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Words Kanji Guides About

兵端 (へいたん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

兵へい端たん

へ

い

た

ん

Meanings

1

noun

hostilities; outbreak of war

Refers to the start or opening of armed conflict; a somewhat formal or literary term.

両りょう国こくの間あいだに兵へい端たんが開ひらかれた。
Hostilities broke out between the two countries.

Kanji

兵soldier, private, troops
端edge, origin, end

Similar words

開かい戦せん
開戦 is the more common and neutral word for the outbreak of war or opening of hostilities. 兵端 is more literary and emphasizes the beginning of military action.

Etymology

Compound of 兵 (hei, 'soldier, war') and 端 (tan, 'beginning, edge'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly suggests the meaning 'beginning of hostilities'.