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Kotomora

円

circle, yen, round

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 100Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • エン

Kun'yomi

  • まる.い
  • まる
  • まど
  • まど.か
  • まろ.やか

Nanori

  • つぶら
  • のぶ
  • まどか
  • みつ

Meaning

円 centers on the shape of a circle and things that are round. The yen sense is a specific application of that round shape, as coins are round.

Most common words using 円

21 of 235
  • 円えん
    N4

    yen (currency of Japan)

  • 円盤えんばん
    N1

    disk; discus; platter

  • 円形えんけい

    round shape; circle; circular form

  • 円滑えんかつ
    N1

    smooth; undisturbed; uninterrupted; harmonious

  • 楕円だえん
    N2

    ellipse; oval

  • 円満えんまん
    N1

    harmonious; peaceful; happy; amicable; smooth; free from trouble

  • 円周えんしゅう
    N2

    circumference

  • 円卓えんたく

    round table

  • 円筒えんとう

    cylinder

  • 円柱えんちゅう

    column; shaft; cylinder

  • 円弧えんこ

    arc

  • 円熟えんじゅく

    ripeness; mellowness; maturity

  • 円建てえんだて

    yen basis (for trade, exchange, etc.)

  • 円高えんだか
    N3

    appreciation of the yen; strong yen

  • 円安えんやす
    N3

    depreciation of the yen; weak yen

  • 円相場えんそうば

    yen exchange rate

  • 一円いちえん
    N5

    one yen

  • 1000円せんえん
    N5

    1000 yen

  • 100円ショップひゃくえんショップ
    N3

    hundred-yen store; dollar store

  • 楕円形だえんけい
    N1

    elliptical shape; oval shape

  • 千円札せんえんさつ

    1,000 yen bill

Explore all words using 円 →

Study

Etymology

円 is the modern simplified form of 圓. The older form combines 囗 (enclosure) with 員, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of roundness. The modern form is a stylized simplification.

Meaning mnemonic

The outer frame 冂 with a horizontal line inside looks like a round coin or a circle with a line through it. Picture a yen coin: round and circular.

Reading mnemonic

For エン, imagine a perfectly round yen coin with the letter 'N' stamped on it: 'N' -> エン, and the coin is a circle.