汉字
hàn zì
Characters hello · trad. 漢字
汉字 (hànzì) refers to Chinese characters, the logograms used in written Chinese. They are a fundamental and ancient part of Chinese culture and language.
When to use it
Neutral. This is the standard term for Chinese characters. If you want to specify 'simplified characters,' use 简体字 (jiǎntǐzì). For 'traditional characters,' use 繁体字 (fántǐzì).
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like 'HAHN-dzuh.' The first syllable, 汉, is a falling tone, similar to a sharp 'hah!' The second syllable, 字, is usually said lightly and quickly, almost like a neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 简体字jiǎn tǐ zìsimplified characters
- 繁体字fán tǐ zìtraditional characters
- 方块字fāng kuài zìsquare characters (a descriptive, informal term)
Examples
我正在学习汉字。
wǒ zhèng zài xué xí hàn zì 。
I am currently learning Chinese characters.
这个汉字是什么意思？
zhè ge hàn zì shì shén me yì sī ？
What does this Chinese character mean?
汉字很难写，但是很有趣。
hàn zì hěn nán xiě ， dàn shì hěn yǒu qù 。
Chinese characters are difficult to write, but very interesting.
Pro tip: While 汉字 literally means 'Han characters,' it's the standard term for all Chinese characters, regardless of their specific historical origin. Don't confuse it with just 'Han' people, though the connection is there.
Related phrases
和平 · Peace钱 · Money闭嘴 · Shut up
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