logogram; logograph
A written character that represents a whole word or morpheme, such as a kanji character in Japanese or a Chinese character. Used in linguistics and writing-system discussions.
Kanji are a type of logogram.
Please explain the difference between logograms and syllabic characters.
Synonym for 単語文字; both mean 'logogram'. 表語文字 is slightly more common in some linguistic contexts.
Syllabic characters (e.g., kana) that represent syllables, contrasting with logograms that represent whole words.
Compound of 単語 (tango, 'word') and 文字 (moji, 'character'). A straightforward modern technical term.