へん
Alternative writings:
JLPT:N4
Frequency:
1

Strange, odd, or peculiar — something that seems unusual or off.

Na-Adjective

Examples

彼の様子が最近ちょっと変だ。

His behavior has been a bit strange lately.

そんなことを言うなんて、変な人だ。

Saying something like that — what a strange person.

その映画は設定が変で、よく覚えている。

That movie's premise was odd; I remember it well.

2

Unexpected; surprising or out of the ordinary.

Na-Adjective

Examples

変なことに、会議は突然中止になった。

Strangely, the meeting was suddenly canceled.

変な話だが、彼の電話番号が変わっていた。

It's a strange story, but his phone number had changed.

3

Change or alteration (noun usage; somewhat literary or old-fashioned).

Noun

Examples

会社に大きな変が起こった。

A big change occurred at the company.

その土地は昔から変が多いと言われる。

That place has long been said to have many changes/incidents.

4

An incident, disturbance, disaster, or emergency (noun; literary/older usage).

Noun

Examples

山で変があり、村人たちは避難した。

There was an incident in the mountains, and the villagers evacuated.

5

In music notation, a prefix indicating 'flat' (♭), used in key names (e.g., 変ロ短調).

Noun (Prefix)Music

Examples

この曲は変ロ短調で書かれている。

This piece is written in B-flat minor.