演 means “perform, act”

えん · en

Also: performance, play, render

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エン

Taught in grade 5 · 14 strokes

The story

Water (氵) flowing and spreading (寅): a performance ripples outward from the stage to touch every member of the audience. From Kabuki's dramatic 演技 to the 演説 (speeches) of statesmen, 演 captures the power of human expression before an audience.

Used in 演奏 (ensou, musical performance), 演劇 (engeki, theater), and 演技 (engi, acting)

More from Music & Arts

• 芸 art
• 美 beauty
• 歌 song
• 楽 music
• 踊 dance
• 奏 play (music)
• 劇 drama
• 画 painting
• 彫 carve
• 詩 poetry
• 拍 rhythm
• 弦 string (instrument)

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

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