箋
paper, label, letter, composition
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- ふだ
Meaning
箋 centers on a piece of writing material: a slip of paper, a label, a letter, or a short written composition. The common thread is a bounded, often rectangular, surface for writing.
Most common words using 箋
- 処方箋しょほうせんN1
prescription
- 付箋ふせん
sticky note; tag; slip; label; Post-it note
- 便箋びんせんN2
writing paper; stationery; notepaper
- 箋せん
slip (of paper)
- 一筆箋いっぴつせん
small notepad
- 付箋紙ふせんし
sticky paper slip; sticky note
- 処方箋医薬品しょほうせんいやくひん
prescription drug; prescription medication
- 書簡箋しょかんせん
letter paper
- 用箋ようせん
stationery; writing pad
- 薬箋やくせん
prescription
- 鄭箋ていせん
commentary on the Book of Odes by Zheng Xuan
Study
Etymology
箋 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 戔, which likely contributes the sound. Bamboo was historically used for writing slips, so the character suggests a bamboo writing tablet or label.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 竹 (bamboo) suggests a material for writing, and the bottom 戔 looks like a stack of papers or a label with marks. Picture a bamboo slip used as a label or for a short letter.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine writing a label with a pen: pen -> セン, and the bamboo slip becomes your paper.