JLPT N1 Kanji: 伴 (ban, tomonau) – Your Guide to Accompanying Knowledge

JLPT N1 Kanji: 伴 (ban, tomonau) – Your Guide to Accompanying Knowledge

Readings: ハン (Onyomi), ともなう, とも (Kunyomi)

Meaning: accompany, escort, attendant, be involved in, bring about

The kanji 伴 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 人 (person), indicating a relation to people, with the phonetic component 半 (half). The phonetic component lends its sound (han) and conceptually suggests being alongside or in conjunction with something, like one half with another. Together, they form the meaning of accompanying or being an attendant.

View JLPT N1 Kanji List

How to Write – Stroke Order

The kanji 伴 consists of 7 strokes. Start with the ‘person’ radical (人) on the left: first the vertical stroke, then the diagonal stroke. Then, for the right part (半), follow with the vertical stroke, the top horizontal stroke, the two short vertical strokes, and finally the bottom horizontal stroke.

Kanji Details

Radical人 (にんべん)
Strokes7
JLPT LevelN1
GradeS

Readings with English Transcription

Onyomi (Chinese readings)

  • 伴 (Han)

Kunyomi (Japanese readings)

  • 伴う (tomonau)
  • 伴 (tomo)

Common Words Using 伴

Onyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
伴侶はんりょpartner, companion, spouse
同伴どうはんaccompaniment, going with someone
随伴ずいはんaccompanying, concomitant, consequential
伴奏ばんそう(musical) accompaniment
伴走ばんそうrunning alongside, pacing (in a race)
相伴しょうばんaccompaniment; sharing a meal with someone
伴食ばんしょくdining together (formal/literary)
伴侶動物はんりょどうぶつcompanion animal, pet
伴音ばんおんaccompanying sound (music)
伴星はんせいcompanion star (astronomy)

Kunyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
伴うともなうto accompany, to be involved in, to bring about
伴いともないaccompanying (noun form, used in expressions like 〜に伴い)
お供おともcompanion, attendant, escort
連れ伴うつれともなうto accompany (emphasized)
〜に伴い〜にともないalong with ~, in proportion to ~ (grammatical pattern)
〜を伴う〜をともなうto involve ~, to be accompanied by ~ (transitive usage)
〜が伴う〜がともなう~ is involved, ~ is accompanied (intransitive usage)
伴わせるともなわせるto make someone accompany, to let accompany (causative)
伴われるともなわれるto be accompanied by, to be involved in (passive)
ともcompanion (often used in compounds or with honorific お)

Example Sentences

Japanese: 彼はいつも犬を伴って散歩する。

Kana: かれはいつもいぬをともなってさんぽする。

Romaji: Kare wa itsumo inu o tomonatte sanpo suru.

English: He always walks accompanied by his dog.

Japanese: その仕事には責任が伴う。

Kana: そのしごとにはせきにんがともなう。

Romaji: Sono shigoto ni wa sekinin ga tomonau.

English: That job involves responsibility.

Japanese: 旅行には危険が伴うこともある。

Kana: りょこうにはきけんがともなうこともある。

Romaji: Ryokō ni wa kiken ga tomonau koto mo aru.

English: Travel can sometimes involve dangers.

Japanese: 彼女は夫に同伴してパーティーに出席した。

Kana: かのじょはおっとにどうはんしてパーティーにしゅっせきした。

Romaji: Kanojo wa otto ni dōhan shite pātī ni shusseki shita.

English: She attended the party accompanied by her husband.

Japanese: ピアノの伴奏で歌を歌った。

Kana: ピアノのばんそうでうたをうたった。

Romaji: Piano no bansō de uta o utatta.

English: I sang a song with piano accompaniment.

Japanese: 新しい技術の導入に伴い、システムの変更が必要です。

Kana: あたらしいぎじゅつのどうにゅうにともない、システムのがへんこうがひつようです。

Romaji: Atarashii gijutsu no dōnyū ni tomonai, shisutemu no henkō ga hitsuyō desu.

English: With the introduction of new technology, system changes are necessary.

Japanese: 彼は忠実な伴侶として彼女を支えた。

Kana: かれはちゅうじつなはんりょとしてかのじょをささえた。

Romaji: Kare wa chūjitsu na hanryo to shite kanojo o sasaeta.

English: He supported her as a loyal partner.

Japanese: 彼の成功は、多くの努力を伴うものだった。

Kana: かれのせいこうは、おおくのどりょくをともなうものだった。

Romaji: Kare no seikō wa, ooku no doryoku o tomonau mono datta.

English: His success was something that involved a lot of effort.

Japanese: 私たちは喜びを伴って旅を続けた。

Kana: わたしたちはよろこびをともなってたびをつづけた。

Romaji: Watashitachi wa yorokobi o tomonatte tabi o tsuzuketa.

English: We continued our journey with joy.

Japanese: 大使はお供を連れて会場に入った。

Kana: たいしはおともをつれてかいじょうにはいった。

Romaji: Taishi wa otomo o tsurete kaijō ni haitta.

English: The ambassador entered the venue with his attendant.

Related Grammar & kanji list

Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top