弁べん

noun

speech; eloquence; way of speaking

Only when written 弁 / 辯

Refers to one's manner of speaking, fluency, or rhetorical skill. Often used in compounds like 弁が立つ (to be eloquent).

• 彼かれは弁べんが立たつので、交こう渉しょう役やくに選えらばれた。

  He was chosen as the negotiator because he is eloquent.

noun, used as a suffix

dialect; accent

Only when written 弁 / 辯

Suffix indicating a regional or foreign speech pattern, e.g., 大阪弁 (Osaka dialect), 関西弁 (Kansai dialect).

• 彼かの女じょは生うまれも育そだちも東とう京きょうだが、関かん西さい弁べんが上手じょうずだ。

  She was born and raised in Tokyo, but she speaks Kansai dialect well.

noun

bento; box lunch

Only when written 弁 / 辨

Abbreviation of 弁当 (bentō). Common in casual contexts and compounds like 駅弁 (station bento).

See also: 弁当

• 昼ひるはいつもコンビニで弁べんを買かっている。

  I always buy a bento at the convenience store for lunch.

noun

petal

Only when written 弁 / 瓣

Botanical term for a flower petal. Often used in compounds like 花弁 (flower petal).

• 桜さくらの花弁はなびらが風かぜに舞まっている。

  Cherry blossom petals are dancing in the wind.

noun

valve

Only when written 弁 / 瓣

Mechanical or anatomical term for a valve. Common in compounds like 安全弁 (safety valve) or 心臓弁 (heart valve).

• この機き械かいには安あん全ぜん弁べんが付ついている。

  This machine is equipped with a safety valve.

noun

Oversight Department (ritsuryō system)

Only when written 弁 / 辨

Historical term for a division of the daijokan under the ritsuryō system, responsible for controlling central and provincial governmental offices. Rare outside historical texts.

See also: 太政官 · 弁官

• 律りつ令りょう制せいでは、弁べん官かんが太政官だいじょうかんの下もとで実じつ務むを担たん当とうした。

  Under the ritsuryō system, the Benkan (Oversight Department) handled practical affairs under the Daijokan.