I am sitting on it 3 day, trying to convince myself that I understand what "square jewel" is. Isn't the meaning "corner" or "edge" more common?
Does it describe any jewel of a square form, or those jewels which have edges - cut and polished (e.g. diamond in jewelry store)?

qazwsxedcrfvg Wrote:I am sitting on it 3 day, trying to convince myself that I understand what "square jewel" is. Isn't the meaning "corner" or "edge" more common?
Does it describe any jewel of a square form, or those jewels which have edges - cut and polished (e.g. diamond in jewelry store)?

The keywords chosen aren't always the most common. Just think of something like a diamond that is created by the pressure of layers upon layers of soil. This kanji is mostly used in names I believe.

Thanks for your reply.
But this is where the problem lies. I con not think about it like a diamond that is created be the reassure of layers upon layers of soil. Because it would be a RAW diamond - which absolutely do not associates with "square". It just keeps nagging me...

After all this contemplation, I can pretty much guarantee you will remember how to write it upon seeing the keyword.

Sure
And the mnemonic, the story is pretty sort for this: "155".
That way I just will not link to the keyword, just look forward to a day when I will be using it in compounds and not care about any translations.

I don't think I have ever come across this kanji in a word. At least I cant think of any of the top of my head. As bodhisamaya says its mostly used in names, I think.

I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it.

Well think of some other crystallite that grows into cubic/squarish forms
I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of such crystalline structures that do so.

Pick one and move on!!

http://www.fmm.ru/pictures/vitr77a/4667k1.jpg

There

Though those probably don't grow under layers upon layers of soil but you get my drift.

well, there's an artist with this name as you can see here:
http://www.lastfm.com.br/music/%E5%9C%AD
=)

[Katsuo]

圭 is a name kanji, and not part of the 1,945 Joyo set.

It often appears as part of other characters, and this is presumably why Heisig included it in RTK1. Rather than use "square jewel", however, he assigns it the primitive name "ivy" when forming other kanji. e.g. 封涯桂掛街佳窪蛙鮭.

Checking Halpern's dictionary, the original meaning is "ceremonial jade tablet with a rectangular base and pointed end used by the emperor in ancient China in appointing feudal lords." Similar to the one here, maybe?

Me, I just don't even worry about what 'squared jewel' implies and I just try to recognize the two soils coming together to create a 'squared jewel'. Often, you'll find that trying to logically reason out why a word is the way it is will just mess you up.

I did have trouble learning this one particular kanji at first, however. But it was really easy to give it the primitive meaning of 'ivy', mainly 'cause it looks like some sort of primitive ladder that you can climb.

qazwsxedcrfvg Wrote:I am sitting on it 3 day, trying to convince myself that I understand what "square jewel" is. Isn't the meaning "corner" or "edge" more common?
Does it describe any jewel of a square form, or those jewels which have edges - cut and polished (e.g. diamond in jewelry store)?

All that really matters is that Bill and Ted think they're excellent, and Mr. T has one.

It was a square jewel used to convey rank in historical Chinese society.

liosama Wrote:Pick one and move on!!

yes, Sir!
like your avatar

Asakk Wrote:well, there's an artist with this name as you can see here:
http://www.lastfm.com.br/music/%E5%9C%AD
=)

definitely not real name
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/16...rimary.jpg
real name is L

@Katsuo, @mafried
I got it - the more jade tables one had the higher was his position in the society

@KaitouJS
I am already messing it up, with those which I do not like how they look like or with strange/uncommon meanings.
Don't like "ivy". Good idea about "ladder". Will try to use in other stories "ladder".

Tzadeck Wrote:All that really matters is that Bill and Ted think they're excellent, and Mr. T has one.

This one is really hard for me to connect.

Heisig calls it Ivy, and I once married a girl called Ivy, so that was one of the easier ones for me; why not try naming it after on of your wives?

qazwsxedcrfvg Wrote:@KaitouJS
I am already messing it up, with those which I do not like how they look like or with strange/uncommon meanings.
Don't like "ivy". Good idea about "ladder". Will try to use in other stories "ladder".

Careful! The only reason why I connect the image of a ladder to ivy is because it makes it easier to remember, but I don't call the ivy primitive something else because Heisig warns about mixing up the names of primitives.

If you insist on calling it something else, take a little precaution and try to think of a really specific name that you can give it. Though it might give you bad vibes because if its similarity to '"ivy", you could try "vine ladder". There's definitely no already existing primitive with that name.

Thanks, appreciate your comment.