弁 Kanji – valve
The Japanese kanji 弁 can mean valve, petal, braid, speech, dialect, discrimination, dispose of, distinguish, conical cap.
Meaning and Readings
How is 弁 read?
弁 has the onyomi readings ベン, ヘン and the kunyomi readings かんむり, わきまえる, わける, はなびら, あらそう.
In romaji, these readings can be written as ben, hen, kanmuri, wakimaeru, wakeru, hanabira, arasou.
Common Japanese Words Using 弁
These common Japanese words contain 弁. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 駅弁（えきべん） — boxed lunch bought at a station (often a local specialty)
- 勘弁（かんべん） — pardon, forgiveness, forbearance
- 関西弁（かんさいべん） — Kansai dialect
- 合弁（ごうべん） — joint management, pool
- 代弁（だいべん） — speaking by proxy, speaking for (someone else), acting as spokesman (for), representing (the views, feelings, etc. of)
- 答弁（とうべん） — response, reply, answer, defence, defense
- 熱弁（ねつべん） — impassioned speech, fervent speech
- 弁（べん） — speech, tongue, talk, eloquence
- 弁える（わきまえる） — to discern (e.g. right from wrong), to discriminate, to distinguish
- 弁解（べんかい） — explanation (e.g. for one's actions), excuse, justification, defense, defence