n. pl. kanji or kan·jis 1. A Japanese system of writing based on borrowed or modified Chinese characters. 2. A character used in this system of writing. [Japanese : kan, Chinese (from Middle Chinese xan`); see HAN1 + ji, character (from Middle Chinese dzh; also the source of Mandarin jì and akin to Mandarin zǐ, child, since certain characters were said to be derived from simpler characters, and ultimately derived from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *tsa, child; akin to Tibetan tsha, grandchild).] |
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