Random Kanji Knowledge: Unmei

Today’s kanji is 運命, which is read as unmei (oon-may). 運命 means fate/destiny.

運 can refer to stuff like “luck” or “motion,” as in movement. For instance, 運動 (undou) means exercise.

命 can represent things like destiny, life and decree, as in something has “ordered” for stuff to happen to you throughout your existence.

Thus, you can think of 運命 as the “motion of life,” but whether this entails good or bad fortune is another matter altogether.
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“I hate the word fate. Birth, encounters, partings, success and failures, fortune and misfortunes in life. If our lives are already set in stone by fate, then why are we even born? There are those born to wealthy families, those born to beautiful mothers and those born into the middle of war or poverty. If that’s all caused by fate, then God is incredibly unfair and cruel.”

- Mawaru Penguindrum. First scene. —————————————————————————————————————————————-

The stroke order for the kanji compound is shown below.

Kanji

Do you believe in 運命? Or do we all have the power to shape our respective destinies?
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English Translation of Lyrics by Anime Lyrics dot Com
Boys and girls, standing in a circle
Make a slicing motion with their stretched hands and then lower them
Their imaginations never intercept

The merry-go-round dances in the air
With one slicing motion drops the curtain of war
The holy night will reveal all the secrets

At midnight, from the opened window, an enticing, mysterious voice drifts in
It turns over the crimson curtains to hide its smile

Boys, come back to your senses!

Ride the limited express train
Take me to Neverland
And snatch away any and everything

If people are pointing their fingers at your back
Feel free to run away
It’s fine to do everything as you please

Boys and girls, standing in a circle
Make a slicing motion with their stretched hands and then lower them
The wheels of their destiny are beginning to turn