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Kanji 典: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 典: code, ceremony, law, rule

Key takeaways

Kanji 典: code, ceremony, law, rule. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

典
N1

Meaning

codeceremonylawrule

On reading

テンデン

Radical

八

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 典

code, ceremony, law, rule

Kanji structure breakdown

典

Structure breakdown

曲 + 八

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This character shows ancient scrolls, which have a bent (曲) shape, placed respectfully on a stand (八). It signifies that such carefully preserved legal codes or classics serve as the 'standard' or 'norm' for society.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

テン
  • 原典げんてん

    original text / source document

  • 百科事典ひゃっかじてん

    encyclopedia

  • 百科辞典ひゃっかじてん

    encyclopedia

  • 古典こてん

    classics / old literature / classical

  • 典型てんけい

    typical / pattern / model

  • 辞典じてん

    dictionary / wordbook / reference book

Commonly used words

  • 原典
    げんてん

    original text / source document

  • 百科事典
    ひゃっかじてん

    encyclopedia

  • 百科辞典
    ひゃっかじてん

    encyclopedia

  • 古典
    こてん

    classics / old literature / classical

  • 典型
    てんけい

    typical / pattern / model

  • 辞典
    じてん

    dictionary / wordbook / reference book

Example sentences

Example 1

この本は原典に基づいて書かれています。

Translation

This book is written based on the original text.

Example 2

原典を確認して意味を調べましょう。

Translation

Let's check the original text and look up the meaning.

Example 3

図書館で百科事典を借りました。

Translation

I borrowed an encyclopedia at the library.

Example 4

百科事典で調べてみましょう。

Translation

Let's look it up in the encyclopedia.

Related word posts

Kanji 典: code, ceremony, law, rule | Daily Nihongo