Skip to content
Kotomora

件

affair, case, matter, item

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケン

Kun'yomi

  • くだん

Meaning

件 centers on a distinct countable matter: an affair, a case, or an item. It treats an event or thing as a discrete unit that can be discussed or handled.

Most common words using 件

20 of 254
  • 事件じけん
    N3

    event; affair; incident; case; plot; trouble; scandal

  • 件けん
    N2

    matter; affair; case; item; subject

  • 条件じょうけん
    N3

    condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite

  • 案件あんけん

    matter (to discuss); item (on the agenda); issue; topic; case

  • 要件ようけん

    important matter

  • 物件ぶっけん
    N1

    article; thing; object

  • 件数けんすう

    number of cases, incidents, items, messages, accounts, etc.

  • 本件ほんけん

    this matter; this case

  • 無条件むじょうけん
    N1

    unconditional

  • 件くだり

    passage; paragraph

  • 別件べっけん

    separate case; another matter; different matter; another project

  • 用件ようけん
    N1

    business; thing to be done; something that should be performed; information that should be conveyed

  • 件名けんめい
    N3

    subject; title

  • 立件りっけん

    assembling a criminal case

  • 好条件こうじょうけん

    favourable terms; favorable terms; favourable conditions; favorable conditions; place in the sun

  • 件くだん
    N1

    the aforementioned; the said; (man, incident, etc.) in question; the above-mentioned; the aforesaid

  • 難事件なんじけん

    difficult case

  • 悪条件あくじょうけん

    unfavorable conditions; unfavourable conditions

  • 条件づけじょうけんづけ

    conditioning

  • 人件費じんけんひ

    personnel expenses; labor cost; labour cost

Explore all words using 件 →

Study

Etymology

件 combines 亻 (person) and 牛 (cow). The historical development is uncertain, but it may relate to counting or dividing items, possibly from the idea of a person handling or dividing an ox.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 beside a cow 牛: imagine a person counting cows, treating each cow as a separate item or case to be managed.

Reading mnemonic

For ケン, picture a person handling a case file with a big 'KEN' stamp on it: Ken -> ケン, and the person is dealing with the affair.