Favorite Word (s)

Mirage

(mi-räzh’)
n.

An optical phenomenon that creates the illusion of water, often with inverted reflections of distant objects, and results from distortion of light by alternate layers of hot and cool air. Also called fata morgana.
Something illusory or unobtainable.

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I took on a liking to this word back in college, our first year Literature class while discussing one of the short stories of a Filipino writer. I’ve been looking for that story but hasn’t been successful. The story could belong to F.Sionil Jose, Angela Manalang Gloria or perhaps Cirilo Bautista. I just can’t remember…

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I just remember that in the story, the character was listing down words heard from the teacher and was later on looking at the meaning in his dictionary. He can’t find the meaning of the word because he wrote it by way of how he heard it “mirash” — it’s impossible to find when spelled that way. 🙂

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That time was also when the internet was taking waves – 1997 so when I signed up for a yahoo email, I used mirage along with the first letter of my name and until now I’m using it. Even my domain name has Mirage in it and the title of this blog speaks well of how I love this word. As I once said, “In life, there are things that would be just an illusion, no matter how near they may be.”

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It’s an adjective that I’ve associated myself with…

Then there’s Sakura…might be overused alright, still I love this word. Sakura is japanese for cherry blossoms -Sakura symbolizes the national character of the Japanese. This is because the life of a samurai of feudal times was proverbially compared to the short-lived cherry blossoms that last “no more than three days”, for a samurai was always ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of his master. Another saying is that “what the cherry is among flowers is the samurai among men”.Beautiful as it is in bloom, the Japanese cherry tree does not yield fruit like other cherry trees. It is remarked that the Japanese cherry does not have to produce a crop because it is born an aristocrat and its single mission is to be beautiful. (read here.)

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mjrodriguez

13 years ago

I enjoyed your post. The words you’ve chosen hold so much meaning in them.

imriz

i always wonder if the illusion most seen traversing a dessert is a mirage?
great post here…very interesting.

mira

Lovely choice of words. And your post is indeed enjoyable to read. ^_^

I love sakura too. I’ve never seen one in real life, but they’re absolutely beautiful in pictures. It’s interesting too how there’s so much poetry in Japanese culture and philosophy.

ferry'zWILL

bwahaha!! sometime sis ganyan din ako.. pag nag hahanap ng meaning and spelling, I look for that word based on what was I heard it.

>> napaka knowledgeable ng word!!! hihi

janakidiary

these are very beautiful words and well explained. I love cherry blossoms, the only reason why I want to visit japan

very beautiful words and well explained. I love cherry blossoms, it’s one of the reasons I want to visit Japan

zoan

I only learned about Mirage when I met your site:D I like Sakura, dati pa ehehe

mine is up here: http://stylishvoyager.com/2011/08/04/gt-favorite-word/

The Joyful Crafter

Interesting words… Really nice post!
I learned something new today!

Oh and I also love Sakura! 🙂
http://peachyalvarez.blogspot.com/2011/08/gt-my-favorite-word.html

Beauty Queen Gene

do you know that anime character Sakura Kinomoto from Cardcaptor Sakura? she was one of my favorites back then, so Sakura became a favorite word, and when i found out a bit later it means cherry blossoms, i loved the word even more 😀

Jeri Accardo

11 years ago

The flowered tree is beautiful!!

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