苑
garden, farm, park
Readings
On'yomi
- エン
- オン
Kun'yomi
- その
- う.つ
Nanori
- あや
Meaning
苑 centers on a cultivated, enclosed space for plants or animals: a garden, farm, or park. The idea is a tended area, often with a sense of enclosure or designated purpose.
Most common words using 苑
- 紫苑しおん
aster (Aster tataricus); Tartarian aster; Michaelmas daisy
- 御苑ぎょえん
imperial garden
- 外苑がいえん
outer garden
- 広辞苑こうじえん
Kōjien (Japanese dictionary published by Iwanami Shoten)
- 入苑券にゅうえんけん
ticket to the garden
- 内苑ないえん
inner garden; inner park
- 姫女苑ひめじょおん
daisy (Erigeron annuus); daisy fleabane
- 文苑ぶんえん
anthology; literary world; collection of literary masterpieces
- 珈琲苑コーヒーえん
Kōhiien (coffee shop)
- 神宮外苑じんぐうがいえん
outer gardens of Meiji Shrine
- 神苑しんえん
shrine gardens
- 秘苑ひえん
secret garden; private garden
- 紫苑色しおんいろ
light purple (similar to that of the flowers of the Tartarian aster)
- 芸苑げいえん
artistic and literary circles
- 辞苑じえん
Jien (forerunner of the Kojien dictionary)
- 鹿野苑ろくやおん
Magadaava (where Buddha delivered his first sermon); The Deer Park
Study
Etymology
苑 combines 艹 (grass) with 夗, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a curved or enclosed shape, together indicating a grassy enclosure like a garden or park.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above 夗, which looks like a curved enclosure. Picture a grassy park surrounded by a low curved wall: 苑 is a garden or farm.
Reading mnemonic
For エン, imagine entering a beautiful garden and saying 'en' as you step in: en -> エン, the sound of peaceful entry into the park.