Kokuji

Kokuji (国字 literally "national characters") are kanji whose origins arise in Japan, as opposed to China. Kokuji are also known as wasei kanji (和製漢字, "Chinese characters made in Japan"). There are hundreds of kokuji, and although some are rarely used, many others have become important additions to the written Japanese language. These include:

• 峠 tōge (mountain pass)
• 榊 sakaki (sakaki tree, genus Camellia)
• 畑 hatake (field of crops)
• 辻 tsuji (crossroads, street)
• 働 dō, hatara(ku) (work)

In addition to kokuji, there are kanji that have been given meanings in Japanese different than their original Chinese meanings. These kanji are not considered kokuji but are instead called kokkun and include characters such as:

• 沖 oki (offing, offshore)
• 森 mori (forest)
• 椿 tsubaki (Camellia japonicus)

Related Topics

• Chinese character

External Links

• Dictionary of Kokuji Japanese only