Not sure where to post it, so it comes here: In Practice, I just found there is incorrect kanji… - Feed Post by black_cat
Not sure where to post it, so it comes here: In Practice, I just found there is incorrect kanji for Egg, it's 玉子, should be 卵. Hirgana reading is correct.
posted by black_cat
Comments 6
Both words are read as たまご: 卵 is used for any kind of egg, roe or spawn, whereas 玉子 is limited to meaning chicken egg typically as a food.
Both 玉子【たまご】and 卵【たまご】can be used to mean egg. As far as I know, the difference is that 玉子 can only be used for birds eggs, and then only when to do with cooking when it doesn't have the eggshell. 卵 is what is used for 'egg' in general -- eggs, ovum, spawn, roe... -- but I think this kanji can also used when to do with cooking too.- I think I'd prefer to see it written 玉子 when I'm about to eat it, as 卵 is used in biological/medical terms and for all kinds of animals/humans. 卵 appears to contain the kanji 卯, which is the hare/rabbit sign of Chinese zodiac. 玉子 has a much nicer imagery when thinking about eating egg. I don't know if Japanese people actually think about it this way though? :P
Everyday we learn something new :) I noticed this as I never saw anywhere in 玉子 but 卵 or たまご . I checked the dictionaries I have and they actually confirm the meanings stated above. Now I am just wondering what is used in Japanese nowdays, if I remember I will check with my Japanese teacher when I see him in few weeks.
I have also seen 卵 on restaurant signs, though I'm pretty sure those mean chicken eggs. I hope...
check out the RTK and kanjidamage for this kanji. RTK has the following example, 彼は医者の卵として病院で忙しくしている。 which means "busy working as intern" here(so, "intern"). check out jisho org examples as well and you'll get the meaning. although both can be/are used for eggs, only 卵 can be used to speak about a person who will be a pro in some area someday, but now is learning his way.
