Explore 版 in books, digital editions and printing blocks. Learn each reading with a whole word.

The idea

版 has 8 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Read 出版（しゅっぱん）, 初版（しょはん）, 電子版（でんしばん） and 木版（もくはん） as whole words. Its usual reading is はん, voiced to ばん in some compounds.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingIn context
出版しゅっぱんThe author published a new book.
初版しょはんThe first edition came out in 1980.
電子版でんしばんI read the digital edition at the library.
木版もくはんThe craftsperson printed a picture using a woodblock.

Examples

  • 新版しんぱんを来月らいげつ出版しゅっぱんします。We will publish a new edition next month.
  • 初版しょはんは一九八〇年せんきゅうひゃくはちじゅうねんに出でました。The first edition came out in 1980.
  • 電子版でんしばんを図書館としょかんで読よみました。I read the digital edition at the library.
  • 英語版えいごばんは来週らいしゅう発売はつばいされます。The English edition will go on sale next week.
  • 作家さっかが新あたらしい本ほんを出版しゅっぱんしました。The author published a new book.
  • 職人しょくにんが木版もくはんを使つかって絵えを刷すりました。The craftsperson printed a picture using a woodblock.

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

Watch out

版 can mean an edition or a printing block; it is not the similar-looking 板, a board. 出版 means publication, not an individual edition.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 出版 in hiragana.

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    しゅっぱん

    出版 is しゅっぱん: the small っ marks a doubled consonant. It means publication.

  2. Write the reading of 初版 in hiragana.

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    しょはん

    初版 is しょはん, the first edition of a publication.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 電子＿（でんしばん）［版／板］.

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    版

    版 completes 電子版（でんしばん）, a digital edition; 板 means a board.

Use it today

Write 版 using the stroke diagram, then cover the examples and read 初版 and 電子版 aloud. Make a sentence with one.