What is the difference between "手紙" and "てがみ"?

"手紙" means "letter" (N5), whereas "てがみ" represents "letter" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "てがみ (tegami)"

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

Kanji Option A

てがみ (tegami)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

てがみ (tegami)

N5 / CEFR

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

手紙 (Level: N5): Translates to "letter" and is used when Refers to a written letter that is sent, typically by mail. 「手紙を書く」.
てがみ (Level: N5): Maps to "letter" and carries the nuance of Refers to a physical written message sent by mail. Not used for digital messages like email..

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

Bilingual Context for "手紙"

母に長い手紙を書きました。

I wrote a long letter to my mother.

Bilingual Context for "てがみ"

遠い家族に手紙を書きました。

I wrote a letter to my distant family.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "母に長い＿＿＿を書きました。" (Meaning: "I wrote a long letter to my mother.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "手紙" is used for "letter" in the context: "I wrote a long letter to my mother.".