Hi guys, I’m a master’s degree student, my major is japanese paleography and philology.
I’m trying to translate some pages of Genji monogatari for my final research. I found two kanjis in the Edo period text that I’m examinating, there’s nothing wrong with them, except for the extra stroke that I highlighted in green. [https://imgur.com/MOciW47](https://imgur.com/MOciW47)
The first kanji is 声, the second one is 聞 (the part I’m talking about is from “Yugao” chapter).
What does that extra stroke in both kanjis mean?
I tried everything, but I cannot figure out the meaning of that little stroke. If you know what it means, or if you have any idea about it, please help me! It means a lot to me, thank you guys.
9 comments
Do you also want to try r/translator ?
What do you mean by “what does it mean?” I don’t have my kuzushiji dictionaries in front of me, but I’m pretty sure it’s just one of the ways of writing the character?
The original text would have been a kana manuscript so this is an adaptation. The way these characters are written is just a variant.
The use of くそ to mean “you” might be an amusing note to make.
Seems like it’s a remnant of the stroke looping over itself. As if the brush was lifted off the paper midstroke and came down again.
I dont mean to be snarky, but wouldn’t your teachers be more useful? You are paying them, so you should get your money’s worth.
People already explained 聞, but note that the first kanji is not 声 but the traditional character 聲; the cross stroke is coming from the same 耳 element in both characters.
聞 聲（声）
It’s just the way to write 耳 part here, it’s not that uncommon for an extra stroke to be added
How about asking Japanese professors by mail?
No joking, I’m sure they would answer if you ask them nicely.
Did you try the miwo app? http://codh.rois.ac.jp/miwo/index.html.en