Kanji Breakdown: 晩
Core Meaning: Evening, night; late period
Reading: バン (ban)
Structure Analysis:
日 (sun): day/time
免 (excuse/avoid): phonetic component
Character depicts "sun avoiding/excusing itself" - sunset and evening.
Essential Vocabulary & Usage
1. 晩ご飯 (ばんごはん・bangohan) - Dinner, evening meal
"What are we having for dinner tonight?"
今夜の晩ご飯は何ですか。
2. 今晩 (こんばん・konban) - This evening, tonight
"It might rain tonight."
今晩は雨が降るかもしれません。
3. 晩年 (ばんねん・bannen) - Later years, old age
"He spent his later years peacefully in the countryside."
彼は田舎で平和に晩年を過ごした。
4. 晩秋 (ばんしゅう・banshū) - Late autumn
"The leaves turn red in late autumn."
晩秋には紅葉が色づく。
Key Insight
晩 represents the evening period and lateness - both daily (sunset to night) and lifelong (old age). It appears in time expressions, meal names, and life stage descriptions. Unlike 夜 (night/darkness), 晩 specifically refers to the transition period and carries formal nuances in temporal descriptions.
*Stroke Order: 12 strokes - write 日 first, then 免 component.*