判 means “judgment, seal”

はん · han

Also: judgement, signature, stamp

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

わかる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ハン, バン

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 5 · 7 strokes

The story

A knife (刂) cutting something in half (半): separating one side from the other, which is what judging is. 判 is also a seal: the 判子, a little name stamp pressed in red ink on contracts and delivery slips.

Used in 判断 (handan, judgment), 裁判 (saiban, trial), and 評判 (hyouban, reputation)

More from Council & Debate

• 認 recognize
• 参 join
• 論 argument
• 投 throw
• 談 talk
• 可 possible
• 断 refuse
• 否 no
• 許 permit
• 賛 approve
• 議 debate
• 対 versus

Learn 判 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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