甸
region around the imperial capital, outskirts
Strokes7
Readings
On'yomi
- デン
- テン
Kun'yomi
- かり
Meaning
甸 refers to the area surrounding an imperial capital, the outskirts or suburban region directly governed by the central authority.
Most common words using 甸
- 緬甸めんでん
Burma
Study
Etymology
甸 combines 勹 (wrap, enclose) with 田 (field), suggesting enclosed fields or territory around a capital. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning of a defined administrative region.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a wrapped (勹) field (田) just outside the city walls: this enclosed farmland is the outskirts, the region around the imperial capital.
Reading mnemonic
For デン, imagine a den (デン) of officials managing the enclosed fields around the capital: den -> デン, the administrative outskirts.