also: かりじ
noun
kanji used for sound equivalence; ateji
A linguistic term for kanji used primarily for their phonetic value rather than their meaning, similar to ateji. Often contrasted with semantic kanji usage.
See also: 当て字
「寿司」の「寿」と「司」は借字の一種と見なされることがある。
The characters 寿 and 司 in 寿司 are sometimes regarded as a type of phonetic kanji usage.
借字は、漢字の意味を無視して音だけを借りる表記
Phonetic kanji usage is a writing method that borrows only the sound of a kanji, ignoring its meaning.
Alternate spelling with okurigana, read as かりじ.
当て字 is a broader term for kanji used phonetically or semantically without regard to standard readings; 借字 specifically emphasizes borrowing the sound.
Compound of 借 (borrow) and 字 (character), referring to the practice of borrowing a kanji for its sound.