縁

えん / えにし / え / えに

• Noun

  common noun
  1. fate; destiny (esp. as a mysterious force that binds two people together).
  2. relationship (e.g. between two people); bond; link; connection.
  3. family ties; affinity.
  4. opportunity; chance (to meet someone and start a relationship) (only えん).
  5. (Buddhist term) pratyaya (indirect conditions, as opposed to direct causes) (only えん).

     See also 因 .

  6. narrow open-air veranda (only えん).

     also written as 椽