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算を置く (さんをおく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ku)
calculate ; divine
Archaic expression for performing calculations or divination, often using counting rods or similar traditional methods. Not used in modern everyday Japanese.
しゃ
が
算さん
を
置お
い
て
吉きっ
凶きょう
を
占うらな
っ
た
。
The diviner cast lots to tell fortunes.
Kanji 算 calculate, divining, number Similar words 計けい 算さん する Modern standard verb for 'to calculate'; 算を置く is an archaic, literary expression.
占うらな う Common modern verb for 'to divine' or 'to tell fortunes'; 算を置く carries a historical, ritualistic nuance.
Etymology The expression 算を置く literally means 'to place the calculation (sticks)', referring to the ancient practice of using counting rods (算木) for arithmetic and divination. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is associated with traditional Chinese-influenced mathematical and divinatory methods.
