Explore 般 in words for general categories and the whole of a subject.

The idea

般 has 10 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Its on-reading is はん, but 一般 and 全般 are read いっぱん and ぜんぱん. Learn the sound changes with each word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
一般いっぱんThis library is open to the general public.
一般的いっぱんてきGenerally speaking, this region has warm winters.
全般ぜんぱんShe oversees the work as a whole.

Examples

  • この図書館としょかんは一般いっぱんに公開こうかいされています。This library is open to the general public.
  • 一般的いっぱんてきにこの地域ちいきの冬ふゆは暖あたたかいです。Generally speaking, this region has warm winters.
  • 一般向いっぱんむけの経済けいざいの本ほんを買かいました。I bought a general-audience book on economics.
  • 彼女かのじょは仕事しごと全般ぜんぱんを管理かんりしています。She oversees the work as a whole.
  • 計画けいかく全般ぜんぱんについて先生せんせいと話はなしました。I discussed the whole plan with my teacher.
  • 一般いっぱん販売はんばいは明日あしたから始はじまります。General admission begins tomorrow.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

一般 means general or ordinary; 全般 covers a subject as a whole. Neither means that every individual case is identical.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 一般 in hiragana.

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    いっぱん

    一般 is いっぱん: the small っ marks a doubled consonant, and はん becomes ぱん.

  2. Write the reading of 全般 in hiragana.

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    ぜんぱん

    全般 is ぜんぱん: 般 is pronounced ぱん after 全. It refers to the whole scope.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 一＿（いっぱん）［般／船］.

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    般

    般 completes 一般, meaning general; 船 means boat and is a different character.

Use it today

Write 般 using the diagram, cover the table and read both words. Make a sentence with 全般.