Meaning
The kanji 煩 primarily expresses meanings such as 'trouble,' 'worry,' 'annoyance,' 'bother,' 'vexation,' and 'distress.' It can also describe something as 'complex' or 'complicated.' Essentially, 煩 represents a state of mental or emotional agitation, frequently stemming from external factors or intricate circumstances.
Its visual composition provides a strong hint to its meaning. The character is formed by two components: 火 (fire) on the left and 頁 (head/face) on the right. Imagine a 'fire' burning inside one's 'head' or 'face.' This vivid image perfectly illustrates the sensation of irritation, mental distress, or a persistent bothering thought. The 'fire' component suggests heat, agitation, and a burning sensation, while 'head' points to the mind or intellect as the locus of these feelings. Thus, 煩 visually represents a state where one's mind is ablaze with worries or frustrations.
With 13 strokes, 煩 is considered an advanced kanji, typically encountered at the JLPT N1 level. Although it is a Joyo Kanji (specifically Grade 8), its nuanced meanings and frequent appearance in complex compounds make it crucial for advanced learners to grasp.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi (Chinese-derived) readings for 煩 are mainly ハン and less frequently ボン. These readings are typically used in compound words, where 煩 combines with other kanji to form more abstract or formal terms.
ハン: This is 煩's most common on'yomi, often appearing in words that denote complexity, trouble, or mental distress.
煩雑 (hanzatsu) — meaning complicated, intricate, troublesome. This refers to procedures or tasks that are difficult due to their numerous steps or details.
例：この手続きは非常に煩雑です (Kono tetsuzuki wa hijō ni hanzatsu desu) — These procedures are extremely complicated.
- 煩瑣 (hansa) — meaning intricate, trifling, vexatious. Similar to 煩雑, it emphasizes the finicky and annoying nature of something complex.
例：煩瑣な作業 (hansa na sagyō) — Intricate and vexatious work.
- 煩悶 (hanmon) — meaning anguish, worry, distress. This describes a state of internal suffering and mental agitation.
例：心中の煩悶を打ち明ける (Shinchū no hanmon o uchiakeru) — To confide one's inner anguish.
ボン: This reading is much less common, almost exclusively found in one significant compound with Buddhist origins.
煩悩 (bonnō) — meaning worldly desires, earthly passions, or defilements in Buddhism. These are the mental states that disturb one's spiritual peace and lead to suffering.
例：人間には百八の煩悩があると言われる (Ningen ni wa hyakuhachi no bonnō ga aru to iwareru) — It is said that humans have 108 worldly desires.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings link 煩 to native Japanese vocabulary, often expressing trouble or annoyance in more direct, everyday contexts. These readings usually appear with okurigana (送り仮名), which are trailing hiragana characters.
わずら.わす (wazurawasu): This is a transitive verb meaning 'to trouble,' 'to bother,' or 'to annoy' someone or something. It implies actively causing inconvenience or distress.
人を煩わす (hito o wazurawasu) — to bother people, to cause trouble for someone.
手間を煩わす (tema o wazurawasu) — to go to the trouble, to take the pains (often used politely when someone does something for you).
わずら.う (wazurau): This is an intransitive verb meaning 'to be troubled,' 'to suffer from (an illness),' or 'to worry.' It describes a state of experiencing trouble or suffering.
病に煩う (yamai ni wazurau) — to suffer from an illness.
心が煩う (kokoro ga wazurau) — one's heart is troubled, to worry emotionally.
うるさ.い (urusai): This is an i-adjective meaning 'noisy,' 'annoying,' 'bothersome,' or 'fussy.' It describes something that is irritating to the senses or a person who is overly particular.
煩い音 (urusai oto) — an annoying sound, a noisy sound.
煩い人 (urusai hito) — a fussy person, an annoying person.
うるさ.がる (urusagaru): This is a verb meaning 'to show annoyance,' 'to complain about noisiness,' or 'to act annoyed.' It describes the act of expressing one's irritation.
子供は宿題を煩がった (kodomo wa shukudai o urusagatta) — The child complained about homework.
Common Words & Compounds
Understanding 煩 in context is essential for N1 learners. Below are common words and compounds, categorized for easier learning:
Words related to Complexity and Trouble:
煩雑 (hanzatsu) — Complicated, intricate, troublesome. Often used for administrative procedures or systems.
この手続きは非常に煩雑です (Kono tetsuzuki wa hijō ni hanzatsu desu) — These procedures are extremely complicated.
- 煩瑣 (hansa) — Intricate, trifling, vexatious. Emphasizes the annoying details of complexity.
煩瑣な作業 (hansa na sagyō) — Intricate and vexatious work.
