盆
盆·tray, Bon festival, basin
- On-yomi
- ボン
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お盆 | おぼん | the Bon festival; a tray |
| 盆栽 | ぼんさい | bonsai |
| 盆地 | ぼんち | basin (geography) |
| 盆踊り | ぼんおどり | Bon dance |
Example sentences
お盆にお茶を載せて運んだ。
おぼんにおちゃをのせてはこんだ。
I carried the tea on a tray.
お盆には家族で祖父の墓参りに行く。
おぼんにはかぞくでそふのはかまいりにいく。
At Obon the family goes to visit my grandfather's grave.
この町は山に囲まれた盆地にある。
このまちはやまにかこまれたぼんちにある。
This town sits in a basin surrounded by mountains.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 盆地 as ぼんじ — it is ぼんち
- お盆 means both the festival and a tray; context decides, and 盆と正月 refers to the two big holidays
Memory aid
Picture it
分 (divide) over 皿 (dish): a flat dish wide enough to carry portions divided out for everyone — a tray.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 盆 mean?