"Inochi", meaning life, has been chosen as the character of the year in Japan. "Inochi," meaning "life," has been chosen in a poll for the kanji character of 2006, the year marked by the birth of the first grandson for the emperor, a series of reported student suicides after being bullied, and a number of child abuses, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced Tuesday. The Kyoto-based foundation said many people in the public poll said they selected the character because it was a year they were made painfully aware of the gravity and value of the unique gift of life given to an individual. The annual announcement was made at Kiyomizu Temple in the Japanese ancient capital. The foundation has been conducting a poll on the year's kanji --Chinese characters used in Japanese writing -- each year since 1995. Prince Hisahito was born in Tokyo on Sept. 6 to Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko and the first heir to the Japanese imperial throne born in 41 years. A total of 92,509 entries were made this year with 8,363 for "inochi," also read "myo" and "mei," followed by 3,793 for "yu," read also "hisa" as used in the first of the two kanji of the newborn prince's name. The third-ranked character, drawing 3,303 votes, was "sei," read also "sei," "ikiru," also denoting life, or to live. The character meaning to kill, read "satsu," "korosu" ranked sixth and one denoting death, read "shi" came in 12th. Last year's top choice was "ai," meaning love. 點擊查看更多雙語新聞 (AP)

日本漢字能力鑒定協會本周二公布，“命”字當選為日本今年的年度漢字。“命”字之所以當選，主要是因為日本王室今年迎來天皇長孫，以及日本國內發生了一系列學生受辱自殺事件和虐待兒童事件。 據這個位于京都的協會介紹，很多參加調查的民眾說，這些事情使他們深刻體會到生命的可貴。 這一年度評選結果在京都的清水寺被公布。 日本漢字能力鑒定協會從1995年開始，每年都會評選日語中的年度漢字。 今年9月6日，文仁秋筱宮親王和紀子王妃的小皇子悠仁在東京出生，這是41年來日本皇室首次迎來男性繼承人。 在今年的評選中，日本漢字能力鑒定協會共收到92509張選票，其中“命”字的得票數為8363張，位居其后的是小皇子名字中的“悠”字，得票數為3793張。排在第三位的是表示“生命；生活”的“生”字，共得到選票3303張。 此外，“殺”字位居第六位，“死”字位居第十二位。 去年，“愛”當選為日本的年度漢字。 （英語點津姍姍編輯）