Translation and Meaning of: 案 - an

Se você já se perguntou o que significa o kanji 案 (あん) ou como ele é usado no dia a dia no Japão, este artigo vai desvendar tudo sobre essa palavra versátil. Além do significado básico de "plano" ou "rascunho", exploraremos sua etimologia, o pictograma por trás do caractere e até dicas para memorizá-lo sem sufoco. E se você usa Anki ou outro sistema de repetição espaçada, vai adorar as frases práticas que separamos para turbinar seus estudos.

The kanji 案 is one of those characters that seems simple but carries a fascinating story. It appears in both formal and informal contexts, from business documents to casual conversations about crazy ideas. Have you ever come across it without noticing? Let's find out together how this little word sneaks into everyday Japanese and why it is so useful for those who want to master the language.

The origin and writing of the kanji 案

O kanji 案 é formado pela junção de dois radicais: 木 (madeira) na parte inferior e 安 (segurança) na parte superior. Essa combinação não é por acaso - na China antiga, mesas de madeira eram usadas para escrever planos e esboços, daí a associação com "rascunho". O radical 安, por sua vez, traz a ideia de estabilidade, como se o plano fosse algo bem pensado e seguro.

The stroke order of this character follows the classic rules: start with the radical on top (安) with the small horizontal strokes, then the slanted "tile," and finish with the wood at the bottom. A fun fact? Writing 案 in cursive kanji feels almost like a dance - the strokes flow so naturally that you don't even notice when you've memorized it. The ancient pictogram literally depicted a wooden board with notes, something like an ancestral whiteboard!

How Japanese people use 案 in everyday life

No escritório, 案 surge o tempo todo em palavras como 提案 (ていあん - proposta) ou 原案 (げんあん - rascunho inicial). Mas ele também aparece em situações inesperadas - já viu aqueles cartazes com 案内 (あんない - guia) em estações de trem? Pois é, até para te ajudar a não se perder, o 案 está presente. Em restaurantes, o 案内係 (あんないがかり) é quem te conduz à mesa, mostrando como esse kanji vai muito além de papéis e projetos.

A common trick is to confuse 案 with 暗 (dark), since the pronunciation is identical (あん). But while one speaks of bright plans, the other addresses the absence of light - what a difference a stroke can make, right? On Japanese social media, young people love to use 案 in sentences like "新しいビジネス案考え中!" (thinking about a new business plan), showing that even informal ideas gain the status of "plan" with this kanji.

Tips to never forget the kanji 案

Want an unbeatable trick? Imagine that the 安 on top is a roof protecting your notes (木 below) from the rain. Or associate "planning table" with those endless meetings where everyone scratches ideas on wooden blocks. If you're a fan of mnemonics, create a story like: "Ana (あん) made a PLAN to build a HOUSE (安) of WOOD (木)." Bizarre? Maybe. Effective? Definitely!

To really solidify it, try using 案 in real contexts. How about starting your diary in Japanese with "今日の案" (today's plan)? Or creating flashcards with sentences like "この案はどう思う？" (what do you think of this plan?). Over time, you will notice that 案 stops being just any kanji and becomes an old acquaintance - the one that always shows up when you least expect it, but now you recognize immediately.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 提案 (Teian) - Proposal, suggestion
• 計画 (Keikaku) - Plan, detailed planning
• アイデア (Aidea) - Idea, concept
• 構想 (Kousou) - Concept, vision, or general idea
• プラン (Puran) - Plan, generally used in more informal contexts

案

Romaji: an
Kana: あん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: Flat; suffix meaning draft.

Meaning in English: Plan, proposal, idea

Definition: 1. Solutions and suggestions for problems and issues

Example Sentences - (案) an

See below some example sentences:

答案を教えてください。

Kotae o oshiete kudasai

Please tell me the answer.

Please tell me the answer.

• 答案 - means "answer" in Japanese
• を - Direct object particle in Japanese
• 教えて - verb "teach" in the imperative in Japanese
• ください - particle of request in Japanese, which indicates a polite request

この案は素晴らしいですね。

Kono an wa subarashii desu ne

This idea is wonderful.

This plan is wonderful.

• この - Demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this one".
• 案 - noun that means "idea" or "proposal."
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "this idea."
• 素晴らしい - adjective meaning "wonderful" or "excellent".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and formal form.
• ね - a particle of completion that indicates confirmation or agreement, in this case, "isn't it?"

この案を検討してみましょう。

Kono an o kentō shite mimashou

Let's consider this proposal.

Let's consider this plan.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 案 - noun meaning "idea" or "project"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 検討 - verb meaning "to consider", "to examine" or "to analyze"
• して - conjugated form of the verb "suru" meaning "to do"
• みましょう - polite and encouraging form of the verb "miru" which means "to see" or "to try"

この議案は重要な問題を解決するために必要です。

Kono gi'an wa juuyou na mondai o kaiketsu suru tame ni hitsuyou desu

This proposal is needed to resolve important issues.

This account is needed to resolve important issues.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 議案 - noun meaning "proposal" or "bill"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 重要な - Adjective meaning "important"
• 問題 - noun meaning "problem"
• を - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 解決する - verb meaning "to resolve"
• ために - expression meaning "for" or "in order to"
• 必要です - adjective meaning "necessary"

この法案は国民の利益を守るために必要です。

Kono hōan wa kokumin no rieki o mamoru tame ni hitsuyō desu

This bill is necessary to protect the interests of the people.

• この法案 - This law
• は - is
• 国民の利益 - the interest of the people
• を - (object particle)
• 守る - protect
• ために - for
• 必要 - necessary
• です - is (politeness)

その提案は否決されました。

Sono teian wa hiketsu sare mashita

This proposal was rejected.

The proposal was rejected.

• その (sono) - demonstrative pronoun that means "that one" or "that"
• 提案 (teian) - noun meaning "proposal" or "suggestion"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "this proposal"
• 否決 (hiketsu) - noun that means "rejection" or "vote against"
• されました (saremashita) - passive verb in the polite form indicating that "the proposal was rejected"

私は新しい提案を考えています。

Watashi wa atarashii teian o kangaeteimasu

I'm thinking of a new proposal.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 新しい (atarashii) - 新しい (atarashii)
• 提案 (teian) - Japanese noun meaning "proposal"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "proposal"
• 考えています (kangaeteimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "I'm thinking"

私は彼女の健康を案じています。

Watashi wa kanojo no kenkō o anjite imasu

I'm worried about her health.

I'm thinking about your health.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - personal pronoun meaning "she"
• の (no) - Particle that indicates possession
• 健康 (kenkou) - noun that means "health"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 案じています (anzjiteimasu) - verb that means "to be worried" and is conjugated in the educated present continuous