Meaning
The kanji 展 means spreading out, unfolding, exhibiting, and developing. Picture a scroll being unrolled, a map laid flat on a table, or an exhibition hall thrown open to visitors — that gesture of bringing something hidden into full view runs through every use of this character.
Etymologically, 展 is a compound ideograph. The upper portion is the radical 尸 (a prostrate figure). Below, the strokes suggest two hands carefully spreading something wide. Oracle bone inscriptions showed a person stretching cloth by hand — deliberate, physical presentation. That image gradually extended to cover abstract growth and progress.
Today, 展 turns up in news articles, museum brochures, and business discussions alike. It builds compound nouns tied to exhibitions, progress, and unfolding events. At 10 strokes and Grade 6 in the elementary curriculum, students first encounter it in cultural programs and current-events reading.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
展 has one on'yomi: テン (ten). It dominates — nearly every compound uses this reading. You'll see テン in museum signage, newspaper headlines, and everyday conversation about exhibitions or growth.
- 展覧会 (tenrankai) — exhibition, art show; the standard word for a public display of art or artifacts
- 展示 (tenji) — display, exhibit; covers everything from museum pieces to product demos
- 発展 (hatten) — development, growth; a staple of economic and political reporting
- 展開 (tenkai) — unfolding, deployment, development; used in storytelling, strategy, and software alike
- 展望 (tenbou) — panoramic view, future outlook; the same word covers both a physical vista and a figurative one
- 進展 (shinten) — progress, advance; how a negotiation or situation moves forward
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is の.べる (noberu), meaning to stretch out or lay flat. It rarely appears in modern daily speech — look for it in classical literature and formal written expressions.
- 展べる (noberu) — to spread out, stretch, lay flat; used for physically unrolling or extending something
- 手を展べる (te wo noberu) — to stretch out one's hand; a literary expression
Common Words & Compounds
展 forms a rich set of compounds across culture, economics, and everyday life. Here are the key vocabulary items by theme.
Exhibitions & Display
- 展覧会 (tenrankai) — art exhibition, public show
- 展示会 (tenjikai) — trade show, display fair
- 展示場 (tenjijou) — exhibition hall, showroom
- 展示品 (tenjihin) — displayed item, exhibit piece
Development & Progress
- 発展 (hatten) — development, growth, flourishing
- 進展 (shinten) — progress, advancement of a situation
- 展開 (tenkai) — unfolding, deployment, development (of a plan or story)
- 発展途上国 (hatten tojou koku) — developing country
Views & Perspectives
- 展望 (tenbou) — panoramic view, future outlook
- 展望台 (tenboudai) — observation deck, lookout tower
Other Common Uses
- 個展 (koten) — solo exhibition, one-person show
- 伸展 (shinten) — extension, stretching out physically
Example Sentences
美術館で展覧会が開かれています。
Bijutsukan de tenrankai ga hirakarete imasu.
An exhibition is being held at the art museum.
この地域の経済は急速に発展しています。
Kono chiiki no keizai wa kyuusoku ni hatten shite imasu.
This region's economy is growing fast.
展示されている作品はすべて本物です。
Tenji sarete iru sakuhin wa subete honmono desu.
Every work on display is a genuine original.
彼は個展を開くために長年準備してきた。
Kare wa koten wo hiraku tame ni naganen junbi shite kita.
He has spent years preparing for his solo show.
交渉は大きな進展を見せた。
Koushou wa ookina shinten wo miseta.
The negotiations made a major breakthrough.
展望台から街全体が見渡せた。
Tenboudai kara machi zentai ga miwataseta.
From the observation deck, the whole city stretched out below.
物語の展開が予想外で、驚いた。
Monogatari no tenkai ga yosougai de, odoroita.
The story took a turn I never saw coming.
日本は戦後、目覚ましい経済発展を遂げた。
Nihon wa sengo, mezamashii keizai hatten wo togeta.
Japan achieved remarkable economic growth after the war.
その新製品は展示会で大きな注目を集めた。
Sono shinseihin wa tenjikai de ookina chuumoku wo atsumeta.
The new product drew huge attention at the trade fair.
Memory Tip
Picture an exhibition tent being raised for a festival. The top of 展 looks like a canopy (尸) sheltering what's inside, while the lower strokes suggest hands spreading a cloth open flat. The sound テン (ten) even rhymes with tent — something you set up, open out, and fill with things to show the world. A tent goes up: contents revealed, space expanded. That's 展 in action.