字じ母ぼ

noun

letter of an alphabet; syllabic character

Refers to a single character in a writing system, such as an alphabet letter or a kana character. Often used in linguistic or pedagogical contexts.

• 英えい語ごの字じ母ぼは26文も字じある。

  The English alphabet has 26 letters.

• ひらがなの字じ母ぼを覚おぼえる。

  Learn the hiragana characters.

noun

matrix; printing type

In printing, a mold or master from which type is cast. Cross-referenced with 母型 (ぼけい), which is the more common term for this sense.

See also: 母型

• 活かつ字じの字じ母ぼを作つくる職しょく人にんがいた。

  There were craftsmen who made matrices for movable type.

noun

representative character of a Middle Chinese initial consonant

In Chinese historical phonology, a character used to represent a particular initial consonant class, such as those in the 三十六字母 (thirty-six initials) system.

See also: 三十六字母

• 三さん十じゅう六ろく字じ母ぼは中ちゅう国ごく音おん韻いん学がくの基き礎そだ。

  The thirty-six initials are fundamental to Chinese historical phonology.