扁
level, small
Readings
On'yomi
- ヘン
Kun'yomi
- ひらたい
Meaning
扁 centers on something flat and thin: a level surface or a small, compact object. The idea of being flat connects both the 'level' and 'small' senses.
Most common words using 扁
20 of 26- 扁桃へんとう
almond
- 扁平へんぺい
flat
- 扁桃腺へんとうせん
tonsil
- 扁額へんがく
framed picture or motto (usu. horizontal, hung over gates or lintels)
- 扁平足へんぺいそく
flatfoot; flat feet; splayfoot
- 扁壺へんこ
circular flat stoneware flask
- 扁平上皮癌へんぺいじょうひがん
squamous cell carcinoma; SCC
- 扁平率へんぺいりつ
oblateness
- 扁平苔癬へんぺいたいせん
lichen planus
- 扁形へんけい
flat shape
- 扁形動物へんけいどうぶつ
flatworm; platyhelminth
- 扁形動物門へんけいどうぶつもん
Platyhelminthes (phylum of flatworms)
- 扁桃体へんとうたい
amygdala; amygdaloid nucleus; corpus amygdaloideum
- 扁桃周囲膿瘍へんとうしゅういのうよう
peritonsillar abscess; quinsy
- 扁桃摘出術へんとうてきしゅつじゅつ
tonsillectomy
- 扁桃油へんとうゆ
almond oil
- 扁桃炎へんとうえん
tonsillitis
- 扁桃肥大へんとうひだい
tonsillar hypertrophy; enlarged tonsils
- 扁桃腺炎へんとうせんえん
tonsillitis
- 扁桃膿瘍へんとうのうよう
peritonsillar abscess; quinsy
Study
Etymology
扁 is thought to combine 户 (door) with 冊 (writing tablet) inside, suggesting a flat, thin object like a signboard hung on a door. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning of flatness.
Meaning mnemonic
A door (户) with a flat writing tablet (冊) hanging on it: the tablet is level and small, just like the meaning of 扁.
Reading mnemonic
For ヘン, imagine a hen pecking at a flat, level surface: hen -> ヘン, and the hen's beak makes the surface flat.