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AFAIK words マル and バツ are commonly used as short answers (right and wrong,
正しい・正しくない). Are there any kanji for these words?
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2014-10-14T16:43:24.703
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2014-10-15T16:13:20.720
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question
kanji
Are there a kanji for マル and バツ (O and X, right and wrong)
マル means 'circle', and this is clearly the word 丸{まる}.

But the origin of バツ is less clear. It may be from 罰点{ばってん}, and in fact I've
always assumed the correct kanji would (in theory) be 罰, but dictionary
editors appear to be less certain. 日本国語大辞典 says:

> 「ばってん（罰点）からできた語か

And 明鏡国語辞典 says:

> 「罰点（ばってん）」からか。

And 大辞林 says:

> 「罰点」から生じた語か

Note the か at the end in each case. Based on these dictionary entries, I can't
state for certain that it would (in theory) be 罰 in kanji, but that's my best
guess.
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2014-10-14T17:13:15.107
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2014-10-15T16:13:20.720
2014-10-15T16:13:20.720
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answer