What is the Difference Between Kanji and Hiragana?

The main differences between Kanji and Hiragana lie in their purpose, structure, and writing style. Here is a comparison of the two:

Kanji:

• Kanji is a set of Chinese characters adapted and applied to the Japanese language.
• Each Kanji character represents a whole word or concept, making it more complex than Hiragana.
• Kanji is generally more blocky and complex in appearance.
• There are around 2,136 "daily use" Kanji that school students are expected to learn, and several thousand more characters which may appear in more specialized situations.
• Kanji is used for both native Japanese words and borrowed words from different languages.

Hiragana:

• Hiragana is a phonetic writing system, meaning that each character represents a specific syllable.
• Hiragana is used for native Japanese function words and to convey grammatical elements of the language, like particles or conjugations.
• Hiragana is simpler in structure and appearance compared to Kanji, with pronounced curves and softer lines.
• There are only 46 Hiragana characters, making it easier to learn and memorize.
• Hiragana is the main writing method taught to Japanese children in elementary school, as it acts as the base to introduce them to the other systems as they progress.

In summary, Kanji is more complex and represents whole words or concepts, while Hiragana is simpler and represents individual syllables. Kanji is generally used for native Japanese words and borrowed words, whereas Hiragana is used for grammar and native Japanese function words.

Comparative Table: Kanji vs Hiragana

Here is a table comparing the differences between Kanji and Hiragana:

Kanji are Chinese characters adapted and applied to Japanese, while Hiragana is a native Japanese phonetic writing system. Kanji are generally used to represent both native Japanese words and borrowed words from other languages, whereas Hiragana is used for native Japanese function words. Kanji writing is more complex and requires more practice compared to Hiragana, which is simpler and easier to write.