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Kotomora

判

judgement, judgment, signature, stamp, seal

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 200Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ハン
  • バン

Kun'yomi

  • わか.る

Meaning

判 centers on making a clear distinction or decision: judging, signing, or stamping to mark an official conclusion.

Most common words using 判

20 of 324
  • 判断はんだん
    N3

    judgment; judgement; decision; conclusion; adjudication

  • 批判ひはん
    N3

    criticism; judgement; judgment; comment

  • 裁判さいばん
    N3

    trial; judgement; judgment

  • 判明はんめい
    N1

    establishing; proving; ascertaining; identifying; confirming

  • 判決はんけつ
    N1

    judicial decision; judgement; judgment; sentence; decree

  • 裁判所さいばんしょ
    N2

    court; courthouse

  • 評判ひょうばん
    N3

    reputation; (public) estimation; popularity

  • 判定はんてい
    N1

    judgement; judgment; decision; ruling; finding; adjudication; verdict; call

  • 裁判官さいばんかん
    N2

    judge

  • 審判しんぱん
    N3

    judgement; judgment; decision; verdict; sentence

  • 判事はんじ
    N2

    judge; judiciary

  • 判別はんべつ

    distinction; discrimination; distinguishing; discernment

  • 判はん
    N1

    seal; stamp; monogram signature

  • 判例はんれい
    N1

    judicial precedent; leading case; prior case

  • 大判おおばん

    large size (paper, book, etc.)

  • 公判こうはん

    public hearing; trial

  • 判子はんこ
    N3

    seal (used in lieu of a signature); stamp; chop

  • 小判こばん

    koban; small oval gold coin used in the Edo period

  • 地方裁判所ちほうさいばんしょ

    district court; local court

  • 太鼓判たいこばん

    large seal; large stamp

Explore all words using 判 →

Study

Etymology

判 combines 半 (half, divide) with 刂 (knife), suggesting cutting something in half to make a clear decision or distinction.

Meaning mnemonic

A knife 刂 cuts something in half 半, making a clear division. This is like a judge making a decision or a stamp marking an official split.

Reading mnemonic

For ハン, imagine a judge using a hand stamp to seal a verdict: hand -> ハン, and the stamp marks the judgment.