1.
new-form kanji; simplified character form
The simplified forms of kanji adopted as standard in Japan after the 1946 postwar script reform. These replaced the more complex 旧字体 (old-form kanji) for everyday use.
「学」は新字体だ。
学 is a new-form character.
現在の教育では新字体が使われている。
In current education, new-form kanji are used.
新字体は画数を減らして書きやすくしたものが多い。
Many new-form kanji were made easier to write by reducing the number of strokes.
Composed of 新 (new), 字 (character), and 体 (form, style). The standard kanji forms used in Japan today. The simplification reduced stroke counts to make reading and writing easier. Not all kanji were simplified — only those deemed overly complex received new forms.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 新字体に改める — to convert to new-form kanji
- 新字体と旧字体 — new-form and old-form kanji
- 新字体の漢字 — new-form kanji characters
RELATED WORDS:
- 旧字体 — old-form kanji; the traditional, more complex forms replaced by 新字体
- 常用漢字 — kanji for common use; the official list of kanji approved for everyday use
- 簡体字 — simplified Chinese characters; a similar but more extensive simplification used in mainland China
CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan's simplification was more conservative than China's. Many 新字体 are identical to or close to the traditional forms, while Chinese 簡体字 often differ drastically.