字: the kanji for character and letter
字 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means character, letter. Below are its readings, 11 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
字 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
字 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ジ (ji)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 漢字かんじ · kanji | kanji |
| 文字もじ · moji | letter; character |
| 数字すうじ · sūji | number; figure |
| 赤字あかじ · akaji | deficit; in the red |
| 黒字くろじ · kuroji | surplus; in the black |
| 字幕じまく · jimaku | subtitles |
| 名字みょうじ · myōji | family name |
| ローマ字ろーまじ · rōmaji | romaji |
| 太字ふとじ · futoji | bold type |
あざ (aza)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 字あざ · aza | section of a village (in addresses) |
| 大字おおあざ · ōaza | larger section of a village (in addresses) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 今年は黒字になりました。Kotoshi wa kuroji ni narimashita.We turned a profit this year.
- 漢字を毎日十個覚えています。Kanji o mainichi jukko oboete imasu.I learn ten kanji every day.
- 字幕付きで映画を見ました。Jimakutsuki de eiga o mimashita.I watched a movie with subtitles.
- 名字と名前を書いてください。Myōji to namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your family name and given name.
- この数字は正しいですか。Kono sūji wa tadashii desu ka.Is this figure correct?
- 大事なところは太字にしました。Daiji na tokoro wa futoji ni shimashita.I put the important parts in bold.
Questions about 字
How many strokes does 字 have?
字 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 字?
The on readings are ji (ジ). The kun readings are aza (あざ).
What do 赤字 and 黒字 mean in business?
赤字 (akaji, red letters) means a deficit or loss. 黒字 (kuroji, black letters) means a profit. The words come from bookkeeping, where losses were written in red ink.
What JLPT level is 字?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Study and thinking
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 字
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.