Japanese word

字

Pronunciation

Romajiji

Meaning

  • nouncharacter

Example

この字は何ですか？ko no ji wa nan de su ka

What is this character?

Illustration for 字 (character)

More examples

黒板の字をノートに写します。koku ban no ji o nō to ni utsu shi ma su

I copy the characters on the blackboard into my notebook.

Core concept

It denotes one visible mark that conveys part of written language, whether it represents a sound, word, or meaning.

Common phrases

  • 字を読むji o yo mu

    read a character

  • 小さな字chii sa na ji

    small character

  • 字を書くji o ka ku

    write a character

Similar words

文字moji: A symbol used in written language to express a sound, word, or meaning.

Definition in Japanese

文字や文章を構成し、音や意味を表す書き記された一つのしるし。moji ya bun shō o kō sei shi oto ya i mi o arawa su ka ki shiru sa re ta hito tsu no shi ru shi

Word origin

字 (ji, "character") is a Sino-Japanese borrowing from Chinese zì; its form joins 宀 (ukanmuri, "roof radical") with 子 (shi, "child") and reflects an early sense connected with naming a child.

Usage tips

  • The word character can describe a symbol or a person in a story in English, but 字 (ji, "character") has the written-symbol sense in this use.

Other meanings

  • letternoun

Word lists with this word