Meaning
The kanji 班 (han) most commonly means “group,” “squad,” “section,” “division,” or “team.” You'll often see it used in many different settings, such as organizational structures in companies and schools, military units, and emergency response teams. At its heart, 班 conveys the idea of splitting a larger whole into smaller, manageable units. It also refers to assigning individuals to specific teams or groups that share a common goal. This meaning also extends to divisions of work or time, like a “shift” or “turn,” where a particular group is responsible for a set period.
The kanji 班 has a fascinating origin, often understood as a phono-semantic compound. Look at the top part: it resembles two 王 (ō, king or jade) characters placed side-by-side. This could be interpreted as 玨 'two jades' or an older form of 班 meaning “variegated” or “striped,” both suggesting similarity or multiple items. Below, you see 刀 (katana, sword or knife), which conveys the action of “cutting” or “dividing.” Together, the character visually suggests “dividing similar things or people into distinct groups or sections.” This etymology neatly connects the visual components to the core meaning of grouping or segregating. While the top part’s precise original form and meaning are complex and still debated, the central concept of ‘separation’ or ‘arrangement’ is strongly linked to the ‘knife’ radical. This 10-stroke kanji is a Joyo kanji, typically learned around the 6th grade in Japanese schools, making it essential for advanced learners aiming for the JLPT N1 level.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 班 is ハン (han), and it's almost exclusively used. You'll find this reading frequently in compound words, showing its wide use in organizational and classificatory contexts for groups, sections, or shifts.
班 (han) — group, squad, section. While 班 (han) usually appears in compounds, it can also stand alone as a noun for a small, functional unit like a working group.
各班 (kakuhan) — each group
作業班 (sagyōhan) — work group, task force
班長 (hanchō) — squad leader, team leader. This is a common title for the head of a small organizational unit, responsible for guiding and overseeing the group members.
彼は研究班長だ (kare wa kenkyū hanchō da) — He is the research team leader.
班長会議 (hanchō kaigi) — team leader meeting
班員 (han'in) — squad member, team member. It refers to an individual belonging to a specific group, often with assigned roles or responsibilities.
新入りの班員 (shin'iri no han'in) — a new group member
班員全員 (han'in zen'in) — all group members
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Unlike many kanji, 班 doesn't have commonly used Kun'yomi (native Japanese readings) in modern Japanese. While some archaic or very rare readings might exist in specialized dictionaries, for practical purposes—especially for JLPT N1 preparation—you should focus only on its On'yomi, ハン (han). This is because it's the only reading you'll consistently encounter in everyday and academic contexts. This absence emphasizes its main role: forming compound words with other kanji.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 班 (han) forms many essential compound words, all related to its core meaning of “group” or “division.” Learning these compounds is key to understanding its versatile usage in different settings, from schools and corporations to public services and emergency response.
General Grouping & Organization:
班 (han) — group, squad, section, team. Often used as a general term for a small, functional unit, like a student group for a school project.
班長 (hanchō) — group leader, squad leader, team leader. The person in charge of a small unit, responsible for its coordination, such as a team leader at work.
班員 (han'in) — group member, squad member, team member. An individual belonging to a specific group.
班分け (hanwake) — grouping, division into groups. The act or result of organizing people or items into teams or categories, like dividing students for a sports day.
各班 (kakuhan) — each group, every squad. Refers to multiple distinct groups in a collective context, for instance, 'each group' in a class presentation.
Duty & Shifts:
当番 (tōban) — duty, shift, turn (e.g., of cleaning). Refers to a specific rotation of duties, like being on cleaning duty or a shift for a task.
交替班 (kōtai han) — shift group, rotating shift team. A team that works in alternating shifts, common in continuous operations like factories or hospitals.
勤務班 (kinmu han) — work shift, duty group. A specific group assigned to a particular work period or task, for example, the night shift crew.
Specialized Teams & Units:
医療班 (iryōhan) — medical team, medical squad. A group of professionals providing medical assistance, especially in emergencies or disaster relief.
研究班 (kenkyūhan) — research team, research group. A group collaborating on a specific research project or area, often seen in academic or scientific fields.
捜査班 (sōsa han) — investigation team, detective squad. A group tasked with investigating a crime or complex incident, typically a detective squad.
実行班 (jikkōhan) — execution squad, task force. A team specifically responsible for carrying out a plan, mission, or operation, like an execution squad for a critical task.
Example Sentences
先生は私たちを三つの班に分けました。
Sensei wa watashitachi o mittsu no han ni wakemashita.
The teacher divided us into three groups.
班長が新しいプロジェクトの概要を説明しました。
Hanchō ga atarashii purojekuto no gaiyō o setsumei shimashita.
The team leader explained the outline of the new project.
この研究班は、複数の大学から集まった専門家で構成されています。
Kono kenkyūhan wa, fukusū no daigaku kara atsumatta senmonka de kōsei sarete imasu.
This research team is composed of experts gathered from multiple universities.
今日の当番は私たちの班なので、掃除をしなければなりません。
Kyō no tōban wa watashitachi no han nanode, sōji o shinakereba narimasen.
Since it's our group's turn today, we have to clean up.
災害時には、緊急医療班が現地に派遣されます。
Saigaiji ni wa, kinkyū iryōhan ga genchi ni haken saremasu.
In times of disaster, emergency medical teams are dispatched to the site.
プロジェクトは作業班ごとに進捗状況が報告されます。
Purojekuto wa sagyōhan-goto ni shinchoku jōkyō ga hōkoku saremasu.
The project's progress is reported by each work group.
来週までに各班で結論をまとめてください。
Raishū made ni kakuhan de ketsuron o matomete kudasai.
Please summarize the conclusions for each group by next week.
この捜査班は長年の経験を持つベテランばかりです。
Kono sōsa han wa naganen no keiken o motsu beteran bakari desu.
This investigation team consists only of veterans with many years of experience.
子供たちは運動会のために赤組と白組の二つの班に分けられました。
Kodomotachi wa undōkai no tame ni akagumi to shirogumi no futatsu no han ni wakeraremashita.
The children were divided into two groups, the Red Team and the White Team, for the sports day.
Memory Tip
To remember 班 (han), visualize its components: the top part, which looks like two 王 (ō, king or jade) side-by-side, and the bottom component 刀 (katana, knife or sword). Imagine two identical jade ornaments (perhaps precious) or two “kings” (representing similar entities) that need to be carefully divided or separated into distinct groups. The “knife” below serves as the tool for this precise division. So, picture “two similar things (like jade or kings) being divided into distinct groups with a knife.” This mnemonic helps you remember both the similarity within groups and the action of creating those divisions, reinforcing its core meaning of “group” or “section.”