Translation and Meaning of: 体裁 - teisai

Explanation and Etymology - (体裁) teisai

体裁 (taisai) is a Japanese word that can be divided into two kanji: 体 (tai) means "body" or "shape" and 裁 (sai) means "cut" or "fit". Together they form the meaning of "form" or "style". The etymology of the word 体裁 dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), when imperial court culture flourished and poetry became a popular art form. Back then, poetry was written in a specific style called waka, which had strict rules of meter and structure. The word taisai was used to describe the form or style of waka poetry, as well as to refer to the physical appearance of a poem, including its placement on paper and the choice of words and images. Over time, the meaning of taisai expanded to include the general appearance of anything from a building to a book to clothing. Nowadays, the word is often used to refer to the visual presentation of a product or service, such as the appearance of a website or the packaging of a product.