Author Topic: Can anyone read Japanese? (Read 2185 times)

Aaron J Williams · « **on:** March 26, 2008, 03:28:58 PM »

This symbol or symbols are on a goldwing I am getting ready to restore. I have no idea what they mean, do you?

jevfro · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2008, 03:39:24 PM »

I can ask my wife when I get home... (If she's in a helpful mood that is)

Roach Carver · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2008, 04:34:52 PM »

" can anyone read japanese?"

The short answer is yes...... just not me.

johnny_from_bel · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2008, 05:26:55 PM »

It looks like KAI witch means open as in open gate could be a metafor for freedom (see kai.gif)

My Japaneese is not of the best level so if anyone knows better feel free.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2008, 05:48:43 PM »

ゲートを開けなさい I'll go along with that Johnny

Sam.

Aaron J Williams · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2008, 07:54:51 PM »

Quote from: johnny_from_bel on March 26, 2008, 05:26:55 PM

It looks like KAI witch means open as in open gate could be a metaphor for freedom (see kai.gif)

My Japanese is not of the best level so I anyone knows better feel free.

I think you are right, it sure looks close to me. Thanks! I guess if it meant open as in open path, open road or freedom I can see why someone went to the trouble to put it on the bike in gold leaf. I guess the bike's name is Kai.

Ichiban 4 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2008, 10:57:31 PM »

Quote from: Aaron J Williams on March 26, 2008, 03:28:58 PM

This symbol or symbols are on a goldwing I am getting ready to restore. I have no idea what they mean, do you?

Aaron..

According to my Japanese / English translator wife..the "kanji" lettering on the tank lid simply means "open".

So either someone was trying to be literal (if they were Japanese or Chinese)..or cute.

Ichi

Steve F · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:17:25 AM »

I sent an email to a friend at our Japan facility to see what he thinks it is. Later....

Aaron J Williams · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2008, 07:43:03 AM »

Quote from: Ichiban 4 on March 26, 2008, 10:57:31 PM

Quote from: Aaron J Williams on March 26, 2008, 03:28:58 PM
This symbol or symbols are on a goldwing I am getting ready to restore. I have no idea what they mean, do you?

Aaron..

According to my Japanese / English translator wife..the "kanji" lettering on the tank lid simply means "open".

So either someone was trying to be literal (if they were Japanese or Chinese)..or cute.

Ichi

So, open as in "this is the fuel door you OPEN to put gas in the bike"? That's ghey! I like the freedom metaphor better.

TwoTired · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2008, 09:19:44 AM »

I think it means; "How do you keep a Japanese illiterate in suspense?"...

Or, "Wash Me"...

But, I' just guessing...

Aaron J Williams · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:01:55 AM »

Quote from: TwoTired

"Wash Me"

Nice!

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:46:32 AM »

Quote from: Aaron J Williams on March 27, 2008, 07:43:03 AM

"this is the fuel door you OPEN to put gas in the bike"?

Surely not on a Goldwing...?...

BobbyR · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:48:30 AM »

I work for a Japanese Company. I showed it to 3 Japanese people and the same answer came back. The word as written simply means OPEN. No special meaning or metaphor. Simply means OPEN.

firecracker · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2008, 12:57:48 PM »

When eating in an Asian restaurant, I always wonder if the symbol on the wall says "Don't eat the ______".

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:03:01 PM »

Do you know the label that comes in some Honda spare parts bag? There is some japanese writing on there. I always thought it could mean "Honda" in japanese. I sent an scan to a japanese man I know, and he told me that it meant....."spare parts".

BUT, I bought a book that suppousedly was autographed by Soichiro Honda himself, both in Western and japanese lettering. I sent an scan of the japanese script to that japanese man I know -without telling him what was it suppoused to be- and he told me "it is the name of a japanese man, his name was Soichiro Honda and was the founder of Honda cars-....

Aaron J Williams · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2008, 04:36:04 PM »

Quote from: BobbyR on March 27, 2008, 11:48:30 AM

I work for a Japanese Company. I showed it to 3 Japanese people and the same answer came back. The word as written simply means OPEN. No special meaning or metaphor. Simply means OPEN.

That is so lame! Why would you put the word "open" on the fuel door? I'm half tempted to open it and see if the Kanji for "close" is on the underside of the door. I'll bet the PO knew someone who could write Japanese and asked them to come up with a cool symbol to put on the bike and the smartass came up with this. He probably laughed his ass off thinking of what someone who could read it would think of the retard who had to label his gas door so he could remember where to put the gas. Now I feel like a retard just for asking!

Why not something actually cool like peace be the journey or live to ride or even dragon or ninja or serenity? OPEN? WTF kind of dumb ass #$%* is that? If anybody on the road asks me what it means I'm going to LIE and tell them it means "in the wind".

Thanks for the translation though, it just goes to show that the answer to any question can be found on this forum.

