What is the difference between "葉書" and "はがき"?

"葉書" means "postcard" (N5), whereas "はがき" represents "postcard" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "はがき (hagaki)"

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

Kanji Option A

はがき (hagaki)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

はがき (hagaki)

N5 / CEFR

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

葉書 (Level: N5): Translates to "postcard" and is used when A card for writing and sending without an envelope. Often used for greetings or short messages..
はがき (Level: N5): Maps to "postcard" and carries the nuance of A single piece of card for mailing, used for shorter messages without an envelope..

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

Bilingual Context for "葉書"

友達にきれいな葉書を送りました。

I sent a beautiful postcard to my friend.

Bilingual Context for "はがき"

友達にきれいなはがきを送りました。

I sent a beautiful postcard to my friend.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "友達にきれいな＿＿＿を送りました。" (Meaning: "I sent a beautiful postcard to my friend.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "葉書" is used for "postcard" in the context: "I sent a beautiful postcard to my friend.".