About this Draft
This page is part of the early access version of The Kanji Speedrun. The essentials—kanji meanings and mnemonics—are already in place and usable, but nearly every part of the page is still being polished. Some entries may contain mistakes, but please rest assured we are working hard to make revisions.
We’re sharing these drafts now so you can keep learning while we polish the full experience. If you notice something off, please don’t hesitate to let me know—it’s a huge help in improving the course!
字
CHARACTER
Mnemonic
On top we see a roof (宀), and underneath is 子 (child). Picture a child studying under the roof of their home, tracing out written CHARACTERS. That’s how this kanji came to mean “character” or “letter.”
Example Vocabulary
- 字（じ） – character, letter
- 文字（もじ） – letter, character, writing
- 漢字（かんじ） – Chinese character, kanji
- 数字（すうじ） – numeral, number
- 名字（みょうじ） – family name, surname
From single letters to kanji
字 can mean a single written symbol (字, 文字), entire systems of writing (漢字), or even names (名字).
It reminds us how every written word is built from characters.
Example Sentences
- 私は新しい漢字を三つ覚えました。– I learned three new kanji characters.
- 彼の名字はとても珍しいです。– His family name is very unusual.