字(じ) じ noun letter, character 1. letter, character, writing A written symbol representing a sound or meaning, including hiragana, katakana, kanji, and letters from other writing systems. 字(じ)が読(よ)めない。 I can't read the character. この字(じ)は何(なん)と読(よ)みますか。 How do you read this character? 先生(せんせい)の字(じ)はきれいで読(よ)みやすい。 The teacher's handwriting is neat and easy to read. もっと大(おお)きい字(じ)で書(か)いてください。小(ちい)さいと読(よ)めません。 Please write in bigger characters. I can't read them if they're small. 日本語(にほんご)の字(じ)は難(むずか)しいと思(おも)っていたが、毎日(まいにち)勉強(べんきょう)したら、だんだん読(よ)めるようになった。 I used to think Japanese characters were hard, but after studying every day, I gradually became able to read them. 字(じ) refers to written characters of any type.COMMON COLLOCATIONS:字(じ)を書(か)く: to write characters字(じ)を読(よ)む: to read characters字(じ)が上手(じょうず)/下手(へた): good/bad handwriting漢字(かんじ): Chinese characters (kanji)ローマ字(じ): Roman lettersRELATED TERMS:文字(もじ): character, letter (more formal)ひらがな: hiraganaカタカナ: katakana漢字(かんじ): kanjiNote: When talking about handwriting quality, 字(じ) often refers to how nicely someone writes. basic Added 2026.1.9 21:16 · Revised 2026.5.16 22:13 01500/01606_ji