Oobako

[lwegerich]

Hi newsgroup,

any japanese native speakers here who can tell me what the meaning of Oobako is?

Thanks in advance,

Lars

[mingshi]

Nah, sorry, I can't.
Is there any "Japanese native speakers" here at all?

[Phorest]

おばこ Obako means "virgin".

オーバコート Oobakooto means "overcoat".

Not sure which you were after. :)

[Hyaku]

Hi newsgroup,

any japanese native speakers here who can tell me what the meaning of Oobako is?

Thanks in advance,

Lars

Big box? Without the kanji its rather difficult. Could it be you mean O-Baka?

Hyaku

[aru-ma]

Big box? Without the kanji its rather difficult. Could it be you mean O-Baka?

Hyaku

probably o-boke :D

[lwegerich]

http://www10.showa-u.ac.jp/~mpgarden/O/oobako.html

That's the one I meant.

Lars

[xvikingx]

http://www10.showa-u.ac.jp/~mpgarden/O/oobako.html

That's the one I meant.

Lars

No meaning. It's just the name of that plant. It's good for cuts and urinary track sytem when you drink it as tea. Why are you interested in this?

[lwegerich]

Why are you interested in this?

Thanks you asked. Actually because of my first zekken. My surname is Wegerich, which is pretty hard to pronounce for japanese and even native english speakers.

But "Wegerich" is the name of the plant mentioned above in Germany where I'm from. The english name is "plantain" or "snakeweed". The japanes name is "Oobako". Therefore I'll use it as my "name" on my zekken. Sort of an "Kendo artist name" :)

I love the idea because the plant is pretty much resilient and hard to get rid off. Isn't that a good omen for my Kendo? ;)

Lars

[xvikingx]

I see. Sounds like a good idea. Be forwarned that there are some people that are really against Japanizing a western name. I think it's quite ridiculous myself but in cases where the name does not fit on the zekken, etc... I understand. "Wegerich", is that pronounced like "Ve ger rick"? ヴァガーリック　I think that would be the closest too it.

[xvikingx]

or maybe it's ヴェゲーリック....

[lwegerich]

"Wegerich", is that pronounced like "Ve ger rick"?

Quite good. The problem is the "ch" at the end of the name. It's not pronounced "ck" but very soft. All Americans and English have the same problems pronouncing it right. We Germans have the same problem pronouncing a correct "th" in english.

Problem is, that sound is simply unknown in the other language.

[xvikingx]

Quite good. The problem is the "ch" at the end of the name. It's not pronounced "ck" but very soft. All Americans and English have the same problems pronouncing it right. We Germans have the same problem pronouncing a correct "th" in english.

Problem is, that sound is simply unknown in the other language.

Yeah, I know. At one point I used to be able to speak German. It's not a hard "k" sound but that's what it is going to have to turn into in katana. My name is Leiv and my name is pronounced like "ray-foo". Did you want the kanji for oobako or were you just looking for the meaning of the word?

[lwegerich]

Did you want the kanji for oobako or were you just looking for the meaning of the word?

Thanks for your offer. The store already found out the Kanji for oobako. I was just interesting in the meaning of it.

Are you from Sweden? (Leiv, viking etc.) ;)

Lars

[xvikingx]

No problem. I am American but my Grandparents moved to the U.S. from Norway. My friends would joke around and call me the viking because I am so scandanavian looking. That name has just kind of stuck with me.