宴 means “banquet, feast, party”

えん · en

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うたげ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

Under a roof (宀), the sun (日) and a woman (女): picture a bright, warm hall full of guests. 宴会 is a banquet or office party, opened with a 乾杯 toast, a 披露宴 is a wedding reception, and spring brings 花見の宴 under the cherry trees.

Used in 宴会 (enkai, banquet/party), 披露宴 (hirouen, wedding reception), and 宴 (utage, feast)

More from Rites & Omens

• 賓 honored guest
• 崇 revere
• 禍 calamity
• 厄 misfortune
• 詣 visit a shrine
• 吉 good luck
• 儀 ceremony
• 典 classic
• 賀 congratulations
• 斎 purification
• 犠 sacrifice
• 寿 long life

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.