弁

音読おんよみ: ベン

訓読くんよみ: none *

画数かくすう: 5 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 廾(にじゅうあし)

Meaning

Speech / Dialect / Distinguish / Argument

  • 弁当べんとう — lunch box
  • 弁護士べんごし — lawyer
  • 弁明べんめい — explanation / defense
  • 弁解べんかい — excuse / justification
  • 関西弁かんさいべん — Kansai dialect
  • 方言ほうげん — dialect

The character 「弁」 carries meanings like “to separate,” “to judge,” or “to understand.” It appears in words like benron (speech or debate) and benmei (explanation or defense), often relating to one’s ability to speak, explain, or reason. It’s also used to indicate regional speech styles, as in Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect). In the word bentō (lunch box), the character reflects the idea of sorting or organizing.

かれ弁護士べんごしとして はたらいています。
He works as a lawyer.

弁当べんとうって 学校がっこうきます。
I bring a lunch box to school.

解
Creates
弁解べんかい — excuse / justification
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