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When my Japanese-language partner told me about his brother’s wedding reception, he used the word 披露, which tripped me up in a variety of ways. I learned that the yomi was ひろう (hirō), and even though the dictionary identified ひろう as a noun, it sure looked like a verb, and I couldn’t shake that sense. I eventually had to relent. After all, it’s a noun.
This compound contains 露 (RO, RŌ, tsuyu), the kanji for dew! Something about both 露 and the English word “dew” appeal to me immensely. I have no idea why, except that when I was young, I frequently passed a sign for a motel called Dew Drop Inn. It was perhaps my first exposure to wordplay, and that sign made something click on many levels.
Because of my affection for “dew” and 露, I was thrilled to see 露 inside 披露, but I wondered about the connection between “dew” and a wedding reception. Was it a reference to a dewy bride?!
No, 露 also means “to expose,” and that’s its sense in 披露 (to reveal + to expose), which means “announcement” or “introduction.”
My partner used 披露 in the following sentence (where it appears twice):
母の兄弟に披露するために、披露宴をやった。
Haha no kyōdai ni hirō suru tame ni, hirōen o yatta.
In order to introduce (the bride) to my mother’s siblings, they had a wedding reception.
Even after I understood the sentence, as well as 披露, I couldn’t stop wondering why 露 meant both “dew” and “to expose.” As I learned from Henshall, “dew” is the original meaning of 露. The “exposure” part came later, most likely because dew appears openly for all to see. This same kanji has several other meanings, as well. Today we’ll look at its dewy aspects, leaving other meanings for the next two weeks.
We’ve seen 露 as “dew” before in two lyrical words: 露の間 (tsuyunoma: an instant, dew + between) and 露を宿した葉 (tsuyu o yadoshita ha: leaf heavy with dew, dew + to dwell + leaf).
But there are plenty of dewy words we haven’t seen, and in the spirit of introductions (披露), I’d like to share some. First, the straightforward vocabulary for discussing dew:
結露 (ketsuro: dew; condensation) to form into a mass + dew
The first kanji, 結, is part of 結婚 (kekkon: marriage, to unite + to marry) and means “to tie, unite, join.” As an offshoot of that, 結 can mean “to form into a mass, congeal, coagulate.” So when vapor gathers into a mass, we get condensation or dewdrops!
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Photo: Michelle O’Kane Photo: Lani Barbitta
露滴 (roteki: dewdrop) dew + drop
Hmm. What’s this second kanji? It’s not 適 (TEKI: suitable), though they contain a common shape and have the same on-yomi. Instead, 滴 means “drop.” We’ve seen it once before.
露に濡れた (tsuyu ni nureta: wet with dew; dewy)
dew + to get wetThe second kanji means “to get wet”. It contains both the rain radical, 雨, and the water radical,
. That’s a lot of water!
More Fun with the Rain Radical …
Morning Dew
Photo: Paul Garfinkel
Now for two words that present “dew” in a more metaphorical sense:
玉露 (gyokuro: refined green tea; beautiful dewdrops that look like jewels) jewel + dew
When I saw “green” in the first definition and thought of dew, my mind went right to Mountain Dew. Doesn’t it have a sickly yellow-green hue? Blech.
甘露 (kanro: syrup, nectar, sweetness) sweet + dew
This also brings to mind the overly sweet Mountain Dew!
By the way, here’s another kanro word involving 露:
寒露 (kanro: late-autumn or early-winter dew) cold + dew
Ah, an intriguing breakdown. Not autumn + dew or winter + dew but cold + dew. And what great specificity in the definition!
For other highly specific (and therefore highly charming) words involving dew, see the link.
Highly Specific Words About Dew …
Time for your Verbal Logic Quiz!
