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+--- Thread: 切手 - Stamps cut hands? (/thread-2737.html)
切手 - Stamps cut hands? - sethg - 2009-03-14
I asked my Japanese prof and she didn't know, so I was wondering if any of you knew why 切手/きって (postage stamp) is made up of those two kanji. I mean, I've never had my hand cut by a stamp.
:: hopes for a really interesting story behind it ::
切手 - Stamps cut hands? - Smackle - 2009-03-14
It is the abbreviation of 切符手形
切手 - Stamps cut hands? - liosama - 2009-03-15
nfi but i noticed lots of random little things use 切 in their jukugo.
切手 - Stamps cut hands? - Paludis - 2009-03-15
Yeah I have a feeling "cut" isn't really the best keyword for 切. It works for the verb but not much else.
切手 - Stamps cut hands? - Smackle - 2009-03-15
切 has three main meanings: cut, cling/stick/be close to, or approach
切手 - Stamps cut hands? - woodwojr - 2009-03-16
Cut is almost certainly the best keyword; it's just one of the many words with too many facets for a good keyword to exist.
~J