noun
Used to refer to the start or source of something. Often appears in compound words like 発端 (origin, beginning).
事件の端は小さな誤解だった。
The origin of the incident was a small misunderstanding.
noun
unit of fabric width (28.8 cm); fabric length measure
Traditional measure for kimono fabric. One 端 is 28.8 cm wide; length varies by garment: at least 10 m for kimono, 7.27 m for haori, 6.06 m for other clothes.
See also: 反 (たん)
この反物は一端の幅が鯨尺で一尺ほどある。
This roll of cloth is about one shaku (approx. 37.9 cm) wide per 端.
suffix
Suffix used in compounds to indicate the tip or end of something, such as 指端 (fingertip) or 舌端 (tip of the tongue). Not used as a standalone word in this sense.
「指端」の「端」は先端を意味する。
The 端 in 指端 means the tip or extremity.
発端 specifically means the very beginning or origin of an event, while 端 alone is more general and often used in compounds.
先端 is a common word for tip or cutting edge, whereas 端 as a suffix is rarer and more literary.
The kanji 端 originally depicts a sprout emerging from the ground, symbolizing a beginning or tip. The reading たん is the on'yomi. The fabric measure sense is a specialized historical usage.