環
か
ん
Meanings
1
General physical ring-shaped object, band, or rim. Used in everyday contexts.
She wears a silver ring on her finger.
The rim of this bottle is loose.
2
Technical term in mathematics (algebraic ring) and chemistry (cyclic structure).
The set of all integers is an example of a ring.
A benzene ring consists of six carbon atoms.
3
circum-; ring-shaped
Prefix used in compounds to mean 'circum-' or 'ring-shaped', e.g., 環状 (かんじょう, ring-shaped), 環境 (かんきょう, environment).
Earthquakes are frequent in the circum-Pacific region.
I went around the city on the loop line.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉の環となるto become a link in ~ (a chain, cycle, or system)
Education becomes a link that supports society.
- 環をなすto form a ring or circle
The mountains form a ring encircling the city.