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Kotomora

扁

level, small

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヘン

Kun'yomi

  • ひらたい

Meaning

扁 centers on something flat and thin: a level surface or a small, compact object. The idea of being flat connects both the 'level' and 'small' senses.

Most common words using 扁

20 of 26
  • 扁桃へんとう

    almond

  • 扁平へんぺい

    flat

  • 扁桃腺へんとうせん

    tonsil

  • 扁額へんがく

    framed picture or motto (usu. horizontal, hung over gates or lintels)

  • 扁平足へんぺいそく

    flatfoot; flat feet; splayfoot

  • 扁壺へんこ

    circular flat stoneware flask

  • 扁平上皮癌へんぺいじょうひがん

    squamous cell carcinoma; SCC

  • 扁平率へんぺいりつ

    oblateness

  • 扁平苔癬へんぺいたいせん

    lichen planus

  • 扁形へんけい

    flat shape

  • 扁形動物へんけいどうぶつ

    flatworm; platyhelminth

  • 扁形動物門へんけいどうぶつもん

    Platyhelminthes (phylum of flatworms)

  • 扁桃体へんとうたい

    amygdala; amygdaloid nucleus; corpus amygdaloideum

  • 扁桃周囲膿瘍へんとうしゅういのうよう

    peritonsillar abscess; quinsy

  • 扁桃摘出術へんとうてきしゅつじゅつ

    tonsillectomy

  • 扁桃油へんとうゆ

    almond oil

  • 扁桃炎へんとうえん

    tonsillitis

  • 扁桃肥大へんとうひだい

    tonsillar hypertrophy; enlarged tonsils

  • 扁桃腺炎へんとうせんえん

    tonsillitis

  • 扁桃膿瘍へんとうのうよう

    peritonsillar abscess; quinsy

Explore all words using 扁 →

Study

Etymology

扁 is thought to combine 户 (door) with 冊 (writing tablet) inside, suggesting a flat, thin object like a signboard hung on a door. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning of flatness.

Meaning mnemonic

A door (户) with a flat writing tablet (冊) hanging on it: the tablet is level and small, just like the meaning of 扁.

Reading mnemonic

For ヘン, imagine a hen pecking at a flat, level surface: hen -> ヘン, and the hen's beak makes the surface flat.