kanji

[kahn-jee]

noun

plural

kanji, kanjis 

1. a system of Japanese writing using Chinese-derived characters.

2. a character in this system.

kanji

/ ˈkɑːn-, ˈkændʒɪ /

noun

1. a Japanese writing system using characters mainly derived from Chinese ideograms

2. a character in this system

Word History and Origins

Origin of kanji¹

1915–20; < Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese hàn Han (i.e., China) + zì characters

Word History and Origins

Origin of kanji¹

Japanese, from Chinese han Chinese + zi character