In a small town in Sichuan, China, whenever people mention "navel oranges", it always causes a small controversy. It's not about the deliciousness or nutritional value of navel oranges, it's about the seemingly simple word - "navel".
This word has been misread here for decades, and has even become a "tradition" in the local area.
But today, we are going to unveil the mystery of the word "umbilicus" together, see how it should be read, and the interesting and deep meaning behind it.
First, let's tackle the first question: how do you pronounce the "umbilicus" in "navel orange"?
答案是"qí chéng",而不是"jì chéng"。
Yes, you heard it right, the word should be pronounced "qí" here, not "jì", which is often mispronounced.
The word has been mispronounced for decades in a small town in Sichuan, almost becoming a "dialect", but in fact, its correct pronunciation has always been "qí".
So, what does the word "umbilicus" mean?
In Chinese characters, "umbilicus" has a rich meaning. It can refer to the marks of the detachment of the umbilical cord on the belly, reminiscent of the close bond between the newborn and the mother.
In nature, the "umbilicus" can also refer to the carapace underneath the belly of the crab, with the male being the pointed umbilicus and the female being the umbilicus, which is a small manifestation of biodiversity.
What's more interesting is that "umbilicus" can also be used to describe the concave and convex places in the center of certain objects, shaped like navels, such as the melon navel and navel orange that we often say.
When it comes to navel oranges, this fruit gets its name from the fact that it has a navel-like scar on its skin.
This scar is like the "ID card" of the navel orange, which is instantly recognizable.
The delicacy of navel orange is endless, sweet but not greasy, sour but not astringent, just right.
Returning to the pronunciation of "umbilicus", why do people mispronounce this character as "jì" in a small town in Sichuan?
This may have something to do with the pronunciation habits of the local dialect.
In Sichuanese, the pronunciation of "jì" and "qí" is similar and confusing. Coupled with the fact that for decades, people have passed on the word of mouth and misread it as a "tradition", and it does take some time and effort to correct it.
However, correcting misreadings is not only a sign of respect for Chinese characters, but also a passing on of culture.
Each Chinese character has its own unique meaning and historical background, and the character "umbi" is no exception. It is not only a question of pronunciation, but also carries people's awe and emotion for life and nature.
Finally, let's think about a question: why does the word "umbilicus" make us have so many associations and feelings?
Perhaps, this is because the "umbilicus" connects the mother and the newborn, symbolizing the continuation of life and the transmission of hope. Just like the country and the people, blood is thicker than water, and weal and weal are closely related.
Each individual is a member of the country, and our destinies are closely linked to form this colorful world.