ateji

A1T1E1J8I1

noun

The use of kanji chosen primarily for their phonetic (narrow sense) or semantic (broad sense) value to represent foreign or native Japanese words, or the kanji so used.

Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounateji (countable and uncountable, plural ateji)
  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe use of kanji chosen primarily for their phonetic (narrow sense) or semantic (broad sense) value to represent foreign or native Japanese words, or the kanji so used.

Origin

Borrowed from Japanese 当(あ)て字(じ) (ateji) or 宛字(あてじ) (ateji).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 借字
  • 借字 (jièzì)kanji used phonetically
Japanese 当て字, 宛字
  • 当て字kanji used phonetically
  • 宛字kanji used phonetically
Korean 아테지, 취음
  • 아테지kanji used phonetically
  • 취음 (chwieum)kanji used phonetically
Polish ateji
  • atejikanji used phonetically
Russian атэ́дзи
  • атэ́дзи (atɛ́dzi)kanji used phonetically
Cite this entry
APA

ateji. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ateji

MLA

“ateji.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ateji. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ateji,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ateji.

Source: ateji on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.