https://xkcd.com/2908

Alt text:

Astronomers are a little unsure of the applicability of this index, but NASA’s Planetary Protection Officer is all in favor.

  • @feedum_sneedson
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    2 months ago

    Ah, it is Chinese, interesting. I’m guessing it’s not the gonggong in 公共汽车, because that’s a bus.

    What, it almost literally is. It’s 共工, like “work together”… but not like, go to work together (on the bus).

    • @[email protected]
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      2 months ago

      umm.

      These characters have multiple entirely different meanings. How does one find out what the supposed meaning is? Or is it up to the reader to decide?

      • @feedum_sneedson
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        2 months ago

        Context, apparently the word “set” has 430 meanings in the Oxford dictionary. So there’s a lot of ambiguity. It’s very confusing but I think we give as good as we get in that regard.