18	#1
DranoK 捨て猫 Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: California Posts: 11	Question about kanji (亡神) Hi It's been a while since I've posted. I've learned a lot over the past year or so and have learned the basic meanings of just over 1000 kanji. I'm trying to form a compound now for something akin to "deadgod"; loosely, "a dead god". It doesn't need to be literal or verbose; for example "deadgod" in english is still a bit ambiguous. Is 亡神 close enough? Also, how would this be pronounced? (ぼうしん?) Thanks ^^; __________________ Abandoned cat.

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Apr 1, 2006, 05:38	#2
nice gaijin Resident Realist Join Date: Aug 8, 2005 Posts: 3,688	in the sense that it's a deceased deity? or a god of death?

Apr 1, 2006, 06:05	#3
DranoK 捨て猫 Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: California Posts: 11	In the sense of a deceased deity. Thanks ^^;

Apr 1, 2006, 06:26	#4
nice gaijin Resident Realist Join Date: Aug 8, 2005 Posts: 3,688	by the individual meanings it seems ok, though it doesn't really make sense. If you intend this for a creative work or something like that, it's probably acceptable.

Apr 1, 2006, 06:37	#5
DranoK 捨て猫 Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: California Posts: 11	Thanks. Does it not make sense in the same way as an english speaker would probably say "a god that's dead" rather than "deadgod", or doesn't make sense in terms of it being total gibberish? This is for a creative project that has nothing to do with gods or death. The english name is "deadgod"; I wanted a close approximation with kanji. I guess I'd like it to make as much sense in Japanese as if I were to go up to an english speaker and say "deadgod" and nothing else. Thanks again ^^;

Apr 1, 2006, 07:16	#6
nice gaijin Resident Realist Join Date: Aug 8, 2005 Posts: 3,688	I wouldn't call it total gibberish, nor would I call it exactly coherent. As long as the context make things clear it doesn't matter as much, even moreso since it's clearly a made-up name. It depends on your audience. Someone who knows Japanese will recognize it as a non-word, whereas someone who doesn't know Japanese will just see asian characters they don't understand. If your target demographic is the latter, it doesn't make any difference what kanji you use.

Apr 1, 2006, 08:16	#7
DranoK 捨て猫 Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: California Posts: 11	Cool, thanks again for your help. One last question (I'm taking advantage of your generosity!): If a Japanese speaker saw it as a made-up word, how would he try to pronounce it? Thanks again ^^;

Apr 1, 2006, 08:20	#8
nice gaijin Resident Realist Join Date: Aug 8, 2005 Posts: 3,688	probably onyomi, so boushin most likely.

Apr 1, 2006, 08:31	#9
DranoK 捨て猫 Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: California Posts: 11	Yay! I guessed right ^^;