〜観(かん)

〜観(かん) is a suffix meaning "view of," "outlook on," or "sense of." It attaches to nouns to create abstract concepts about how one perceives or understands something.

Compounds

• 価値観(かちかん): values, sense of values
• 人生観(じんせいかん): view of life, philosophy of life
• 世界観(せかいかん): worldview
• 歴史観(れきしかん): view of history
• 自然観(しぜんかん): view of nature
• 倫理観(りんりかん): ethical sense, moral outlook
• 死生観(しせいかん): view of life and death

Common patterns

• 〜観(かん)が変(か)わる: one's view of ~ changes
• 〜観(かん)を持(も)つ: to hold a view of ~
• 〜観(かん)が違(ちが)う: to have different views on ~

Usage

Do not confuse with 〜感(かん) (feeling/sense), which expresses a subjective impression rather than a philosophical outlook. Example: 安心感(あんしんかん) (sense of relief) uses 感(かん), not 観(かん).