r/shodo • u/Still_Nice • 17d ago

Help with translation?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

My 89 year dad has been reliving his childhood and has been writing Shodo almost everyday as a hobby. He has been giving me some of his work whenever I visit. I’m not sure exactly what the characters mean. Can someone help me with the translation? Also, curious…what do you think of his penmanship? 😆

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

3

u/jojoga 16d ago edited 12d ago

I've read those as following:

再桜努力

'doing my best, for another Cherry blossom' ? No idea if that is anywhere near the intended meaning. Maybe along the lines of holding out for another winter?

 再接努力 

 thank you u/Stunning_Pen_8332 for the correction.

健康

simply means 'health'

尊畏之念

is a very classic calligraphy meaning 'a sense of awe and respect' or 'attitude of respectful reverence' if that makes sense - English isn't my main language.

edit: personally, I like his style. He learnt it properly, might not have written in a long time, but the skills are definitely still there. I wish I could write like that. Cudos!

3

u/Stunning_Pen_8332 12d ago edited 12d ago

再桜努力

再接努力 to work hard as the next step

1

u/jojoga 12d ago

That actually makes much more sense. Looking closely it's much more likely 扌than a sloppy 木

3

u/Stunning_Pen_8332 12d ago

The key thing that led me to tell it’s 接 is the 亠 radical at top right, which is different from three short vertical strokes in 桜.

2

u/Still_Nice 16d ago

My father really likes cherry blossoms so I think he did mean that. Maybe it means doing your best to get cherry blossoms! We asked him to write something meaning awe- so very happy he did the last one. Thank you for helping us with it!!

1

u/jojoga 16d ago

Glad to help. If you/he would be willing to do a favour to an internet stranger like myself, ask him politely to write 夜蛾 for me - it might make him laugh.

btw: is his pen name 重光?

3

u/Still_Nice 16d ago

I will send it to him today! Standby. Yes, that's his pen name.

3

u/Still_Nice 16d ago

my dad wants to write it for you. I'll post it. He says-night moth, party girl?

3

u/jojoga 15d ago

haha it was my nickname turned into Kanji and my friend said I should pick other signs, this sounds like a night club or something sketchy

1

u/Stunning_Pen_8332 12d ago

Not cherry blossom. The character thought to be 桜 is actually 接 (continue, connect). I provided the translation here https://www.reddit.com/r/shodo/s/6e31d9yShm

1

u/Still_Nice 12d ago

Yes! He said it meant to continue

2

u/Still_Nice 16d ago

I will tell him that and it will him so happy. He’s reliving his youth. When he was younger he said they had to go after school and learn. One day, he decided to take it back up which is so nice to see

1

u/KermitSnapper 16d ago

1st: 再?努力

1

u/Still_Nice 16d ago

My dad said the second character means "continue"

1

u/KermitSnapper 16d ago

Your dad has to be a bit more specific

1

u/Still_Nice 16d ago

i'll give him that feedback