- 煩わしい (wazurawashii) — Troublesome, annoying, bothersome. This i-adjective describes things that cause irritation, bother, or annoyance.
煩わしい問題が山積している (Wazurawashii mondai ga sanseki shite iru) — Troublesome problems are piling up.
Words related to Mental/Emotional States:
煩悩 (bonnō) — Worldly desires, earthly passions, defilements (Buddhist term). The fundamental human desires and attachments that cause suffering.
人間には百八の煩悩があると言われる (Ningen ni wa hyakuhachi no bonnō ga aru to iwareru) — It is said that humans have 108 worldly desires.
- 煩悶 (hanmon) — Anguish, worry, distress. A state of deep mental suffering.
心中の煩悶を打ち明ける (Shinchū no hanmon o uchiakeru) — To confide one's inner anguish.
- 煩い (urusai) — Noisy, annoying, bothersome. Commonly used in everyday conversation.
テレビの音が煩い (Terebi no oto ga urusai) — The TV is too loud/noisy.
Verb Forms and Related Expressions:
煩わす (wazurawasu) — To trouble, to bother, to annoy (transitive verb).
お手数をお煩わし申し訳ありません (Otesū o o-wazurawashi mōshiwake arimasen) — I apologize for troubling you with this task (a very polite expression).
- 煩う (wazurau) — To be troubled, to suffer from (an illness), to worry (intransitive verb).
彼は持病に煩っている (Kare wa jibyō ni wazuratte iru) — He is suffering from a chronic illness.
煩がしい (urusagashii) — Annoying, bothersome (an archaic or very formal/literary variant of 煩わしい). While rarely used in modern conversation, it might be encountered in older texts.
More Specific/Literary Compounds:
煩忙 (hanbō) — Busy, occupied, pressing duties. Similar to 繁忙 but often implying a more troublesome or mentally taxing busyness.
煩忙な日々を送る (Hanbō na hibi o okuru) — To lead busy and demanding days.
- 煩熱 (hannetsu) — Fever, heat (especially internal heat or agitation). A medical or literary term.
胸中の煩熱を覚える (Kyōchū no hannetsu o oboeru) — To feel a burning agitation in one's chest.
Example Sentences
子供の声が煩くて、仕事に集中できません。
Kodomo no koe ga urusakute, shigoto ni shūchū dekimasen.
The children's voices are annoying, and I can't concentrate on work.
彼は些細なことで他人を煩わすのを好まない。
Kare wa sasai na koto de tanin o wazurawasu no o konomanai.
He doesn't like to bother others with trivial matters.
祖父は長年、持病に煩っており、入退院を繰り返している。
Sofu wa naganen, jibyō ni wazuratte ori, nyūtaiin o kurikaeshite iru.
My grandfather has been suffering from a chronic illness for many years and has been repeatedly hospitalized.
年末の大掃除はいつも煩雑で、気が重くなる。
Nenmatsu no ō sōji wa itsumo hanzatsu de, ki ga omoku naru.
Year-end cleaning is always complicated and makes me feel depressed.
現代人は様々な煩悩を抱え、日々生きている。
Gendaizin wa samazama na bonnō o kakae, hibi ikite iru.
Modern people live each day harboring various worldly desires.
彼女は必要以上に私を煩わすので、少し疲れている。
Kanojo wa hitsuyō ijō ni watashi o wazurawasu node, sukoshi tsukarete iru.
She bothers me more than necessary, so I'm a little tired.
子どもたちは宿題を煩がってばかりいて、なかなか手をつけない。
Kodomotachi wa shukudai o urusagatte bakari ite, nakanaka te o tsukenai.
The children are constantly complaining about their homework and rarely get started on it.
心の煩悶を抱え続けるのは、健康によくないと思う。
Kokoro no hanmon o kakaetsuzukeru no wa, kenkō ni yoku nai to omou.
I think continuing to harbor mental anguish is not good for one's health.
その複雑で煩雑な書類作成は、専門家に頼むのが一番だ。
Sono fukuzatsu de hanzatsu na shorui sakusei wa, senmonka ni tanomu no ga ichiban da.
It's best to ask a professional for that complex and troublesome document preparation.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 煩, think of its components: 火 (fire) on the left and 頁 (head/face) on the right. Imagine a persistent 'fire' blazing inside your 'head' or 'mind.' This internal fire isn't literally burning, but it symbolizes intense mental irritation, constant worrying, or bothersome thoughts that just won't extinguish. When your head is 'on fire' with worries, you feel troubled, annoyed, and vexed. This vivid image of mental agitation strongly connects to the core meanings of 煩: trouble, worry, annoyance, and being bothered.