Japanese word

偏

Pronunciation

Romajihen

Meaning

  • nounleft-hand radical

Example

この漢字の偏は何ですか？ko no kan ji no hen wa nan de su ka

What is the left-hand radical of this kanji?

Illustration for 偏 (left-hand radical)

More examples

漢字の偏は、左側に置かれます。kan ji no hen wa hidari gawa ni o ka re ma su

A kanji's left-hand radical is placed on the left.

Core concept

Describes the left-side part of a kanji that helps form its structure and may convey a related meaning.

Common phrases

  • 偏と旁hen to tsukuri

    left-hand and right-hand radicals

Definition in Japanese

漢字を左右に分けたとき、左側を占める部首や構成要素。kan ji o sa yū ni wa ke ta to ki hidari gawa o shi me ru bu shu ya kō sei yō so

Word origin

偏 (hen, "left-hand radical") is a Sino-Japanese term based on the character 偏, which has the sense "one-sided" or "partial" and is also used for the left-side part of a kanji.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese kanji dictionaries, 偏 (hen, "left-hand component") describes a left-side part, whereas 部首 (bushu, "radical") is the component used as the dictionary's organizing key.

Word lists with this word