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Kotomora

繁

luxuriant, thick, overgrown, frequency, complexity, trouble

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ハン

Kun'yomi

  • しげ.る
  • しげ.く

Meaning

繁 centers on abundant, dense growth or activity: something luxuriant, thick, or overgrown, which naturally extends to high frequency, complexity, and the trouble that comes with excess.

Most common words using 繁

20 of 42
  • 頻繁ひんぱん
    N2

    frequent; incessant

  • 繁殖はんしょく
    N2

    breeding; propagation; reproduction; multiplication; increase

  • 繁栄はんえい
    N1

    prosperity; thriving; flourishing

  • 繁はん

    complexity; frequency; trouble

  • 繁華はんか

    bustle; prosperity

  • 繁盛はんじょう
    N1

    prosperity; flourishing; thriving

  • 繁忙はんぼう

    busy; high-stress; hectic; pressed (with business)

  • 繁茂はんも

    flourishing (of plants); thriving; luxuriant growth; growing lushly; rankness (of weeds)

  • 繁くしげく

    frequently

  • 繁華街はんかがい

    business district; shopping district; bustling street; shopping centre; shopping center; downtown

  • 農繁期のうはんき

    busy farming season

  • 南蛮繁縷なんばんはこべ

    berry catchfly (Silene baccifera); Cucubalus baccifer (former name)

  • 商売繁盛しょうばいはんじょう

    thriving (prosperous) business; rush of business

  • 子孫繁栄しそんはんえい

    perpetuation of one's descendants

  • 御用繁多ごようはんた

    being busy with many things; extreme busyness due to pressure of business

  • 日本繁殖生物学会にっぽんはんしょくせいぶつがっかい

    Japanese Society of Animal Reproduction

  • 最繁トラヒック時さいぱんトラヒックとき

    peak traffic period

  • 最繁正時さいぱんせいじ

    busy hour; busy period

  • 栄養繁殖えいようはんしょく

    vegetative propagation

  • 水繁蔞みずはこべ

    vernal water-starwort (Callitriche palustris)

Explore all words using 繁 →

Study

Etymology

繁 combines 敏 (quick, active) with 糸 (thread), suggesting a proliferation of threads or intricate activity. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the modern form likely reflects the idea of abundant, complex growth.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 敏 suggests quick, active movement, and the bottom 糸 is thread. Imagine a vine growing so fast and thick that it tangles into a dense, overgrown mess—luxuriant and complex.

Reading mnemonic

For ハン, picture a hand (ハン is close to 'hand') trying to untangle the thick, overgrown threads: hand -> ハン, and the tangled complexity makes it a real trouble.