BobbyR · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2008, 05:09:58 PM »

Let this be a lesson to you guys who get a tattoo with Asian letters. What the guy tells you is "Fearsome Warrior" could be "Butt Burglar"

johnny_from_bel · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:19:19 PM »

Quote from: BobbyR on March 27, 2008, 05:09:58 PM

Let this be a lesson to you guys who get a tattoo with Asian letters. What the guy tells you is "Fearsome Warrior" could be "Butt Burglar"

Or learn Japaneese. It's an interesting language.

heffay · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:53:34 PM »

Quote from: Aaron J Williams on March 27, 2008, 04:36:04 PM

Quote from: BobbyR on March 27, 2008, 11:48:30 AM
I work for a Japanese Company. I showed it to 3 Japanese people and the same answer came back. The word as written simply means OPEN. No special meaning or metaphor. Simply means OPEN.
That is so lame! Why would you put the word "open" on the fuel door? I'm half tempted to open it and see if the Kanji for "close" is on the underside of the door. I'll bet the PO knew someone who could write Japanese and asked them to come up with a cool symbol to put on the bike and the smartass came up with this. He probably laughed his ass off thinking of what someone who could read it would think of the retard who had to label his gas door so he could remember where to put the gas. Now I feel like a retard just for asking!

Why not something actually cool like peace be the journey or live to ride or even dragon or ninja or serenity? OPEN? WTF kind of dumb ass #$%* is that? If anybody on the road asks me what it means I'm going to LIE and tell them it means "in the wind".

Thanks for the translation though, it just goes to show that the answer to any question can be found on this forum.

seriously though, we americans will come up w/ a "meaning" for anything. symbolism is very important to a lot of people and i think a lot of what was suggested in the beginning of this thread may be true... if you want proof, i can tell you all the names and meanings of my cars, trucks, motorcycles, pets, etc.

Aaron J Williams · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2008, 05:38:02 AM »

Quote from: heffay

seriously though, we americans will come up w/ a "meaning" for anything. symbolism is very important to a lot of people and i think a lot of what was suggested in the beginning of this thread may be true... if you want proof, i can tell you all the names and meanings of my cars, trucks, motorcycles, pets, etc. Wink Cheesy

So you're saying it can mean "freedom" even though it's spelled "Butt Burglar"?

I know what you mean though, I was all ready to attach some symbolism to the Kanji for "open" . I guess it comes from our desire to be unique individuals, to allay or fears that humans are just insignificant dots on a little piece of rock orbiting an unimpressive star at the edge of a nondescript galaxy in an infinite universe. (I just got done watching Carl Sagan's Cosmos)

BobbyR · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2008, 06:01:29 AM »

Quote from: Aaron J Williams on March 28, 2008, 05:38:02 AM

Quote from: heffay
seriously though, we americans will come up w/ a "meaning" for anything. symbolism is very important to a lot of people and i think a lot of what was suggested in the beginning of this thread may be true... if you want proof, i can tell you all the names and meanings of my cars, trucks, motorcycles, pets, etc. Wink Cheesy
So you're saying it can mean "freedom" even though it's spelled "Butt Burglar"?

I know what you mean though, I was all ready to attach some symbolism to the Kanji for "open" . I guess it comes from our desire to be unique individuals, to allay or fears that humans are just insignificant dots on a little piece of rock orbiting an unimpressive star at the edge of a nondescript galaxy in an infinite universe. (I just got done watching Carl Sagan's Cosmos)

I know what you mean. But, I asked my Japaneese co workers and they showed me a picture of an air cut out valve, That symbol was "open" the other was close.

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2008, 06:21:02 AM »

Many moons ago (when this board was young and innocent), I posted a picture of my master cylinder cap (shown below)

The general consensus was that it said: "Why are you reading this and not looking where you are going!"

troppo · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2008, 06:23:49 AM »

Quote from: SteveD CB500F on March 28, 2008, 06:21:02 AM

Many moons ago (when this board was young and innocent), I posted a picture of my master cylinder cap (shown below)

The general consensus was that it said: "Why are you reading this and not looking where you are going!"

And here was thinking it said
"If you cant read this you have no front brakes"

DammitDan · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2008, 06:32:29 AM »

Quote from: Aaron J Williams on March 27, 2008, 04:36:04 PM

That is so lame! Why would you put the word "open" on the fuel door? I'm half tempted to open it and see if the Kanji for "close" is on the underside of the door.

I hope you're not putting fuel in there, aaron

The symbol is on top of the "tank" on a goldwing, right?

Aaron J Williams · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2008, 08:14:32 AM »

Well it isn't actually the tank where the symbol is but 1 of 2 little doors that open up with the key. The larger door is above a small glove box and the airbox and the smaller door is above the fuel cap. The actual tank is under the seat between the frame rails and the whole "tank looking thing" is made of plastic and just for looks. Don't worry Dan, I know where to put fuel in a Goldwing.

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Author Topic: Can anyone read Japanese? (Read 2185 times)

troppo