swell
N1- Onyomi
- ボウ
- Kunyomi
- ふく(らむ)
- Stroke count
- 16
- JLPT
- N1
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 膨 down and you get 月 (moon / month) — the moon hanging in a clear night sky, and beside it 彭 (drumbeat / resounding) — a drum struck hard, sound lines shooting out to the side. Picture the moon in a night sky, put 膨 inside it, and let that scene stand for "swell" — swell. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 16
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は16画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 16 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
膨張
bouchou
expansion
膨大
boudai
enormous
膨大な
boudaina
attributive: enormous (before a noun)
膨張する
bouchousuru
to do expansion
膨大です
boudaidesu
polite: is enormous
膨張した
bouchoushita
plain past: did expansion
Example sentences (4)
熱で金属が膨張します。
ねつ で きんぞく が ぼうちょう します。
netsu de kinzoku ga bouchou shimasu.
Metal expands with heat.
予算が膨張しないよう、四半期ごとに見直しています。
よさん が ぼうちょう しない よう、しはんき ごと に みなおしています。
yosan ga bouchou shinai you, shihanki goto ni minaoshiteimasu.
To keep the budget from ballooning, we review it every quarter.
膨大な資料を一日かけて整理しました。
ぼうだい な しりょう を いちにち かけて せいり しました。
boudai na shiryou o ichinichi kakete seiri shimashita.
I spent a whole day sorting through an enormous amount of material.
膨大なデータも、目的を決めずに眺めていては意味がありません。
ぼうだい な でーた も、もくてき を きめず に ながめていて は いみ が ありません。
boudai na deeta mo, mokuteki o kimezu ni nagameteite wa imi ga arimasen.
Even vast data means nothing if you stare at it without deciding what you want from it.