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便
🇹🇼🇭🇰🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷

convenient

HSK 6 N3
biàn, pián
ベン、ビン
たよ.り
편, 변
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 𠓥 represents the sound. Originally written as 𠓥, which depicted a hand holding a whip with the 丙 component. Based on the original meaning "whip a person", now written as 鞭. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Components
person (side)+ 𠓥 whip =
便 convenient
Meaning component
rén person (side)
亻 is a component form of 人.
𠓥 Meaning component
biān whip
Modern form looks like unrelated 更.
View phonetic series →
Notes
Historical Evolution
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
便
Regular
Modern
Chinese
便 [biàn]
plain; informal; suitable; convenient; opportune; to urinate or defecate; equivalent to 就[jiù]: then; in that case; even if; soon afterwards
便 [pián]
see 便宜|便宜[pián​yi]
Japanese
便 びん 同音

noun

  1. flight (e.g. airline flight); trip (e.g. train trip); service
  2. mail; post; letter
  3. opportunity; chance
便 べん 同音

noun

  1. convenience; service; facility; accommodation
  2. excreta (esp. faeces); excrement; stool
Korean
[便]
Noun
party; side; One of each group, when a bigger group is divided into two or several smaller groups.
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
便 たより
Tayori given name
便 びん
Bin surname