Please help answer a question that's bugged me for some time. I have been given to understand that the proper "title" (?) for Sesshomaru is "Daiyoukai" because "Tai" in Japanese means "fish".

In a review of a story I beta-ed, someone pointed this out, that it's supposed to be "Dai". But I've seen no thread so far on the forums to answer that question (I might have missed, my search skills aren't the best). I think the majority of fics have him as a "Tai". Does the manga weigh in on this?

Thanks for your help!

tai is a KIND of fish

Tai or dai are alternative readings for the kanji meaning large/big/great. So the actual character could be read in either way, however in Japanese, for a reason I don't know as I'm still a beginner with the language, the sounds sometimes change when compound words are formed. Like a bag is fukuro, but a paper bag becomes kamibukuro. University student is not called taigakusei but daigakusei. I think daiyoukai will follow the same principle.

I don't know what manga has to say about it, though, but that's the linguistic side, as far as I know with my beginner level.

my understanding is that they are one and the same. I try not to ask questions

Don't forget that the kanji can also be read as "oo" as in ookii (large)! Talk about adding another layer to the confusion.

I've always wondered about this variation myself. Personally, if I had seen the word written in kanji, I would have read it as daiyoukai. My reasoning? Because dai is used more often and it flows off the tongue better.

Just my humble input.

Kirai wrote:
my understanding is that they are one and the same. I try not to ask questions

Well you are right in that the meaning doesn't change, as both 'tai' and 'dai' are written by the same kanji...

jgem wrote:
Don't forget that the kanji can also be read as "oo" as in ookii (large)! Talk about adding another layer to the confusion.

I'm aware of that. That's why I hate kanji and haven't bothered to learn them much.

But the point is that the kanji in question can only be read as "dai"/"tai" (or "oo") when it is combined together with other kanji to form a new word (or a compound word).

And none of the examples I can think of have a 't'. 'daigakusei', 'daisuki', 'daiji (na)', 'daijoubu' etc., in all of those words, the first kanji 'dai' is the same as the 'dai' in 'daiyoukai'.

Has anyone else noticed that when you post enough on forums you change from a daiyoukai to a taiyoukai? Just throwing it out there...

You have a point Kirai and one that I realized right after I posted.

It's not like I stop reading a story because they use the word taiyoukai instead of daiyoukai.

Lots of interesting information! Thank you!

I'll leave it to my author to decide which she prefers to do. I think for me, I will use "Daiyoukai".

And Kirai, I did notice where folks went from 'daiyoukai' to 'taiyoukai' in the post stats! Made me giggle while I was searching the forums.

Firehauke

Considering the context, either could work.

"Dai" implies that he is large in size or stature, which when Sesshomaru (or his father) are in their dog forms certainly is true.

"Tai" when combined with other kanji like "setsu" or "hen" "shi" implies meanings of "importance", "immense size" and an "ambassador".

It really depends how you mean to portray him.

If the character or narrator is referring strictly to his physical size (so literally "large demon") then use "dai". If you're aiming for a more general idea of greatness which could imply strength or power (so "great demon"), use "tai".

Langus, I like how you explained it. It makes more sense that way - simplified.

As long as writers are consistent in their use, to me it doesn't matter which one they use.

RT herself only refers to Sesshoumaru as daiyoukai once and only when he has received Bakusaiga. www.mangareader.net/226-16774-15/inuyasha/chapter-518.html It is not a term which should be used lightly as it seems to mark a great achievement.

Interesting information!

Langus, I really like your definition, it fits with what LandoftheKwt says. Seems to me that with that definition, you (generic) would then write Canon Sesshomaru as being a taiyoukai (if the encounters begin before he gains Bakusaiga), but then after, as daiyoukai.

I would then refer to his father as a daiyoukai, possibly because he had all three swords, or was so long lived...

I'll be sure to pass this info on!

No problemo

The only tricky part is, as someone mentioned above, tai and dai are written with the exact same kanji. So the onus is on the reader to understand the context in which it's being used. Unless RT expressly says so in an interview, I don't know if we'll ever know for sure how she meant us to interpret it.

That had been a question I'd had for the longest time. Google had similar answers, but the people here have explained it much better then I've found before. So thanks.
(both to the asker and all the people who answered.)

FINALLY, answers
I was so confused for a moment but now everything makes sense again
I didn't post this thread but I learned from it >