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Kotomora

檀

cedar, sandalwood, spindle tree

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • ダン
  • タン

Kun'yomi

  • まゆみ

Meaning

檀 centers on aromatic, durable woods: cedar, sandalwood, and the spindle tree. The common thread is a type of valued wood used for fragrance, carving, or fine objects.

Most common words using 檀

20 of 22
  • 檀尻だんじり

    decorative portable shrine; float used in festivals

  • 檀家だんか

    family which supports a temple; parishioner

  • 紫檀したん

    rosewood; red sandalwood

  • 黒檀こくたん

    ebony

  • 白檀びゃくだん

    Indian sandalwood (Santalum album); white sandalwood

  • 十八檀林じゅうはちだんりん

    eighteen centers of Buddhist learning (of the Pure Land sect in the Kanto region)

  • 寺檀制度じだんせいど

    system used during the Edo period where commoners had to register with a temple in order to prove their Buddhist faith

  • 小檀こまゆみ

    spindle tree (Euonymus alatus f. ciliatodentatus)

  • 栴檀せんだん

    chinaberry; Japanese bead tree (Melia azedarach)

  • 栴檀は双葉より芳しせんだんはふたばよりかんばし

    genius shows from childhood; the Japanese bead tree is fragrant from when a sprout

  • 檀君だんくん

    mythical founder of Korea

  • 檀徒だんと

    temple supporter

  • 檀林だんりん

    Buddhist center for study and meditation; monastery; temple

  • 檀紙だんし

    fine crepe paper

  • 檀越だんおつ

    alms-giver; person who donates to a monk or a temple; dana-pati

  • 檀那寺だんなでら

    one's family temple

  • 檀香だんこう

    Indian sandalwood (Santalum album)

  • 檀香梅だんこうばい

    blunt-lobed spice bush (Lindera obtusiloba)

  • 白檀油びゃくだんゆ

    sandalwood oil

  • 関東十八檀林かんとうじゅうはちだんりん

    eighteen centers of Buddhist learning (of the Pure Land sect in the Kanto region)

Explore all words using 檀 →

Study

Etymology

檀 combines 木 (tree/wood) with 亶, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a type of fragrant wood, consistent with its modern meanings.

Meaning mnemonic

The tree radical 木 beside 亶 suggests a special kind of wood. Imagine a fragrant sandalwood tree whose scent is so strong it fills a whole room (亶 can be thought of as a spreading container).

Reading mnemonic

For ダン, picture a sandalwood log being carved into a beautiful wooden stand: stand -> ダン, and the wood is 檀.