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生紙 (きがみ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

生き紙がみ

き

が

み

Meanings

1

noun

unsized paper

Paper that has not been treated with sizing (a substance that reduces absorbency). A technical term used in papermaking and calligraphy.

生き紙がみはにじみやすいので、書しょ道どうの練れん習しゅうに向むいている。
Unsized paper bleeds easily, so it is suitable for calligraphy practice.

Kanji

生life, genuine, birth
紙paper

Etymology

Compound of 生 (ki, 'pure, raw') and 紙 (kami, 'paper'), with rendaku voicing of kami to gami. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term directly describes paper in its untreated state.