The Kanji: 欄 (Ran)
The kanji 欄 means "column," "section," or "railing." It combines 木 (wood) with 闌 (railing), originally depicting wooden railings that divide spaces. This character represents divided sections in publications and structures.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 欄 (ran) - Column
新聞の投書欄を読む。
"Read the reader's column in the newspaper."
2. 記名欄 (kimeiran) - Signature field
書類の記名欄に署名する。
"Sign in the signature field of the document."
3. 空欄 (kūran) - Blank space
空欄に必要事項を記入する。
"Fill in the required information in the blank space."
4. 欄干 (rankan) - Railing
橋の欄干にもたれる。
"Lean on the bridge railing."
In summary, 欄 describes divided spaces - from printed sections (欄, 記名欄) and empty fields (空欄) to physical railings (欄干). It's essential for discussing layouts and structures in Japanese.