Meaning
The kanji 陳 (チン) has a dual core meaning: it primarily relates to 'displaying,' 'exhibiting,' or 'stating,' and secondarily, it can mean 'old,' 'stale,' or 'obsolete.' Although these meanings might seem unrelated at first, they are often linked by the concept of things being laid out or existing for an extended period. For instance, consider displaying old items, or formally stating something that has been known for a while.
Tracing its etymological roots reveals a clear connection. The left-hand radical 阝 (こざとへん), derived from 阜 (meaning 'hill' or 'mound' and often associated with city walls), provides a semantic hint. It suggests a location or a raised platform. The right-hand component 東 (ひがし - east) primarily functions as a phonetic element, giving 陳 its 'チン' sound. However, it also evokes the idea of arrangement, as the east is a cardinal direction often used for orientation. Imagine displaying goods on a mound or a city wall facing east. This visual connection helps to grasp the idea of 'laying out' or 'arranging.' Over time, this evolved to encompass 'stating' (laying out facts) and 'old' (items that have been laid out for a long time).
Composed of 10 strokes, 陳 is a Joyo Kanji taught in Grade 6 of elementary school in Japan. Despite this, its nuanced meanings and the specific vocabulary in which it appears make it particularly relevant for JLPT N1 learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi for 陳 is チン (chin), a reading derived from its historical Chinese pronunciation. This reading is by far the most common in modern Japanese and is used in almost all compound words involving 陳. It often conveys the sense of displaying, stating, or being old/stale.
陳列 (chinretsu) — display, exhibition. This refers to the act of arranging items for viewing.
陳述 (chinjutsu) — statement, declaration. Used when formally stating facts or opinions.
陳腐 (chinpu) — stale, trite, hackneyed, obsolete. Describes something that is old-fashioned or lacks originality.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Although On'yomi readings are dominant, 陳 does have a few Kun'yomi. The most notable Kun'yomi is のべる (noberu). However, 陳べる (のべる) is rarely used in everyday modern Japanese; 述べる (のべる), meaning 'to state' or 'to express,' has largely superseded it. When 陳べる is encountered, it typically means 'to display' or 'to lay out' items.
- 陳べる (noberu) — to display, to lay out, to arrange. While technically a valid reading, it is seldom used independently in contemporary Japanese, mostly appearing in very specific or classical contexts.
Another listed Kun'yomi is ふるい (陳い), meaning 'old' or 'stale.' This form, however, is virtually obsolete. You're far more likely to see its meaning conveyed in compounds like 陳腐 (ちんぷ) or by using other kanji, such as 古い (ふるい) for 'old.'
Common Words & Compounds
Below is a selection of common words and compounds using 陳, categorized by thematic connection to aid your understanding:
Words related to Display & Arrangement
陳列 (chinretsu) — display, exhibition, showcase. (e.g., 商品を陳列する - to display products)
陳列棚 (chinretsudana) — display shelf, showcase. (e.g., 新しいデザインの服が陳列棚に並んでいる - New design clothes are lined up on the display shelf.)
陳列品 (chinretsuhin) — exhibited article, display item. (e.g., 博物館には珍しい陳列品が多い - There are many rare exhibition items in the museum.)
陳列室 (chinretsushitsu) — showroom, exhibition room. (e.g., 新車の陳列室を見学した - I visited the new car showroom.)
Words related to Stating & Explaining
陳述 (chinjutsu) — statement, declaration, testimony. (e.g., 証人は法廷で陳述した - The witness made a statement in court.)
陳情 (chinjō) — petition, appeal, representation. (e.g., 市役所に陳情書を提出した - I submitted a petition to the city hall.)
意見陳述 (iken chinjutsu) — statement of opinion. (e.g., 会議で意見陳述の機会があった - I had an opportunity to state my opinion at the meeting.)
陳謝 (chinsha) — apology, expression of regret. (e.g., 彼は自分のミスについて陳謝した - He apologized for his mistake.)
Words related to Oldness & Obsolescence
陳腐 (chinpu) — stale, trite, hackneyed, obsolete. (e.g., そのアイデアはもう陳腐だ - That idea is already stale/obsolete.)
新陳代謝 (shinchintaisha) — metabolism (literally, new and old changing); renewal. This compound effectively illustrates the concept of old things being replaced by new ones. (e.g., 体の新陳代謝を活発にする - to activate the body's metabolism.)
陳年 (chinnen) — aged (wine, tea, etc.). (e.g., 陳年プーアル茶は香りが良い - Aged Pu-erh tea has a good aroma.)
Example Sentences
デパートの食品売場には、季節の果物が美しく陳列されていた。
Depāto no shokuhinuriba ni wa, kisetsu no kudamono ga utsukushiku chinretsu sareteita.
Seasonal fruits were beautifully displayed in the department store's food section.
会議で彼は自分の考えを明確に陳述した。
Kaigi de kare wa jibun no kangae o meikaku ni chinjutsu shita.
He clearly stated his thoughts at the meeting.
この小説のテーマはもう陳腐で、読者に響かないだろう。
Kono shōsetsu no tēma wa mō chinpu de, dokusha ni hibikanai darō.
The theme of this novel is already stale and probably won't resonate with readers.
市民団体は市役所に環境保護を求める陳情書を提出した。
Shimin dantai wa shiyakusho ni kankyō hogo o motomeru chinjōsho o teishutsu shita.
The citizen group submitted a petition to the city hall requesting environmental protection.
会社は顧客に対して、不手際について丁重に陳謝した。
Kaisha wa kokyaku ni taishite, futegiwa ni tsuite teichō ni chinsha shita.
The company sincerely apologized to the customers for its blunder.
すべての生物は新陳代謝によって生命を維持している。
Subete no seibutsu wa shinchintaisha ni yotte seimei o iji shiteiru.
All living organisms maintain life through metabolism.
博物館の陳列室には、古代の遺物が数多く展示されている。
Hakubutsukan no chinretsushitsu ni wa, kodai no ibutsu ga amata ooku tenji sareteiru.
Numerous ancient artifacts are exhibited in the museum's display room.
彼の話し方は少し陳腐だが、内容は興味深いものだった。
Kare no hanashikata wa sukoshi chinpu daga, naiyō wa kyōmibukai mono datta.
His way of speaking was a little hackneyed, but the content was interesting.
Memory Tip
To help remember 陳, let's break down its components. The left side, 阝 (こざとへん), represents a hill or mound. The right side, 東 (ひがし), means east. Imagine you are standing on a hill (阝) looking towards the east (東). What would you do there? Perhaps display (陳列) your wares, or make a statement (陳述) to the rising sun. If you leave things out on the hill for too long, they might become old or stale (陳腐). Thus, the image of things displayed or left on an eastern hill leads to both 'display/state' and 'old/stale' meanings.