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Kanji 盆: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 盆: basin, lantern festival, tray

Key takeaways

Kanji 盆: basin, lantern festival, tray. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

盆
N1

Meaning

basinlantern festivaltray

On reading

ボン

Radical

皿

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 盆

basin, lantern festival, tray

Kanji structure breakdown

盆

Structure breakdown

分 + 皿

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

A tray is a wide dish (皿) used to divide (分) and distribute food to several people. This character is also used to refer to 'Obon,' the Japanese festival for honoring ancestors.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ボン
  • 盆ぼん

    tray / Bon Festival

  • 盆地ぼんち

    basin between mountains

Commonly used words

  • 盆
    ぼん

    tray / Bon Festival

  • 盆地
    ぼんち

    basin between mountains

Example sentences

Example 1

盆にお菓子をのせました。

Translation

I placed sweets on the tray.

Example 2

夏は盆祭りでにぎやかです。

Translation

The Bon Festival is lively in summer.

Example 3

この町は大きな盆地の中にあります。

Translation

This town is located inside a large basin.

Example 4

盆地のため気温が高くなります。

Translation

Temperatures rise because it is a basin.

Kanji 盆: basin, lantern festival, tray | Daily Nihongo