also: ほそじ
small type; small handwriting; fine print
Refers to small characters in print or handwriting; often used in contexts like contracts or detailed documents.
Please read the fine print of the contract carefully.
彼は細字でノートを取るのが得意だ。
He is good at taking notes in small handwriting.
細字 refers to thin, fine-lined characters, the visual opposite of the thick, heavy strokes of ボールド (bold) type.
Standard kanji spelling; reading さいじ is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common than さいじ but still used.
Compound of 細 (small, fine) and 字 (character, letter). The reading さいじ uses the on'yomi of both kanji, while ほそじ uses the kun'yomi of 細 and the on'yomi of 字.