Readings: ベン, ビン (Onyomi), たより (Kunyomi)
Meaning: convenience, mail, facilities, excrement
The kanji 便 originally depicted a person (人) with an object, symbolizing ease or convenience in carrying things or performing actions. Over time, its meaning expanded to include communication (mail) and physical bodily functions (excrement).
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 便 has 9 strokes. It begins with the left-side radical 人 (ninben), followed by the components for the right side, resembling 更. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 人 (にんべん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 4 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ベン (ben)
- ビン (bin)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- たより (tayo-ri)
Common Words Using 便
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 便利な | べんりな | convenient, handy |
| 郵便 | ゆうびん | mail, postal service |
| 不便 | ふべん | inconvenience |
| 船便 | ふなびん | sea mail, surface mail |
| 航空便 | こうくうびん | airmail |
| 便所 | べんじょ | toilet, lavatory |
| 便箋 | びんせん | writing paper, letter pad |
| 用便 | ようべん | defecation, urination (to relieve oneself) |
| 便覧 | べんらん | handbook, manual, guide |
| 即便 | そくびん | immediate delivery, express mail |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 便り | たより | news, tidings, letter |
| 便り | たより | communication, message |
| 便り | たより | dependence, reliance (archaic nuance) |
| 便り | たより | means, way (less common) |
| 便り | たより | opportunity, chance (less common) |
| 便り | たより | postal matter |
| 便り | たより | information, report |
| 便り | たより | update, note |
| 便り | たより | correspondence |
| 便り | たより | message of well-being |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 郵便局はどこですか？
Kana: ゆうびんきょくはどこですか？
Romaji: Yūbinkyoku wa doko desu ka?
English: Where is the post office?
Japanese: この電車はとても便利です。
Kana: このでんしゃはとてもべんりです。
Romaji: Kono densha wa totemo benri desu.
English: This train is very convenient.
Japanese: 海外への船便は時間がかかります。
Kana: かいがいへのふなびんはじかんがかかります。
Romaji: Kaigai e no funabin wa jikan ga kakarimasu.
English: Surface mail to overseas takes time.
Japanese: 彼の便りがないので心配です。
Kana: かれのたよりがないのでしんぱいです。
Romaji: Kare no tayori ga nai node shinpai desu.
English: I’m worried because I haven’t heard from him.
Japanese: トイレはあちらの便所です。
Kana: トイレはあちらのべんじょです。
Romaji: Toire wa achira no benjo desu.
English: The toilet is that lavatory over there.
Japanese: 新しいスマホは本当に便利だ。
Kana: あたらしいスマホはほんとうにべんりだ。
Romaji: Atarashii sumaho wa hontō ni benri da.
English: The new smartphone is really convenient.
Japanese: 今朝、祖母から便りがあった。
Kana: けさ、そぼからたよりがあった。
Romaji: Kesa, sobo kara tayori ga atta.
English: I received news from my grandmother this morning.
Japanese: 毎日、大便がありますか？
Kana: まいにち、だいべんがありますか？
Romaji: Mainichi, daiben ga arimasu ka?
English: Do you have a bowel movement every day?
Japanese: 成田行きの最終便は午後9時です。
Kana: なりたゆきのさいしゅうびんはごごくじです。
Romaji: Narita yuki no saishūbin wa gogo kuji desu.
English: The last flight to Narita is at 9 PM.
Japanese: この駅は交通の便が良い。
Kana: このえきはこうつうのべんがいい。
Romaji: Kono eki wa kōtsū no ben ga ii.
English: This station has good transportation access.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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