1.
standard character form; orthodox kanji
the correct or standard form of a Chinese character, as opposed to simplified or variant forms
「芸」の正字は「藝」だ。
The standard form of '芸' is '藝'.
戸籍には正字で名前を記載する必要がある。
Names must be entered in the family register using standard character forms.
現代の日本語では略字が広く使われているが、正字を知っておくと古典を読むときに役に立つ。
In modern Japanese, simplified characters are widely used, but knowing the standard forms is useful when reading classical texts.
In the context of Japanese kanji, refers to the traditional, orthodox form of a character before simplification. After the 1946 当用漢字 reform, many characters were simplified for everyday use. The pre-reform forms are called 正字 or 旧字体. Relevant for reading pre-war texts, understanding name kanji in official documents, and studying classical literature.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 正字で書く: to write in standard character form
- 正字体: standard character style
- 正字と略字: standard and simplified characters
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 旧字体: old character form — practically synonymous, used more commonly in modern discussions
- 略字: abbreviated/simplified character — the opposite: a shortened form
- 新字体: new character form — the modern simplified forms adopted after the reform
- 異体字: variant character — any alternative form of a character, whether standard or not