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籤: inscribed bamboo stick

By June 5, 2015January 16th, 2017Chinese Word, Japanese Word, Language-Learning

 

籤 [签] qiān


: inscribed bamboo stick (used in divination, gambling, drawing lots etc)
: small wood sliver
: label; tag

Kun Reading

籤 | くじ kuji

noun
: lottery; lot

籤 | ひご higo

noun
: (usually written using kana only) thin strip of bamboo

On Reading

籤 |せん sen

noun
: slip (of paper);
: tag (usu. bamboo, wood, ivory, etc.); label

 Usage:

籤條 [签条] qian1tiao2: label; tag
標籤 [标签] biao1qian1: label; tag; tab (of a window) (computing)
抽籤[签] chou1qian1: to perform divination with sticks; to draw lots; a ballot (in share dealing)
[抽籤 | ちゅうせん chuusen: lottery; raffle; drawing (of lots)]

神籤 | みくじ mikuji: fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine)
OR
お御籤 OR お神籤 | omikuji おみくじ
: (kana only) fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine)

名籤[签] ming2qian1: name tag
書籤 [书签] shu1qian1: bookmark
棉籤[签] mian2qian1: cotton swab
牙籤[签] ya2 qian1: toothpick



Japanese expression | idiom
籤を引く | くじをひく kuji o hiku
: to draw lots

籤で選ぶ | くじでえらぶ kuji de erabu
: to choose by lot

貧乏籤を引く | びんぼうくじをひく binbou kuji o hiku
: to get the short end of the stick; to get the bad end of a bargain

 Etymology:


形声 Pictophonetic.
⺮ (bamboo CJK radical) suggests the meaning while
韱 (xian1: wild onions/ leeks) provides the sound.



簡體 Simplified.
签. Created as unique simplification #197 (籤 » 签).



See also 簽 [签] qian1: to sign one’s name; endorse; visa; slip of paper
[kun: かご kago. on: セン sen]



 Examples:
籤は私に当たった。
くじはわたしにあたった kuji wa watashi ni attatta
I hit the jackpot.

Resources: Chinese Dictionary | Japanese Dictionary