1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “駄” (da) generally means “worthless” or “useless.” It is often used to describe something that has little value or is of poor quality.
2. Formation and Radical
Formation of the Kanji: The kanji “駄” is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字), which means it combines both a phonetic and a semantic component. The left part, “馬” (uma), relates to horses, while the right part, “多” (ta), suggests abundance or many.
Radical: The radical of “駄” is “馬” (horse), which indicates that the kanji is related to horses or things associated with them.
3. Examples of Usage
Common Words and Phrases: “駄作” (dasaku) means “poor work” or “inferior creation,” and “駄目” (dame) means “no good” or “not allowed.”
Example Sentences in Daily Conversation:
- この映画は駄作だと思う。 (I think this movie is a poor work.)
- その提案は駄目だ。 (That proposal is no good.)
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Kanji: “無駄” (mudan) means “waste” or “futility,” which is similar in meaning but emphasizes the idea of wastefulness.
Opposite Kanji: “有用” (yūyō) means “useful,” which is the opposite of “駄,” indicating something that has value or utility.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
Relation to Japanese Culture: The concept of “駄” is often reflected in Japanese aesthetics, where simplicity and minimalism are valued, and anything deemed “駄” is avoided.
Proverbs and Idioms: The phrase “駄目元” (dame moto) means “worth a try” or “no harm in trying,” suggesting that even if something seems useless, attempting it may still yield results.