辨
discrimination, dispose of, distinguish
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- ベン
- ヘン
Kun'yomi
- わきま.える
- わ.ける
- はなびら
- あらそ.う
Meaning
辨 centers on separating things clearly in the mind or in action: telling things apart, making distinctions, and handling or disposing of matters by sorting them out.
Study
Etymology
辨 is composed of 辡 (two 辛 elements, suggesting opposition or separation) and a small inner stroke that likely represents a knife or cutting tool, together conveying the idea of dividing or distinguishing.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture two sharp blades (辛) facing each other with a small dividing mark between them: 辨 is about cutting through confusion to separate and distinguish things.
Reading mnemonic
For ベン, imagine a judge named Ben who must distinguish truth from lies: Ben -> ベン, and he disposes of the case by careful discrimination.