芳
芳·perfume, balmy, favorable
- On-yomi
- ほう
- Kun-yomi
- かんば.しい
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 芳香 | ほうこう | fragrance, perfume |
| 芳しい | かんばしい | fragrant; (with negatives) favourable |
| 芳名 | ほうめい | your esteemed name (formal) |
| 芳醇 | ほうじゅん | mellow and full-bodied (of wine, sake) |
Example sentences
部屋に花の芳香が漂っている。
へやにはなのほうこうがただよっている。
The fragrance of flowers drifts through the room.
今月の売り上げは芳しくない。
こんげつのうりあげはかんばしくない。
This month's sales are not very good.
受付で芳名帳に記入した。
うけつけでほうめいちょうにきにゅうした。
I wrote my name in the guest book at reception.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Using 芳しい as plain praise — in modern prose it appears mostly in the negative: 芳しくない (not good)
- Reading 芳名 as よしな; it is ほうめい, a polite word for someone else's name
Memory aid
Picture it
Grass on top, 方 'direction' below: a scent from the plants carried whichever way the wind blows.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 芳 mean?