文字(もんじ)

もんじ
noun
character; letter (specialized reading, used in compounds for writing systems)
academiclanguage
1. character; letter (specialized reading)
An alternative reading of 文字. Used in certain compounds and formal contexts.
象形文字(しょうけいもんじ)は絵(え)から発展(はってん)した。
Pictographs developed from pictures.
[Note: read here with the variant もんじ; しょうけいもじ is the more common reading]
楔形文字(くさびがたもんじ)は古代(こだい)メソポタミアで使(つか)われた。
Cuneiform was used in ancient Mesopotamia.
[Note: read here with the variant もんじ; くさびがたもじ is the more common reading]
この文字(もんじ)は読(よ)めない。
I cannot read this writing/script.

Pronunciation

文字(もじ) is the standard reading, in compounds as well as alone. もんじ is an older reading. It survives in 一文字(いちもんじ) ('a straight line', as in 真一文字(まいちもんじ)) and as an accepted variant in a few terms for writing systems.

Compounds

  • 象形文字(しょうけいもんじ) (pictograph; usually read しょうけいもじ)
  • 楔形文字(くさびがたもんじ) (cuneiform; usually くさびがたもじ)
  • 表意文字(ひょういもんじ) (ideograph; usually ひょういもじ)

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 文字(もじ) (letter (common reading))
general
Added 2026.1.13 19:53 · Revised 2026.10.8 3:20
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