Meaning
憲 means constitution, law, and fundamental rule — three ideas that converge at the heart of governance. Its defining compound is 憲法 (kenpō), the national constitution: the supreme body of law that limits government power while guaranteeing citizens' rights. Beyond national constitutions, 憲 also covers foundational charters and frameworks that set the basic principles of institutions and social order.
At the bottom of the character sits the radical 心 (kokoro), meaning heart or mind. Above it, a complex upper element represents an official proclamation — rules made visible and binding for all. Read together, the character suggests: the law that governs the hearts of the people. A constitution does not merely regulate outward behavior; it shapes the values and spirit of a civilization.
Taught at the 6th-grade level under the Jōyō kanji system, 憲 requires 16 strokes to write. Its domain is almost entirely legal and political — newspaper editorials, court rulings, government documents, and constitutional debates all depend on it. Anyone studying Japanese law, modern history, or working toward JLPT N1 will meet this character often.
In ancient Chinese legal texts, 憲 referred to authoritative decrees issued by those in power. Over centuries, the character came to emphasize the supreme, binding nature of foundational laws — especially those that constrain government and protect individuals. In Japan, 憲 gained cultural weight after the Meiji Constitution of 1889, and its significance deepened when the postwar 日本国憲法 (Nihonkoku Kenpō) took effect on May 3, 1947.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
憲 has one on'yomi: ケン (ken). It appears almost exclusively in compound words (熟語, jukugo) within formal legal, political, and governmental contexts. Since 憲 never stands alone in modern Japanese, the compounds below are where this kanji actually lives.
- 憲法 (kenpō) — constitution; the supreme law of a nation, defining governmental structure and citizen rights
- 憲章 (kenshō) — charter; a formal founding document of an organization or international body, such as the United Nations Charter
- 憲政 (kensei) — constitutional government; governance conducted in accordance with a written constitution
- 憲兵 (kenpei) — military police; soldiers tasked with enforcing laws and maintaining order within the armed forces
- 違憲 (iken) — unconstitutional; an act or law that violates the constitution
- 合憲 (gōken) — constitutional; conforming to and permitted by the constitution
ケン stays consistent across all these compounds and belongs exclusively to formal registers — newspapers, legal commentary, political debate. Watch for homophone kanji: ケン is also the reading for 県 (prefecture) and 見 (see/view), so context is the only disambiguator.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
憲 has no standard kun'yomi in modern Japanese. Some classical dictionaries list のり (nori, meaning "rule" or "norm") as an archaic reading, but it does not appear in contemporary usage or JLPT testing. For practical purposes, ケン is the only reading that matters.
Common Words & Compounds
憲 lives almost entirely in legal and civic vocabulary. The following compounds are grouped by theme — constitutional core terms first, then compliance and reform, then institutional vocabulary.
Constitutional and Legal Core Terms
- 憲法 (kenpō) — constitution; Japan's postwar 日本国憲法 was enacted on May 3, 1947
- 憲章 (kenshō) — charter; foundational document of an organization, most famously the 国連憲章 (UN Charter)
- 憲政 (kensei) — constitutional government; rule based on constitutional principles
- 立憲 (rikken) — constitutionalism; establishing governance under a written constitution
Compliance, Violation, and Reform
- 違憲 (iken) — unconstitutional; in breach of the constitution
- 合憲 (gōken) — constitutional; legally valid under the constitution
- 護憲 (goken) — defending the constitution; the political position of preserving the current constitution as-is
- 改憲 (kaiken) — constitutional revision; amending or rewriting the constitution
- 憲法改正 (kenpō kaisei) — constitutional amendment; the formal legal process of altering the constitution
Institutional and Civic Terms
- 憲兵 (kenpei) — military police; law enforcement arm of the armed forces
- 憲法記念日 (Kenpō Kinenbi) — Constitution Day; a national public holiday in Japan observed every May 3rd
- 立憲主義 (rikken shugi) — constitutionalism as a political philosophy; the principle that governmental authority must be limited and defined by a constitution
Example Sentences
日本の憲法は1947年に施行された。
Nihon no kenpō wa 1947-nen ni shikō sareta.
Japan's constitution came into effect in 1947.
憲法は国の最高法規です。
Kenpō wa kuni no saikō hōki desu.
The constitution is the supreme law of the nation.
毎年5月3日は憲法記念日です。
Maitoshi gogatsu mikka wa Kenpō Kinenbi desu.
Every year, May 3rd is Constitution Day.
その法律は憲法に違反していると批判された。
Sono hōritsu wa kenpō ni ihan shite iru to hihan sareta.
That law was criticized for violating the constitution.
裁判所はその命令を違憲と判断した。
Saibansho wa sono meirei wo iken to handan shita.
The court ruled that the order was unconstitutional.
改憲派と護憲派が激しく議論した。
Kaiken-ha to goken-ha ga hageshiku giron shita.
The pro-revision and pro-preservation factions debated fiercely.
国連憲章は1945年に採択された。
Kokuren Kenshō wa 1945-nen ni saitaku sareta.
The United Nations Charter was adopted in 1945.
立憲主義は民主主義の基盤とされている。
Rikken shugi wa minshushugi no kiban to sarete iru.
Constitutionalism is regarded as the foundation of democracy.
憲法改正には国民投票が必要だ。
Kenpō kaisei ni wa kokumin tōhyō ga hitsuyō da.
A national referendum is required to amend the constitution.
政府は憲法の精神に従って政策を決めるべきだ。
Seifu wa kenpō no seishin ni shitagatte seisaku wo kimeru beki da.
The government should decide its policies in accordance with the spirit of the constitution.
Memory Tip
Look at the bottom of 憲: 心 (kokoro), heart or mind. Picture a grand parliament hall — the complex upper structure — looming over a single heart beneath it. That image is the character: the law that stands over every citizen's conscience. A constitution is not only about rules; it defines what a society values.
For the reading: ケン (ken) echoes the English word can. A constitution is precisely the document that says what a government can — and cannot — do. Link the sound to the image, and 憲 stays fixed.