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Kotomora

展

unfold, expand

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 500Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • テン

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • のぶ
  • のり
  • ひろ
  • ゆき

Meaning

展 centers on opening something out so it becomes larger or more visible: unfolding a cloth, expanding a plan, or spreading out for display.

Most common words using 展

20 of 107
  • 展開てんかい
    N2

    development; evolution; progression; unfolding; (plot) twist

  • 展示てんじ
    N1

    exhibition; display

  • 発展はってん
    N3

    development; growth; expansion; extension; flourishing

  • 展てん

    exhibition; exhibit

  • 進展しんてん
    N1

    progress; development

  • 展望てんぼう
    N1

    view; outlook; prospect

  • 出展しゅってん

    exhibit; display

  • 展覧てんらん

    exhibition; showing; displaying; putting on display

  • 個展こてん
    N1

    solo exhibition; one-man exhibition; one-woman exhibition

  • 画展がてん

    exhibition of pictures; painting exhibition; art exhibition

  • 伸展しんてん

    expansion; extension

  • 日展にってん

    Japan Fine Arts Exhibition; JFAE; Nitten Exhibition

  • 文展ぶんてん

    Bunten exhibition; art exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education (antecedent of the Nitten exhibition)

  • 展覧会てんらんかい
    N4

    exhibition

  • 展示会てんじかい

    exhibition

  • 美術展びじゅつてん

    art exhibition

  • 発展途上国はってんとじょうこく
    N1

    developing country

  • 展観てんかん

    exhibition; showing; displaying; putting on display

  • 急展開きゅうてんかい
    N2

    rapid development; rapid unfolding

  • アート展アートてん

    art exhibition

Explore all words using 展 →

Study

Etymology

展 combines 尸 (a person or body) with a lower component that likely represented clothing or spreading out, suggesting the act of unfolding or stretching something out.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 尸 looks like a person bending over, and the lower part resembles a piece of cloth being spread out. Imagine someone unfolding a large cloth to expand it fully.

Reading mnemonic

For テン, picture unfolding a tent: tent -> テン, and as you spread the fabric, the tent expands.