What is the difference between "時" and "字"?

"時" means "o'clock, time" (N5), whereas "字" represents "character, letter, handwriting" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "じ (ji)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

じ (ji)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

じ (ji)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "じ (ji)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

時 (Level: N5): Translates to "o'clock, time" and is used when Used as a counter for hours.
字 (Level: N4): Maps to "character, letter, handwriting" and carries the nuance of Refers to individual characters.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "時"

私は毎日七時に起きます。

I wake up at seven o'clock every day.

Bilingual Context for "字"

先生の字はとてもきれいです。

My teacher's handwriting is very beautiful.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "私は毎日七＿＿＿に起きます。" (Meaning: "I wake up at seven o'clock every day.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "時" is used for "o'clock, time" in the context: "I wake up at seven o'clock every day.".