1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “媛” (pronounced “en” or “hime”) primarily means “princess” or “beautiful woman.” It conveys a sense of elegance and grace, often associated with noble or refined qualities.
2. Formation and Radical
The kanji “媛” is a phonetic-ideographic character (形声文字), which combines a semantic component with a phonetic element. The left part, “女” (woman), indicates the meaning related to femininity, while the right part, “袁,” provides the phonetic sound.
The radical of “媛” is “女,” which is commonly associated with female-related meanings in various kanji.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “媛” are:
- 姫 (hime) – princess
- 媛 (en) – a term for a beautiful woman
Example sentences in daily conversation:
- 彼女は本当に美しい媛です。 (Kanojo wa hontō ni utsukushii en desu.) – She is truly a beautiful woman.
- その物語には姫が登場します。 (Sono monogatari ni wa hime ga tōjō shimasu.) – A princess appears in that story.
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 美 (bi) – beauty, which emphasizes aesthetic qualities.
- 女 (onna) – woman, which is a more general term for females.
Antonyms include:
- 男 (otoko) – man, representing the opposite gender.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The kanji “媛” has significant ties to Japanese culture, often appearing in literature and folklore where princesses and noble women are central figures. It reflects the traditional view of femininity and beauty in Japanese society.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions that include “媛” or related concepts often highlight the virtues of grace and elegance, such as:
- 「姫のように振る舞う」 (Hime no yō ni furumau) – to behave like a princess, indicating poise and refinement.