Readings: ベン (Onyomi), わきまえる, はなびら, べんず (Kunyomi)
Meaning: distinction, understand, differentiate, valve, speech, dialect, discrimination, dispose of, provide, manage
The kanji 弁 depicts two hands (廾) holding or managing something, often associated with a cap or a flower, leading to various meanings related to distinguishing, managing, or handling.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 弁 has 5 strokes. It starts with the top vertical stroke, followed by the two short strokes on the left and right, then the horizontal stroke, and finally the bottom closing horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 廾 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ベン (BEN)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- わきまえる (wakimaeru)
- はなびら (hanabira)
- べんず (benzu)
Common Words Using 弁
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 弁護 | べんご | defense, advocacy |
| 弁論 | べんろん | debate, discussion |
| 弁解 | べんかい | explanation, excuse |
| 弁償 | べんしょう | compensation, reparation |
| 弁護士 | べんごし | lawyer, attorney |
| 弁明 | べんめい | explanation, justification |
| 弁理士 | べんりし | patent attorney |
| 弁膜 | べんまく | valve (e.g., heart valve) |
| 弁才天 | べんざいてん | Benzaiten (Buddhist goddess of music, arts, and knowledge) |
| 弁が立つ | べんがたつ | to be eloquent, to have a silver tongue |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 弁える | わきまえる | to discern, to know one’s place, to understand |
| 弁え | わきまえ | discernment, discretion |
| 花弁 | はなびら | petal |
| 雄花弁 | おばなびら | staminate petal |
| 雌花弁 | めばなびら | pistillate petal |
| 弁ず | べんず | to manage, to discern (classical verb form) |
| 弁え難い | わきまえがたい | difficult to discern |
| 弁え無し | わきまえなし | indiscretion, lack of discernment |
| 弁え所 | わきまえどころ | point of discernment |
| 弁え違い | わきまえちがい | misunderstanding, misjudgment |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は裁判で自分の無実を弁護した。
Kana: かれはさいばんでじぶんのむじつをべんごした。
Romaji: Kare wa saiban de jibun no mujitsu o bengo shita.
English: He defended his innocence in court.
Japanese: 弁論大会で、彼女は素晴らしいスピーチをした。
Kana: べんろんたいかいで、かのじょはすばらしいスピーチをした。
Romaji: Benron taikai de, kanojo wa subarashii supīchi o shita.
English: She gave a wonderful speech at the debate competition.
Japanese: 遅刻の弁解をする必要はない。
Kana: ちこくのべんかいをするひつようはない。
Romaji: Chikoku no benkai o suru hitsuyou wa nai.
English: There’s no need to make excuses for being late.
Japanese: 壊れた窓の弁償を彼がしてくれた。
Kana: こわれたまどのべんしょうをかれがしてくれた。
Romaji: Kowareta mado no benshou o kare ga shite kureta.
English: He compensated me for the broken window.
Japanese: 法律問題は弁護士に相談してください。
Kana: ほうりつもんだいはべんごしにそうだんしてください。
Romaji: Houritsu mondai wa bengoshi ni soudan shite kudasai.
English: Please consult a lawyer for legal issues.
Japanese: 彼女は状況をよく弁えているので、信頼できる。
Kana: かのじょはじょうきょうをよくわきまえているので、しんらいできる。
Romaji: Kanojo wa joukyou o yoku wakimaete iru node, shinrai dekiru.
English: She understands the situation well, so she is trustworthy.
Japanese: 桜の花弁が風に舞い散る。
Kana: さくらのはなびらがかぜにまいちる。
Romaji: Sakura no hanabira ga kaze ni maichiru.
English: Cherry blossoms flutter down in the wind.
Japanese: 心臓弁膜症の手術は成功した。
Kana: しんぞうべんまくしょうのしゅじゅつはせいこうした。
Romaji: Shinzou benmakushou no shujutsu wa seikou shita.
English: The heart valve surgery was successful.
Japanese: 彼の急な弁明には納得がいかなかった。
Kana: かれのきゅうなべんめいにはなっとくがいかなかった。
Romaji: Kare no kyuu na benmei ni wa nattoku ga ikanakatta.
English: His sudden explanation was not convincing.
Japanese: 彼はどんな話題でも弁が立つ人だ。
Kana: かれはどんなわだいでもべんがたつひとだ。
Romaji: Kare wa donna wadai demo ben ga tatsu hito da.
English: He is a person who is eloquent on any topic.
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