Keri versus Geri

**smoothsake** · 05-05-2008, 06:19 AM

Something has bothered me for a while...

keri = kick

geri = diarrhea

Please use the right word when you type/say words like jodan mawashi keri and hiza keri, etc.

**smoothsake** · 05-05-2008, 06:24 AM

Actually, I'm not 100% sure about this... I just realized in "What is Karate" it is spelled geri. Can one of our resident Japanese experts advise?

Dent · 05-05-2008, 06:44 AM

Osu!

I think the pronunciation of some words is fairly elastic. Trying to fit one language into another is one thing. Trying to turn pictographs into Romaji is another...

Osu!

jolut · 05-05-2008, 06:45 AM

well, keri is kick. when used in a sentence, for example mae geri, geri is used. Same thing with tsuki - zuki, tachi - dachi etc.

**smoothsake** · 05-05-2008, 07:01 AM

Perhaps it's like that old post about senpai vs. sempai. How the world is spelled is not necessarily how it sounds when it is spoken. Grammatically keri is the correct spelling.

**jcbel** · 05-05-2008, 07:19 AM

In all the literature I've seen it's been spelt geri..?

**Olrac** · 05-05-2008, 03:00 PM

Also in the book written by Hanshi Steve Arneill, who speaks japanese, the word is spelled geri.
osu

**smoothsake** · 05-05-2008, 03:38 PM

After further research, keri and geri are interchangeable for kick. When combined with other words like mae or mawashi, it usually is used with geri. You just have to proceed with caution on the pronunciation and context of your sentence. Kind of like how ame both means rain and candy or hashi both means chopsticks and bridge. Japanese is just one of those easy languages...

Just know that geri could mean kick... or diarrhea. Haha!!

Dent · 05-05-2008, 03:42 PM

Osu!

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothsake

Japanese is just one of those easy languages...

Just know that geri could mean kick... or diarrhea. Haha!!

SmoothSake, yes, easy... Like nuclear physics, or classical Latin...

So, would a Keri Geri be so scary a kick that it gave you diarrhea?

Osu!

**smoothsake** · 05-05-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dent

So, would a Keri Geri be so scary a kick that it gave you diarrhea?

Close. I think it would be geri no geri. Disturbing to say the least. 下痢の蹴り

Dent · 05-05-2008, 03:47 PM

Osu!

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothsake

Close. I think it would be geri no geri. Disturbing to say the least. 下痢の蹴り

Now there's a T-shirt idea!

osu!

shurenkan · 05-05-2008, 04:41 PM

In Japanese, words change in pronunciation depending on what precedes it. For example, the classifier "hon" is used to count specific objects. "hon" changes in pronunciation depending on the number that precedes it. Ippon, Nihon, Sambon...

It's kind of the same thing with Geri and Keri. Independently we refer to it as Keri. When it proceeds other words it becomes geri. That happens often with the "k" syllables of the Japanese language. For example, "keiko" is often pronounced "geiko."

Ultimately we have to remember that we are romanizing a language based on pictographs. The character remains the same, regardless of how it's pronounced or how we spell it using our alphabet.

So the "geri" that means diarrhea is a very different character (actually combination of characters.)

Osu,
Miguel Rios

vapor · 05-06-2008, 02:01 AM

shurenkan- thanks for the explanation...spot on!

vapor

niceguy · 05-07-2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shurenkan

In Japanese, words change in pronunciation depending on what precedes it. For example, the classifier "hon" is used to count specific objects. "hon" changes in pronunciation depending on the number that precedes it. Ippon, Nihon, Sambon...

It's kind of the same thing with Geri and Keri. Independently we refer to it as Keri. When it proceeds other words it becomes geri. That happens often with the "k" syllables of the Japanese language. For example, "keiko" is often pronounced "geiko."

Ultimately we have to remember that we are romanizing a language based on pictographs. The character remains the same, regardless of how it's pronounced or how we spell it using our alphabet.

So the "geri" that means diarrhea is a very different character (actually combination of characters.)

Osu,
Miguel Rios

well done- reps coming your way

!

Kris · 05-07-2008, 02:37 AM

Is Smoothsake saying "Kanpai" or "Kampai" ? Hehe...

**satodojo** · 05-07-2008, 05:21 AM

Osu, Shurenkan san,

Very well done! I hope you can give us a Japanese lesson at next get-together event you host this summer!

**smoothsake** · 05-07-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris

Is Smoothsake saying "Kanpai" or "Kampai" ? Hehe...

Oh now you are just teasing! How goes Japan? Has your Japanese improved, or are you still singing "Sweet Virginia / Country Road" at the karaoke box?

Kris · 05-07-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothsake

Oh now you are just teasing! How goes Japan? Has your Japanese improved, or are you still singing "Sweet Virginia / Country Road" at the karaoke box?

Is improving yes, been taking classes four months now! When are we having the next party?

vapor · 05-07-2008, 01:37 PM

just so that you know, country roads is one of my favorites at karaoke....one of the few tunes that I can nail!! (second of course being sazanka no yado)...

vapor

**smoothsake** · 05-07-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris

Is improving yes, been taking classes four months now! When are we having the next party?

I was in Yokohama last month. I was hoping to stop by Sensei Ryuuji's new dojo and meet up with you guys but I was on such a hard schedule everyday. Sorry - hope to get out there again sometime next year. Too bad you're married... the best language teacher is a person of the opposite sex.

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