Kanji Alphabet | 漢字
Kanji are logographic characters borrowed from Chinese, with over 2,000 characters in common use for Japanese writing.
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About the Kanji Alphabet
Kanji are logographic characters used in Japanese writing, borrowed from Chinese. Each character represents a word or concept rather than a sound. Japanese students learn about 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (daily-use characters) during their education. Kanji are used alongside Hiragana and Katakana in modern Japanese writing.
History
Kanji were introduced to Japan from China around the 5th century CE. Over time, the Japanese adapted these characters and developed their own readings (kun-yomi) alongside the Chinese-derived readings (on-yomi). The current list of Jōyō Kanji was established in 2010, replacing the earlier 1,945-character list from 1981.
Key Features
- Logographic writing system
- 2,136 Jōyō Kanji in common use
- Each character represents meaning
- Multiple readings per character
- Used with Hiragana and Katakana
- Borrowed from Chinese