縁えん

noun

fate; destiny; karmic bond

Refers to a mysterious force that brings people together, often in a romantic or spiritual context. Common in phrases like 縁がある (to have a connection by fate) and 縁を感じる (to feel destined).

• 彼かれとの出で会あいは、何なにかの縁えんだと思おもう。

  I think meeting him was some kind of fate.

• この土と地ちには不ふ思し議ぎな縁えんを感かんじる。

  I feel a mysterious connection to this land.

noun

relationship; bond; ties

Covers personal relationships, family ties, and broader connections. Often used with ～の縁 or in compounds like 血縁 (blood relation). Sense 3 (family ties) is a subset of this broader relationship meaning.

• 私わたしたちは長ながい縁えんで結むすばれている。

  We are bound by a long-standing relationship.

• 彼かれとは仕し事ごとの縁えんで知しり合あった。

  I got to know him through a work connection.

noun

opportunity; chance to connect

Only with reading えん

Specifically refers to a chance to meet someone and start a relationship. Often used in phrases like 縁があれば (if the opportunity arises). Restricted to reading えん.

• またお会あいできる縁えんがあれば嬉うれしいです。

  I would be happy if we have the chance to meet again.

noun

pratyaya; indirect condition (Buddhism)

Only with reading えん

Buddhist term for indirect conditions, as opposed to direct causes (因). Technical and domain-specific. Restricted to reading えん.

See also: 因

• 仏ぶっ教きょうでは、因いんと縁えんによってすべての現げん象しょうが生しょうじると説とく。

  Buddhism teaches that all phenomena arise from direct causes and indirect conditions.

noun

narrow veranda; open-air corridor

Only with reading えん

Architectural term for a narrow open-air veranda, also written as 椽. Restricted to reading えん. Rare in modern usage.

• 古ふるい日本にほん家か屋おくには、縁えん側がわと呼よばれる縁えんがあった。

  Old Japanese houses had a narrow veranda called an engawa.