Translation guide
In Japanese, Chinese characters are called 漢字 (kanji). This guide explains how to refer to them in various contexts, from the writing system as a whole to individual characters.
Chinese characters
The general term for Chinese characters used in Japanese.
Referring to Chinese characters as a script or writing system.
Japanese has many Chinese characters.
I'm studying Chinese characters.
Referring to one or more specific Chinese characters.
Also used for individual characters. The number or context makes it clear.
How do you read this Chinese character?
That's a difficult Chinese character, isn't it?
A more general term for 'character' or 'letter'. Can be used for kanji, but also for kana. In context, it often implies kanji.
Specifying characters that originated in China, as opposed to those created in Japan (国字).
Referring to the writing system used in China, which may include simplified characters.
Literally 'Chinese language characters'. Used when talking about the script used for Chinese, especially to distinguish from Japanese kanji.
Chinese language characters use simplified characters.
Simplified Chinese characters. Use this when specifically referring to the simplified set used in mainland China.
Traditional Chinese characters. Used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc.
The English phrase 'Chinese character' can also mean a person in a story. That is not 漢字. For a fictional character, use 登場人物 (とうじょうじんぶつ) or キャラクター.
When speaking Japanese, 漢字 refers to the characters as used in Japanese. If you need to specify Chinese characters as used in China, you can say 中国の漢字 or 中国語の漢字, but often context is enough.
What does this character mean?
Authentic Chinese characters have many strokes, don't they?
Simplified Chinese characters are a bit different from Japanese kanji.
台湾では繁体字を使います。
They use traditional Chinese characters in Taiwan.