Why Do The Japanese Use Kanji?

3 years ago by Christian Monson • 7 min read

We’ll cover everything from the history of kanji and how it arrived in Japan from China as well as some of the important characters. Finally, read about how the Japanese learn kanji and how you can use these techniques to become literate yourself.

My first time in Japan, I went with hours of studying kana, Japan’s native phonetic alphabet, under my belt. I thought this would allow me to read signs, maps, and other important travel documents. In the end, I wasn’t able to read a single thing.

Kanji is arguably the most prominent part of the Japanese writing system. The elegant characters, originally adapted from Chinese, make up most of the Japanese you’ll see written in books and magazines, on signs, and by hand. Understanding kanji is necessary to fully appreciate the Japanese language and culture, so this guide is here to help you get started.