幻
KANJI DETAIL
illusion
On readingげん4 strokesN2
Radical 幺 · short threadStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 幻.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- げん
- Kun reading
- まぼろし
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
幻denotes an illusion or vision; its kun-reading isまぼろしand its on-reading isげん. - Basic usage:
幻(まぼろし)means an illusion or vision, while幻想(げんそう)means fantasy or illusion.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A vision and an unrealized expectation
城の幻means a vision of a castle.幻に終わったappears where the expectation of easy success fails to come true and ends as an illusion.幻想の世界means a fantasy world.幻想applies to a dreamlike scene and to the unrealistic idea that success requires no effort.