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道Nihongo Path
繁

繁·prosperous, frequent

On-yomi
ハン
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

16 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
繁栄はんえいprosperity
繁華街はんかがいdowntown, busy district
繁殖はんしょくbreeding, propagation
頻繁ひんぱんfrequent

Example sentences

  1. 駅前の繁華街はいつもにぎやかだ。

    えきまえのはんかがいはいつもにぎやかだ。

    The busy district in front of the station is always lively.

  2. この港町は貿易で繁栄した。

    このみなとまちはぼうえきではんえいした。

    This port town prospered through trade.

  3. 最近、彼から頻繁に連絡が来る。

    さいきん、かれからひんぱんにれんらくがくる。

    Lately he contacts me frequently.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 頻繁 as ひんはん — it becomes ひんぱん
  • Reading 繁華街 as はんかまち — it is はんかがい

Memory aid

Picture it

Thread 糸 at the bottom under a busy top — threads multiplying and tangling thickly, hence both 'flourishing' and 'frequent'.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 繁 mean?