also: ぶんどう · ふんどん
weight (for scales); counterweight
Refers to a metal weight used in balance scales or as a counterweight in mechanical devices. Common in contexts like old-fashioned scales, clocks, or elevators.
Place a weight on the balance scale to measure the mass.
This old clock runs using a counterweight.
chain with a weight at the end (weapon)
Standard kanji spelling for a scale weight or counterweight.
Irregular reading; the standard reading is ふんどう.
Obsolete kana form; not used in modern Japanese.
分 (a unit of weight) + 銅 (copper), originally referring to a copper weight used in balance scales. The reading ふんどう is standard; ぶんどう is an irregular variant, and ふんどん is obsolete.