Japanese kanji 字: written characters

The idea

字 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 字（じ） and 文字（もじ） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Examples

• 教室きょうしつの黒板こくばんに字じを書かきます。I write characters on the classroom blackboard.
• ノートに漢字かんじを写うつします。I copy the kanji into my notebook.
• 黒板こくばんの文字もじを紙かみに写うつします。I copy the writing on the blackboard onto paper.
• 何度なんども漢字かんじを書かいて覚おぼえます。I remember kanji by writing them many times.
• この漢字かんじを覚おぼえてください。Please remember this kanji.
• ここに数字すうじを書かいてください。Please write the numbers here.

Watch out

字 is a written character, not a letter sent by post: that is 手紙. 文字 is read もじ. Compare the shape of 字 with 子.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 字 in hiragana.

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   じ

   字 is read じ. In context: I write characters on the classroom blackboard.

2. Write the reading of 文字 in hiragana.

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   もじ

   文字 is read もじ. In context: I copy the writing on the blackboard onto paper.

3. Complete the missing kanji: ＿（じ）［字／子］.

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   字

   字 completes 字, read じ. In context: I write characters on the classroom blackboard.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 字 from memory, and read 字 and 文字 aloud. Then check their readings and make a sentence.