Inherent meaning across languages

[fencer_x]

Randomly: I find it really interesting when words in one language that have 2 different meanings can carry over both of those meanings to the corresponding word in another language, like:

busy (having a lot to do OR a really loud, gaudy design) ---> 忙しい
sleep (snooze/rest OR have sex) --> 寝る
hold (carry something OR last [e.g. "It won't hold for much longer"]) --> 持つ

idk, they don't seem to have inherently the same meaning/close meaning in English, and yet I guess they must if another language can have the same meanings bundled into a single word as well.

Anyone who speaks another language, do you notice the same thing??

Comments

[viherkyn.livejournal.com]

I have noticed it but I can't come up with any example words right now. :F

[analineblue.livejournal.com]

Huh, that IS really interesting. *_* And I actually didn't know that 忙しい could also mean busy in the design/visual sense. Weird. *_*

[fencer-x.livejournal.com]

I realized it meant the same thing when Tuti used it to describe his On4 outfit which was just...a crime against humanity.

[madziaste.livejournal.com]

Actually, with two of those words, it also means the same both things in Polish - sleep (rest or have sex) and hold (carry sth or last), which means it's the same meaning in three languages which all have different roots :D Languages are just fun like that.

[das-vika.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, the 寝る/sleep one is the same in German (schlafen).

I remember thinking about the same topic several days ago! But I only remember とる (りんごを手にとる　･　授業をとる) being the same in German (nehmen); English also has the 写真をとる variant (take photos) which doesn't translate directly into German (we 'make' photos).

It's a very interesting topic and when I notice another word, I'll tell you =)