Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 紙. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 紙, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 紙 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 紙 you have here. The definition of the word 紙 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of紙, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
In ancient times writings and inscriptions were generally made on tablets of bamboo or on pieces of silk called zhi. But silk being costly and bamboos heavy they were not convenient to use. Cai Lun then initiated the idea of making paper from the bark of trees, remnants of hemp, rags of cloth and fishing nets. He submitted the process to the emperor in the first year of Yuanxing and received praise for his ability. From this time, paper has been in use everywhere and is universally called "the paper of Marquis Cai".
Appears to be a shift in pronunciation from the Middle Chinese term 簡 (MC keanX), borrowed into Old Japanese with the pronunciation kan.[2]
/kaɴ/ → */kamu/ → /kami/
Earlier Japanese writing was ambiguous regarding the final n sound spelled ん in modern Japanese, with this sound often spelled (and possibly pronounced) as む(mu) instead. Compare the similar appearance of an excrescent final -i in the derivation of 文(fumi) from borrowed bun or pun.
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)
MI₁SO₁ MAKI₁ PA WOKASI WO TO₂RAZU, ITI-TITU wo SI YO₁RU (kadi-no₂ KAMI₁)
Thirty folds are not taken as a crime; continue making one book case ( paper made from rudder)
Reconstruction notes
The reconstruction as *KAMI₁ and not **KAMI₂ is because Ainu would have loaned this word as *kambUy, not kambi. Note that Old Japanese "voiced stops" are recognized as pre-nasalized voiced stops, and this is supported by Ainu loans from Old Japanese.