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Kotomora

頒

distribute, disseminate, partition, understand

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ハン

Kun'yomi

  • わ.かつ
  • わ.ける

Meaning

頒 centers on dividing something and giving it out: distributing, disseminating, or partitioning. The 'understand' sense is a less common extension, possibly from the idea of breaking down information to make it clear.

Most common words using 頒

  • 頒布はんぷ

    distribution; circulation

  • 頒価はんか

    distribution price

  • 頒布会はんぷかい

    buying club (e.g. fruit-of-the-month)

  • 頒布権はんぷけん

    (movie) distribution rights

  • 頒行はんこう

    circulation; distribution; promulgation

Explore all words using 頒 →

Study

Etymology

頒 combines 分 (divide) and 頁 (head), suggesting the idea of dividing something among heads or people, i.e., distributing. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

Imagine a head (頁) being divided (分) into parts to distribute knowledge or goods. The head splits to disseminate understanding.

Reading mnemonic

For ハン, picture a hand (ハン sounds like 'hand') distributing items: hand -> ハン, and the hand divides and gives out.