Kanji vs Hiragana
Knowing the difference between Kanji and Hiragana is essential if you plan to learn Japanese. Surprisingly, Japanese had no script for written language until as late as the 4th century AD, when they imported script from China through Korea. Over time, Japanese script evolved to incorporate Chinese characters, leading to the development of two unique scripts known as Hiragana and Katakana. Modern Japanese is a combination of these scripts. Another term, Kanji, often confuses students of the Japanese language. Kanji are Chinese characters used in Japanese writing, numbering between 5000 and 10000. A Japanese student is expected to learn most of these characters by the time they pass their 10th-grade exam.
What is Kanji? What is Hiragana?
Kanji is the Japanese version of the Chinese word “hanzi,” which literally means Han characters. Not only were Chinese characters borrowed by the Japanese while developing their script, but also Chinese words. This explains why nearly half of the Japanese vocabulary consists of Chinese words.
The Japanese language comprises three different alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. They can be differentiated by their appearance and usage. Hiragana and Katakana are collectively referred to as Kanamoji, and both contain 47 characters, each with a distinct phonetic sound. Some characters look alike and have the same sound but have different usages, making it difficult for foreign students learning Japanese to differentiate between them. Native Japanese speakers, however, can easily tell the difference.
Hiragana is used to represent native Japanese words, while Katakana is used for Chinese words, allowing readers to instantly recognize foreign words being used. Kanji is the major alphabet in the Japanese language, with each character representing a different concept or word. Kanji characters have multiple meanings, which can be challenging for foreigners learning Japanese.
Key Takeaways
- Japanese language is made up of three different alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.
- Kanji are Chinese characters used in Japanese writing, while Hiragana represents native Japanese words.
- Modern Japanese is a mixture of Hiragana and Kanji, making it difficult for foreign students learning Japanese to differentiate between the scripts.
