Japanese word

手紙

Pronunciation

Romajitegami

Meaning

  • nounletter

Example

母に手紙を書きます。haha ni te gami o ka ki ma su

I write a letter to my mother.

Illustration for 手紙 (letter)

More examples

友だちから手紙が来ました。tomo da chi ka ra te gami ga ki ma shi ta

I got a letter from my friend.

友達から手紙が届きました。tomo dachi ka ra te gami ga todo ki ma shi ta

A letter arrived from my friend.

Core concept

Refers to a written message that carries a person's words to a particular reader, whether it is sent as a letter or written as a brief note.

Common phrases

  • 手紙を書くte gami o ka ku

    write a letter

  • 手紙を読むte gami o yo mu

    read a letter

  • 手紙を送るte gami o oku ru

    send a letter

Similar words

メールmēru: A written message sent electronically to a person.
便りtayori: A message that brings news or contact from someone, often in writing.

Definition in Japanese

相手に伝える事柄を書いて送る文書や書き付け。ai te ni tsuta e ru koto gara o ka i te oku ru bun sho ya ka ki tsu ke

Word origin

手紙 (tegami, "letter") combines 手 (te, "hand") and 紙 (kami, "paper"), reflecting a message written on paper by hand.

Usage tips

  • English uses "letter" for both correspondence and an alphabet symbol, but 手紙 (tegami) refers only to a written message for a person.

Other meanings

  • notenoun

Word lists with this word