盤(ばん)

ばん
noun, suffix
board; tray; disc; base
1. board; game board
A flat surface used for playing board games such as go, shogi, or chess.
碁(ご)盤(ばん)の上(うえ)に石(いし)を並(なら)べる。
I place stones on the go board.
将棋(しょうぎ)盤(ばん)を挟(はさ)んで向(む)かい合(あ)う。
We sit facing each other across the shogi board.
盤(ばん)面(めん)の状況(じょうきょう)をよく見(み)て次(つぎ)の手(て)を考(かんが)える。
I examine the state of the board carefully and think about my next move.
2. tray; platter; disc; plate
A flat, broad object. Used in compounds to refer to various flat objects including trays, discs, and platforms.
レコード盤(ばん)を集(あつ)めている。
I collect vinyl records.
円盤(えんばん)を投(な)げる。
To throw a discus.
岩盤(がんばん)の上(うえ)に建物(たてもの)を建(た)てる。
To build a structure on bedrock.

盤(ばん) refers to a flat surface or board. As a standalone word, it most commonly means a game board. It is highly productive as a suffix in compounds.

GAME BOARD COMPOUNDS:

  • 碁(ご)盤(ばん): go board
  • 将棋(しょうぎ)盤(ばん): shogi board
  • チェス盤(ばん): chess board
  • 盤(ばん)面(めん): board surface; state of play

OTHER COMPOUNDS:

  • 円盤(えんばん): disc, discus
  • 岩盤(がんばん): bedrock
  • 基盤(きばん): foundation, basis
  • レコード盤(ばん): vinyl record
  • 配電(はいでん)盤(ばん): switchboard

NOTE:
The character 盤(ばん) conveys the idea of something flat and broad, which extends metaphorically to meanings like foundation (基盤(きばん)) and situation (局面(きょくめん) is related conceptually to 盤(ばん)面(めん)).

general
Added 2026.3.22 18:00 · Revised 2026.3.28 9:56
18500/18576_ban