Letters and numbers
Core words, Stage 4chunk 69 of 79Things, kinds and amounts
Talk about writing, signatures, figures and how many.
- jiwritten character, letter; handwriting
- mojiletter; character; text
- suujinumber (the figure); figures; digits
- kazunumber (of things); count
- sainsignature; autograph; signal
Mix-ups Ji and moji overlap; kazu is how many, suuji is the figure itself.
ji
written character, letter; handwriting
Often means someone's handwriting: ji ga kirei = neat handwriting.
Kanji and kana are both ji.
ji ga chiisakute yomenai.
The writing's too small to read.
字が小さくて読めない。
ji ga chiisakute yomemasen.
The writing is too small for me to read.
字が小さくて読めません。
Written 字 · じRank #2167 in 3,030 TV dramas
moji
letter; character; text
A written character in any script, or text on a screen.
Overlaps with ji, but moji never means handwriting.
kono moji, nante yomu no?
How do you read this character?
この文字、なんて読むの？
kono moji wa nan to yomu n desu ka?
How is this character read?
この文字は何と読むんですか？
Written 文字 · もじRank #2541 in 3,030 TV dramas
suuji
number (the figure); figures; digits
The number as written or as data, not how many there are.
For 'how many' use kazu; suuji is the figure itself.
kono suuji, machigatte nai?
Isn't this number wrong?
この数字、間違ってない？
kono suuji, machigatte imasen ka?
Isn't this figure wrong?
この数字、間違っていませんか？
Written 数字 · すうじRank #2570 in 3,030 TV dramas
kazu
number (of things); count
How many there are: kazu ga ooi = there are a lot.
Kazoeru (to count) comes from the same root.
isu no kazu ga tarinai yo.
There aren't enough chairs.
椅子の数が足りないよ。
isu no kazu ga tarimasen.
We don't have enough chairs.
椅子の数が足りません。
Written 数 · かずRank #1563 in 3,030 TV dramas
sain
signature; autograph; signal
Sain suru = to sign; also a signal someone gives you.
A shop or road sign is kanban or hyoushiki, not sain.
koko ni sain shite kureru?
Can you sign here?
ここにサインしてくれる？
koko ni sain o onegai shimasu.
Please sign here.
ここにサインをお願いします。
Written サインRank #1744 in 3,030 TV dramas