Meaning of the Chinese word "Cha"

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Sep 20th, '09, 18:17
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Meaning of the Chinese word "Cha"

by apache » Sep 20th, '09, 18:17

I just notice the meaning of the Chinese word "cha" from this web site:

http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_det ... 2b323d.htm

Here it said in the original text:
通过对“茶”字的解析,得出“茶”字即是“二十”加“八十八”,等于一百零八岁

English translation:
The word "cha" (茶) is two words of "ten" (十) added "eighty eight" (八十八) and this gives one hundred and eight. And this means one who drinks tea will have a very long life.


十十

十 = 茶

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Sep 20th, '09, 21:23
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Re: Meaning of the Chinese word "Cha"

by Drax » Sep 20th, '09, 21:23

Hmmmmm, something doesn't seem quite right on this one.

The "十十" at the top is known as the "grass radical." Nowadays it's drawn in three strokes (the horizontal line gets connected), but originally it was drawn separately. But again, denoting grass, not "10."

I can't speak for the rest of it, but it sounds as stretched as when people try to make up stories on the origins of phrases from the 1500s.

I'm sure somebody here has better knowledge of kanji origins, so I'll leave it to them...! :D

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Sep 21st, '09, 03:39
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Re: Meaning of the Chinese word "Cha"

by apache » Sep 21st, '09, 03:39

Thanks for pointing this out.
Yes, it's stretched a bit and should not be taken literally. I merely quoting what I saw on a page from China and thought it is interesting. Yes indeed, the grass radical is 3 strokes if you write it in simplified Chinese, but it is always 4 strokes in traditional characters and 6 strokes in the original classical form.

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Sep 21st, '09, 20:02
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Re: Meaning of the Chinese word "Cha"

by gingkoseto » Sep 21st, '09, 20:02

That's a very interesting interpretation, and sounds very auspicious! :D

Sep 21st, '09, 21:16
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The ancient meaning is bitter herb

by Intuit » Sep 21st, '09, 21:16

Cha: Some Thoughts on a Name
http://www.asiancha.com/index.php?optio ... Itemid=121

Recall that I posted elsewhere on TC, not too long ago, on the really ancient use of tea before its time as a beverage: as an Ayruvedic (pre-Hindu) treatment, use probably originating in Northern India and carried along the southern trade route by monks or merchants.

It popularity and widespread carriage in local pharmacopeia would stem from from its wide range of use as an antidote use for approximately 70 herbs that are poisonous when used at inappropriate dosage, season or preparation.

On a lighter note. I input the word Tu into the namelab website. Du is an alternate form. Meaning 2:

Chinese: from the names of two princes of ancient territories, one from the state of Qi, and the other from the state of Zhen.

:-)

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