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.
Referring to Chinese characters as a script or writing system.
The standard term for Chinese characters used in Japanese writing. Use this when talking about kanji in general.
日本語には漢字がたくさんあります。
Japanese has many Chinese characters.
漢字を勉強しています。
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.
この漢字は何と読みますか？
How do you read this Chinese character?
難しい漢字ですね。
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.
この字はどういう意味ですか？
What does this character mean?
Specifying characters that originated in China, as opposed to those created in Japan (国字).
Literally 'Chinese kanji'. Used when contrasting with Japanese-made kanji.
これは中国の漢字で、日本で作られたものではありません。
This is a Chinese character; it wasn't made in Japan.
Literally 'authentic/original kanji'. Implies characters as used in China, sometimes with a nuance of 'real' Chinese characters.
本場の漢字は画数が多いですね。
Authentic Chinese characters have many strokes, don't they?
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.
中国語の文字は簡体字を使います。
Chinese language characters use simplified characters.
Simplified Chinese characters. Use this when specifically referring to the simplified set used in mainland China.
簡体字は日本の漢字と少し違います。
Simplified Chinese characters are a bit different from Japanese kanji.
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.
台湾では繁体字を使います。
They use traditional Chinese characters in Taiwan.