Here’s one that has been stumping me recently: 器具 (qiju). It basically means 用具, ”something that is used for a certain purpose”, and there really is no single English word that can encompass all of its possible meanings. Some of the dictionaries say: utensil, appliance, instrument, apparatus, implement. But it can also refer to tableware like bowls and dishes and tools, among other things. The article juxtaposes this word with works of art, trying to figure out if there is a distinction between the two. I suppose I will have to settle for something ugly like ‘works of art’ and ‘objects for use’.

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