Geometry in Native Japanese - 3 - Line

1) 1D - line                       Chinese　　線　　　　　　Native Japanese　すじ（su-ji; 筋 or stripes in muscles, veins）

The native Japanese for "line" is a strange word すじ(su-ji; 筋). すじ(su-ji) is one or more stripes seen  in muscles or veins in a body or veins seen a leaf. Although somewhat strange I cannot find any other more appropriate word for "line" than すじ(su-ji). Like め(me; 目) すじ(su-ji)  is a part of a human body so it may have been natural to use this word for describing  すじ(su-ji) like or "line" like objects.

The English word "line" has not so versatile meanings as"point" and すじ(su-ji) is not so versatile as め(me; 目) either.

The English word "line" has several different meanings such as:

a) a long mark
b) a border which divides one are into two areas
c) an outline, contour. Outline is also referred to abstract of a long story
d) a series of somethings
e) a route

すじ(su-ji) refers to one line as well as a bundle of several lines like stripes and veins. Is is also used as a counting word, counting how many lines but not up to a large number, say roughly max ten lines.

Example
ひとすじのいと　－　ひと (hi-to, one) すじ(su-ji) の (no, of) いと (ito; 糸, thread)

すじ(su-ji) as a border
The Chinese word 線 (sen) is used for a boarder together with other Chinese word(s) but すじ(su-ji) is not.
As we already seen in め(me), め(me) is used - さかいめ (sa-ka-i-me) .

すじ(su-ji) as an outline
 あらすじ (a-ra-su-ji)  -  Rough Outline of a story
すじがき(su-ji-ga-ki)  - Outline of a story
すじみち(su-ji-mi-chi; 筋道)  -  Not an outline but a line of reasoning. みち(mi-chi) is a road.

すじ(su-ji) as a series of somethings
ちすじ (chi-su-ji; 血筋)  - A blood line, family line

すじ(su-ji) as a route
みちすじ(mi-chi-su-ji; 道筋)  -  A route how to go. The reversed word order of  すじみち(su-ji-mi-chi; 筋道).

In the above you can see several thing in common in both "line" and  すじ(su-ji).

Figuratively すじ(su-ji) has good connotation and must be straight or go straight through. ＜すじ(su-ji) をまげる（wo ma-ge-ru) ＞or "to bend a line" and ＜すじ(su-ji) がとおらない（ga to-o-ra-na-i)＞do not have a good meaning.

すじ(su-ji) をまげる（wo ma-ge-ru)  -  Not to take a righteous way. To become inconsistent.
すじ(su-ji) がとおらない（ga to-o-ra-na-i) - Not reasonable. Not to follow a line of reasoning or a righteous way.

すじがね(su-ji-ga-ne; すじ金 )　－　がね（ga-ne; 金 ) or かね (ka-ne; 金) is metal. So, すじがね(su-ji-ga-ne) is a very strongすじ(su-ji) made by medal. Usually referring to being spiritually or mentally very strong. Not easy to bend.

Other すじ(su-ji) related words and expressions

うれすじ　(ure-su-ji; 売れ筋） -  a line of products which are selling well
すじがいい　(su-ji-ga-ii-i: 筋がいい） -  having a good sense of doing or mastering something

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Let's look at the English and Native Japanese words for "line" like objects.

thread -  いと　(i-to；糸)
string -   ひも　 (hi-mo)
rope -    なわ　(na-wa), つな　(tsu-na)
wire -    なわ　(na-wa), つな　(tsu-na)
cord - 　つる　（tsu-ru)

いと(i-to；糸) and  ひも(hi-mo) seem to be purely nouns. But the others seem to be derived from the verbs.

なわ　(na-wa)  -   なう　(na-u)  - to twist
つな　(tsu-na)  -   つなぐ　(tua-na-gu)  -  to link, to connect
つる　（tsu-ru)  -  　つる　(tsu-ru), つるす(tsu-ru-su)  - to hang  (つる(tsu-ru) also means "to fish" by using a fishing thread).


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