What does 字 mean in Japanese?
字 means “character, letter” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 字 (character; letter), 漢字 (kanji), and 文字 (letter; character).
For learners, the key is to study 字 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ジ (ji)
Kun’yomi: あざ (aza)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 字 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | character, letter, word |
| Stroke Count | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
字 is not limited to one English translation. In 字 (じ), it means character; letter; in 漢字 (かんじ), it points to kanji; and in 文字 (もじ), it is used for letter; character. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 字（じ / ji） — character; letter
- 漢字（かんじ / kanji） — kanji
- 文字（もじ / moji） — letter; character
- 数字（すうじ / sūji） — number; numeral
- 名字（みょうじ / myōji） — surname
- 赤字（あかじ / akaji） — deficit
Example Sentences
-
この字は読みやすいです。
このじはよみやすいです。 / Kono ji wa yomiyasui desu.
This character is easy to read.
-
漢字を毎日少しずつ覚えます。
かんじをまいにちすこしずつおぼえます。 / Kanji o mainichi sukoshi zutsu oboemasu.
I learn kanji little by little every day.
-
紙に大きな文字を書きました。
かみにおおきなもじをかきました。 / Kami ni ōkina moji o kakimashita.
I wrote large letters on paper.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 字 (じ / ji) because it keeps the core meaning of 字 clear. Then add 漢字 and 文字 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 字 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
字 means “character, letter” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 字, 漢字, and 文字.