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Bundle 29: Droplets of Moisture

A book title mentioned in the 霧 essay collectively refers to clouds, rain, and fog by citing their common "rain" radical. That unites the kanji in this bundle, as well. All four essays explore the realities of damp weather, as when fog grounds planes, frost damages crops, and people seek shelter from the elements. Because of such challenges, these characters make great metaphors. The Japanese associate 霜 with hardship; 曇 with life's ups and downs, as well as gloomy feelings; 霧 with mental fog; and 露 with transience. Because 露 symbolizes vanishing realities, that kanji in particular has inspired poetry.
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霜
frost
JOK: 1529
Find out how to talk about frost, saying things such as, "The ground was covered with frost this morning," "Flowers wither when exposed to frost," and "She watched the first frost turn the leaves to bright yellow and red." Also see how people use 霜 in connection with white hair, marbled beef, expressions of time, swords, hardship, and harshness, as in “His discipline is as harsh as autumn frost.”
曇
cloudy
JOK: 1672
Learn how the Japanese use 曇 and 雲 (cloud) differently, associating only 曇 with changeability (both meteorological and emotional). Find out how to say, "It was cloudy, so there wasn't a view," "The steam has fogged my glasses," "His face fell when he heard the news," and "Today there will be sun followed by cloudy skies." Also figure out what "My heart pattern is cloudy" really means.
霧
fog
JOK: 1845
Find out how to refer to fog with different terms, depending on time of day and location, and learn to say that a lake is shrouded in mist. See how 霧 worked its way into a term for a baseball scandal. Discover a term for “totally at a loss” and learn how it inspired a clever put-down of those overseeing the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Also find out how to say that a dream vanished like mist.
露
public; dew
JOK: 1935
Learn how 露 connects to everything from dew to lightning, from Russia to Peru, from weddings to poetry, from sumo to kabuki, from teahouse gardens and high-quality green tea to edible locusts, from street vendors to open-air baths, from exposure of secrets to showing one’s true colors, from debuting songs to demonstrating karate skills, from photography to transience, and still more!
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