ヘン, ひらたい

level, small

JLPT0 G13 S0 F5000

Originally # (thin sheet of wood) + (bamboo slats) → thin, flat *nameplate* (compare ) spread upon a gate → (votive) *tablet*; *flat*; *thin* → *left-hand element of a Han/Chinese character* (← element by which a character may be identified ← nameplate).

[Full Kanji Etymology List]