廉
bargain, reason, charge, suspicion, point, account, purity, honest, low price, cheap, rested, contented, peaceful
Readings
On'yomi
- レン
Kun'yomi
—
Nanori
- きよ
Meaning
廉 centers on moral and material integrity: being honest, pure, and upright, which naturally extends to being fair and reasonable in dealings, hence a bargain or low price. The senses of reason, charge, and account relate to clear, principled judgment.
Most common words using 廉
- 廉かど
grounds; charge; suspicion
- 廉れん
cheap; inexpensive
- 廉価れんか
low price; moderate price
- 清廉せいれん
honest; upright; cleanhanded; unselfish
- 破廉恥はれんち
shameless; infamous; disgraceful
- 低廉ていれん
cheap; inexpensive
- 廉売れんばい
bargain sale
- 廉潔れんけつ
honest; incorruptible; integrity
- 不当廉売ふとうれんばい
dumping
- 廉々かどかど
each point; each part
- 廉価品れんかひん
low-priced goods
- 廉価版れんかばん
cheap edition; low-priced edition; popular edition
- 廉恥れんち
sense of honour (honor)
- 廉恥心れんちしん
sense of honor; sense of honour
- 廉直れんちょく
integrity; uprightness
- 清廉潔白せいれんけっぱく
spotless integrity; absolute honesty; uprightness
- 破廉恥漢はれんちかん
shameless man; knave
- 破廉恥罪はれんちざい
infamous crime or offense (offence)
Study
Etymology
廉 combines 广 (building/eaves) with 兼 (combine/concurrently). The original meaning likely related to the edge or corner of a room, from which the idea of sharpness, integrity, and purity developed. The modern meanings of honesty and low price are extensions of this core sense of being upright and unblemished.
Meaning mnemonic
Under the eaves (广), a person combines (兼) fairness and purity. Imagine a merchant under a roof, carefully weighing goods with honest scales, offering a bargain with a clear conscience.
Reading mnemonic
For レン, picture a bargain sale where everything is priced at one ren (a made-up currency unit). The honest merchant under the eaves shouts 'Only one ren!' — レン.