word

in every languages, or writings, words are signs for certain meanings. i read a book about words in different languages may not be able to find literal translation, word for word that is.

what it meant was that we might use an english word, fish to translate a chinese word, 魚. but they might just be because they are most close in comparison of meaning, from each of their own language, that does not mean fish = 魚 in 100% of senses. The book used another example, for years, most people have been using english word, Mother, to translate another word from a certain north american native tribe. but they eventually found out that the literal meaning might not be as a perfect match. the reason being that people from that tribe would use the corresponding word for mother on every female in the tribe... And evetually, the linguists found that there's no special word to represent a concept as english word, mother, for that north american tribe!

it is like each people, or ethnicity carved out a wooden box. Then they each grabbed some features from 5 senses, or some concepts they find appealing, squeezed in that carved box. Then later, when different people met each other, they each took out their wooden box, and compared with the other's wooden box. if the box looked similar, they seemed to understand each other and laugh with each other in delight. for a long time, they never bothered to open the box and compared the content. of course, in time, they did eventually. but they might have already experienced love, fight, or some other activities together.