Thoughts #1

烟花/Hanabi/花火

烟花  = Fireworks = Hanabi =  花火

烟花 means fireworks in Chinese. 花火 means fireworks in Japan and it is also the way to write the word "fireworks" in Japanese. However, for Japan, they pronounce fireworks as Hanabi whereas for Chinese people (I am one too), the pronunciation for the Chinese words "花火"  is "yan hua". (Sorry, I don't know how to insert the strokes with the default US keyboard.) And for those who wonder how to pronounce 花火 in chinese (Since these are Chinese characters), the answer to the question will be "huo hua".

Actually, it is a bit strange to start on this topic maybe because I have been mentioning the word "fireworks" for the first two chapters. And now in this third chapter, it appeared again! (I feel so disappointed at myself right now for actually repeating a term for three chapters in a row with no shame.) But I will try my best to be different despite being repetitive. (Now I am repeating that I am repeating about fireworks. Wow.) Anyways, let's start this chapter.

The Chinese words for the "fireworks" word in Japan - "花火" doesn't actually mean fireworks directly when you separate both words "花 " and " 火".   " 花 " means flower and " 火 " means fire. Flower fire? Sounds weird? Even though it does sounds weird translating the words into English words, but the meaning syncs with how the fireworks is in the sky. This is because when the fireworks are launched up into the night sky, they will be burned with coloured flame or sparks and explode into the wonderful sky in a pattern somehow resembling to a flower. 

For the Chinese way of saying fireworks - "烟花", the separate characters - "烟 " and " 花" has meanings resembling to fireworks too. Like what I mentioned above earlier on, " 花" which means flower that fireworks resemble when they are launched up to the sky during celebrations. For " 烟 " , it means smoke in English and smoke is a thing that is normally associated to fireworks. That is because fireworks actually produce smoke while producing other effects like noise etc. , when the they are being launched. Probably, in my opinion, the Chinese translation could be indicating that fireworks are like a flower that sprouts out of the smoke. (Well, it is just my opinion. So there is no right or wrong. Feel free to comment what do you think about it too.)

After all, there is a vast of different translations of the word "Fireworks" but probably may have different meanings unlike each other, since there are so many languages in the world and the meanings of Chinese and Japanese translations are also different in a way. Of course, this applies to all other languages and all other words existed so far, not just the word - "Fireworks" that I have been typing about in this chapter. Even there is a difference in both translations, there is something common among both of them, there is a " 花 " (flowers) word, stating that fireworks really do resemble to flowers shape-wise. 

Now, let me ask you a question. 

Are fireworks round or flat when you view them from sideways?

Now, does this sounds a bit similar?

If you say yes, you are right! (Sorry, there is no prize. D: ) If you didn't get it right, it is okay. We are not robots and we can't be perfect and be able to answer every questions correctly. Let me tell you. It is indeed similar to one of the previous chapters. In fact, it is similar to a question that I asked during the last chapter (which was a bonus chapter). The question was : "Are lollipops originally flat or spherical?" 

These questions have two options: A or B. Not only that, as the people who asked the question like me, don't even know the answer. (Time for me to mutter "No S**t Sherlock" to myself) However, if we asked these questions to others who we think that they know the answer but actually they don't. Whoops, the uncertainty and mystery will spread to others and they will develop the curiosity about the true answer that lies ahead.

This scenario happens in a Japanese animation movie that was released in late 2017 (it was released at December 2017 in my country, 3-4 months before its debut release in Japan). Let me brief you through the movie summary in a quick way. So, this movie "Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?" which is also known as "Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom?" in English, is about a group of friends who starts to discuss about a question during hours before a fireworks festival. The question that was discussed among them was: "Are fireworks round or flat when you view them from sideways?"

This question is just the tip of iceberg in the movie as the group of friends in the movie searched for the answer they are yearning for, different things start to happen which I will definitely not spoil. After all, there are so many surprise elements and interesting things to note in the movie. Not only that, the animation in the movie is superbly done, with all the characters, objects and scenery so clear and detailed, it makes the movie so eye-pleasing. So even if you have probably seen a lot of reviews that stated how bad they were, please neglect them as the animations are definitely better than the animation movies which they compared to by their individual interesting plots. 

Let's get back to the main question - the one about the shape of fireworks. Well, it is definitely great to see people to look things at different perspectives that we don't normally look out for. The kids in the movie considered about the shape of the fireworks sideways after it was launched as it was possible that the fireworks can be either flat or round sideways. We will not care about its shape while looking it from the front since we normally see them from the front. However, it was great to see kids were being able to think from another mindset (which is to focus on its shape from sideways instead of from the front), even though the idea of the movie is most definitely a brainchild of an adult. Anyways, it is still great to discover people to think of things and matters in endless different ways and mindsets which can be interesting and maybe even leading to a great discovery that maybe no man had ever accomplished.

After all, it seems that even an object used for important and special events can spark off some new ideas and perspectives to look at, and also have different meanings in different languages, indicating the unlimited possibilities that anything can have. This can applies to us humans too. As what some will like to say, "You can break limits". Yes, we can break limits and discover new things. Let your countless thoughts flowed into your mind. Find new ideas. You can change your life, hopefully for the better. (since sometimes things can go wrong too, so please watch your progress carefully as you move on and progress into your newfound and better life)

Well, this is an end to the third chapter. I didn't expect myself deviate myself from the topic "Fireworks" and I feel like I just ruined a great title. From talking about fireworks and also a movie related to fireworks, I somehow managed to discuss about unlimited possibilities sub-consciously. (I don't vet/edit my chapters after completion too) I will be resuming another chapter again tomorrow which is coincidentally the official start of my new school term after a two weeks break (and I only have an e-lecture today which means no classes. Hehe.)

Lastly, I hope your day will be beautiful as the lovely and eye-pleasing fireworks that shoot up to the night skies. 

Note: I might be editing this chapter next time as I kinda feel that this chapter is a bit "off" (deviated) from the topic itself. And I love italics now. I just don't know why.

Second Chapter (2/1/2018) [Ch-2]