演

JLPT N3

Perform, act

Readings

On’yomi: エン (en)

Structure

Radical: Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Composition: Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

演じる

えんじる

act

演劇

えんげき

drama

講演

こうえん

lecture

実演

じつえん

demonstration

上演

じょうえん

staging

Example Sentences

役を演じます。

やくをえんじます。

I play a role.

演劇を見ます。

えんげきをみます。

I watch a play.

講演を聞きます。

こうえんをききます。

I listen to a lecture.

実演します。

じつえんします。

I demonstrate it.

映画を上演します。

えいがをじょうえんします。

They show a movie.

Cultural Note

🎎 演 reflects the Japanese value of practice, development, and performance.
• It is closely tied to arts and entertainment — acting (演技), music (演奏), and stage production (演出).
• Beyond arts, 演 also applies to exercises or drills (演習), showing the cultural emphasis on rehearsal, preparation, and refinement.
• The water radical (氵) symbolizes flow, spreading, and adaptability, highlighting that effective performance requires flexibility and natural progression.