Kanji

Japanese language is based on three character sets. Katakana and Hiragana, which are vocal sets related pronounciation, And Chinese characters known as kanji which are idiograms.

Despite it's Chinese roots, kanji undoubtedly form the foundation of current Japanese language. The Japanese word kanji (漢字) literally means Han-characters, meaning supposedly Han dynasty in China.

Kokuji (国字) means literally national characters, they are characters originating from Japan. Wasei kanji (和製漢字) literally "Chinese characters made in Japan" means the same. There are hundreds of these.

Some of kokuji are introduced here:

峠 (とうげ (tge) mountain pass)
榊 (さかき (sakaki) sakaki tree, genus Cleyera)
畑 (はたけ (hatake) field of crops)
辻 (つじ (tsuji) crossroads, street)
働 (どう (d), hatara(ku) work)
腺 (せん (sen), gland)

Have you ever been to Hakone?
This is one of the towns we recommend.

Some of them like "腺" have been introduced to China.

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Hiyayaakko - Jaakko's Photography