漢字
kanji[kã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑi]
漢字 (kanji) is the Japanese term for the logographic characters adopted from Chinese used in the Japanese writing system.
Which one should you use?
While 漢字 are logographic characters representing concepts, they differ from かな (kana), which are phonetic characters representing sounds.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 漢字 is a noun and can be used as a subject or object in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
kanji
Did you know?
- Some 漢字 are known as 'kokuji', characters that were invented in Japan and do not exist in the original Chinese writing system.
- While most 漢字 are read as words, some are used as 'ateji', where characters are chosen for their sound rather than their meaning to spell foreign words.
- Because 漢字 were imported from China, they often have two different pronunciations: 'on' (Sino-Japanese) and 'kun' (native Japanese). This means a single character might be read in two completely different ways depending on the context.
Examples in context
- 人間Human being
- 漢字は難しいです。kanji wa muzukashii desu.Kanji are difficult.
- この漢字の読み方を教えてください。kono kanji no yomikata o oshiete kudasai.Please tell me how to read this kanji.
- 毎日、漢字を練習しています。mainichi, kanji o renshuu shite imasu.I practice kanji every day.
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are studying together at a library.
- 美咲 Misakiこの漢字、どう書くの？kono kanji, dou kaku no?How do you write this kanji?
- 大翔 Hirotoちょっと待って、調べてみるね。chotto matte, shirabete miru ne.Wait a second, I'll look it up.
- 美咲 Misaki漢字の勉強は大変だね。kanji no benkyou wa taihen dane.Studying kanji is hard, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね、でも面白いよ。sou dane, demo omoshiroi yo.That's true, but it's interesting.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 漢字, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
