碗
porcelain bowl, tea cup
Readings
On'yomi
- ワン
Kun'yomi
- こばち
Meaning
碗 centers on a small, open container for food or drink: a porcelain bowl or a tea cup. The material and use are the key ideas.
Most common words using 碗
- 茶碗ちゃわんN5
rice bowl; tea cup; teacup
- 茶碗蒸しちゃわんむし
chawanmushi; savoury steamed egg custard with chicken, mushrooms, etc. (savory)
- 碗わんN2
bowl (ceramic, porcelain)
- お碗おわん
bowl (ceramic, porcelain)
- コーヒー茶碗コーヒーちゃわん
coffee cup
- 天目茶碗てんもくぢゃわん
tenmoku tea-bowl; dark-glazed conical tea-bowl of Chinese origin
- 夫婦茶碗めおとぢゃわん
pair of teacups (or rice bowls) for a married couple (one large and one small); his and hers teacups; his and hers rice bowls
- 楽茶碗らくぢゃわん
hand-moulded earthenware teacup
- 湯飲み茶碗ゆのみぢゃわん
teacup (small, without a handle)
- 茶飲み茶碗ちゃのみぢゃわん
teacup
- 飯茶碗めしぢゃわん
rice bowl
- 高麗茶碗こうらいぢゃわん
Koryo dynasty tea bowl
Study
Etymology
碗 combines 石 (stone, here suggesting porcelain or ceramic material) with 宛, which likely contributes the sound ワン. The character specifically denotes a ceramic bowl or cup.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 石 (stone) hints at the hard, ceramic material. The right side 宛 looks like a container with a lid and a base. Together, 碗 is a porcelain bowl or tea cup.
Reading mnemonic
For ワン, picture a single perfect bowl: one bowl -> ワン. The sound 'one' matches the reading exactly.