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汉字 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
汉字hànzìChinese characterHSK 1, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #29870, Easy
汉字hànzìJapanese: kanjiHSK 1, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #29870, Easy
汉字hànzìKorean: hanjaHSK 1, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #29870, Easy
汉字hànzìVietnamese: hán tựHSK 1, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #29870, Easy
hànzì(han4zi4)han zi T4
  1. 1Chinese character
  2. 2Japanese: kanji
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March 24, 2026

汉字(漢字)hànzì(han4zi4)

汉字 (hàn zì) refers to the logographic characters used in the writing of Chinese and some other East Asian languages. These characters represent words or morphemes rather than sounds, making them distinct from alphabetic writing systems. 汉字 are fundamental to Chinese literacy and culture, often reflecting historical, artistic, and phonetic elements.

Strokes11Frequency#29870DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

汉字 are deeply embedded in Chinese culture, with each character often carrying historical significance and cultural connotations. Calligraphy, the art of writing 汉字, is considered a prestigious skill and a form of artistic expression in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'H' holding a 'Z' that looks like a stylized dragon. The 'H' stands for 汉 (hàn), which means 'Han', the dominant ethnic group in China, and 'Z' for 字 (zì), which means 'character'. Together, they symbolize the essence of Chinese writing – powerful yet intricate.

Meanings of 汉字

hànzì(han4zi4)
1Chinese character
2Japanese: kanji
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 汉字

汉字Simplified
漢字Traditional
11Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 汉字

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Podcast: 汉字

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AI Study Notes for 汉字

Quick Contrast

字 (zì) vs 文字 (wénzì) — use 汉字 (hànzì) when specifically referring to Chinese characters, while 文字 (wénzì) can refer to writing systems in general.

Usage Notes

汉字 is typically used in formal contexts when discussing the writing system, so avoid using it in casual conversation about writing. Common collocations include 汉字书写 (hàn zì shū xiě - writing Chinese characters) and 学习汉字 (xué xí hàn zì - learning Chinese characters). Be careful with the tone, as 汉 (hàn) and 字 (zì) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

汉字 is relevant for HSK Level 1 and above, as students will need to recognize and write basic characters. Focus on the components of 汉字, as understanding radicals will help with memorization and comprehension of more complex characters as you progress.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 汉字 with 文字 (wén zì), which means 'writing' or 'script' in a broader sense. Remember, 汉字 specifically refers to the Chinese characters themselves.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 汉字

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Jason Explains 汉字 to You

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Component Characters

汉hànHan ethnic group
HSK 65 strokes氵
View full entry
字zìletter
HSK 16 strokes子
View full entry

How to say Chinese character in Chinese

“Chinese character” in Chinese is汉字hànzì

汉字 (hàn zì) refers to the logographic characters used in the writing of Chinese and some other East Asian languages. These characters represent words or morphemes rather than sounds, making them distinct from alphabetic writing systems. 汉字 are fundamental to Chinese literacy and culture, often reflecting historical, artistic, and phonetic elements.

When to use 汉字

汉字 is typically used in formal contexts when discussing the writing system, so avoid using it in casual conversation about writing. Common collocations include 汉字书写 (hàn zì shū xiě - writing Chinese characters) and 学习汉字 (xué xí hàn zì - learning Chinese characters). Be careful with the tone, as 汉 (hàn) and 字 (zì) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion.

汉字 or something close to it

字 (zì) vs 文字 (wénzì) — use 汉字 (hànzì) when specifically referring to Chinese characters, while 文字 (wénzì) can refer to writing systems in general.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is confusing 汉字 with 文字 (wén zì), which means 'writing' or 'script' in a broader sense. Remember, 汉字 specifically refers to the Chinese characters themselves.

Write 汉字

汉
字

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Frequently Asked Questions about 汉字

汉字 refers to Chinese characters in general, while simplified characters are a modernized form of traditional characters, designed to increase literacy by simplifying the strokes.

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