鈍 (nibu(i): dull, slow)
This character jumped out at me the same way a good-looking person stands out in a crowd. I thought, “I have got to get to know you better!” For starters, what’s with the gold (金) on your left-hand side? Brings to mind that old lyric: “Hey, big spender!”
I consulted Henshall, who took a considerably more grounded approach to this character (obviously failing to succumb to its charms). He said 金 means “metal implement” here. And when it comes to 鈍, the component 屯 (which can mean “barracks, camp, post” and shows up in words about garrisons and troops) phonetically expresses the concept of “blunt” and “failing to do what’s expected.” So we have an ineffective metal implement or a dull blade.
I’m beginning to wonder why I was so excited about 鈍. Nothing less sexy than an ineffective instrument.
But 鈍 does play a part in some interesting compounds:
鈍感 (donkan: insensitivity)
dull-witted + sense
鈍才 (donsai: stupidity, stupid person)
dull-witted + talentThis is the opposite of 天才 (tensai: genius, innate + talent).
鈍い男 (nibui otoko: dolt, dullard)
slow-witted + man
鈍重 (donjū: dull-witted, phlegmatic)
dull-witted + heavy
鈍角 (donkaku: obtuse angle)
dull (i.e., not sharp) + angle
鈍器 (donki: dull weapon)
dull + instrumentI was hoping I’d find something that sounded like “donkey,” and as it turned out, 鈍器 was the first 鈍 listing in Halpern! Then I wondered, is there a compound like hote, so we could have the Japanese version of Don Quijote? Here’s what I’ve come up with:
鈍器補綴 (donki hotei)
dull + instrument +
to make up for + to patch
The second compound means “prosthetic,” so here we have a prosthetic as a dull weapon. A fake limb could indeed serve as a dull weapon!
