una
- (adj.) gentle
- (n.) gentleness
- (v.) to be gentle
Una ia!
“Be gentle!”
Notes: This iku is a bit of a mystery. It contains neither u nor na, and almost kind of looks like fupu. I’m pretty sure the two words aren’t related (why would they be?), but I’m not sure just what I was thinking here… Of course, the “good” circle determinative is used, so it’s clear that this means something positive, but how the rest of it is supposed to relate to una I have no idea.
The thing is, looking at this, I know I had some specific idea in mind. But what was it?!
OH!
Oh, duh. And, yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Okay, never mind. This iku is built off the iku for kopu. It means “hand” and also “to feel” or “to touch”. By adding the “good” circle determinative, then, it means “good to touch” or “soft to the touch”—hence “gentle”. Makes perfect sense.
(By the way, if you go back and check out that post on kopu, I have since purchased my wife an Oven Squirrel.)
