White Rabbit Press Kanji Flash Cards

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Three similar kanji: 編, 偏, 遍

Here are three similar kanji that I want to get straight in my head.

編 HEN = compile, knit

The on-yomi へん generally refers to some form of editing, eg: 編集 へんしゅう = editing or compilation.
The kun-yomi 編む (あむ) means to knit. eg: 編み物 (あみもの = knitting).

HEN = one-sided

eg: 偏見 へんけん = prejudiced
The kun-yomi is 偏る (katayoru = be partial, be unfair, deviate) which is slightly different in meaning from 片寄る (katayoru = concentrate on one side, go aside).

HEN = all over, times

eg: 普遍的 ふへんてき = universal 
遍歴 へんれき = wandering or pilgrimage 
何遍も なんべんも = several times
The kun-yomi is 遍く (あまねく) an adverb meaning widely, generally, universally, far and wide... which can also be written as 普く (see ふへんてき above).

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