縁えん

Opposites

• 無む縁えんN1sense 2

  無縁 means having no connection or relationship at all, the direct opposite of 縁's sense of a fated bond or tie.

• 因いん

  In Buddhist doctrine 因 is the direct, primary cause of an effect, while 縁 is the indirect, secondary condition that helps bring it about.

Don't confuse with

• 因いんsense 3

  In Buddhist terminology 因 is the direct cause of an event, while 縁 is the indirect condition that helps bring it about, so learners often mix up which is which.

• 縁ふちN1

  Written with the same kanji, 縁 read as えん means 'fate' or 'relationship', while 縁 read as ふち means the physical rim or edge of something.

Word family· 87

• 無む縁えんN1

  unrelated; unconnected; having nothing to do with · without surviving relatives; without family ties · unrelated to Buddha's teachings; unable to be saved by Buddha

• 縁えん起ぎN1

  omen; luck; auspiciousness · origin; history; causation · dependent arising; causality

• 復ふく縁えん

  reconciliation; getting back together

• 絶ぜつ縁えん

  breaking off relations; severing connections; cutting ties · insulation; isolation

• 血けつ縁えんN1

  blood relationship; consanguinity · blood relative

See all 87 in Explore →

Written forms

• 縁Usage89%iUsage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
  • えん

    Standard kanji spelling for most senses; also read えにし, えに, え in some contexts.

  • え
  • えに
  • えにし
• えUsage10%

  Shortened reading; mostly found in old texts or set phrases.

• えんUsage1%
• えにしUsage<1%

  Kana spelling for the reading えにし, often used in poetic or literary contexts for fate/destiny.

• 江えに
  ateji (phonetic kanji usage)

  Ateji spelling; rarely used.

• えに

  Archaic or poetic reading; rarely used in modern Japanese.

Etymology

The kanji 縁 originally referred to the edge or hem of clothing, later extended to mean connection or bond. The Buddhist sense derives from Sanskrit pratyaya. The reading えにし is an ancient form, while えん is the Sino-Japanese reading.