手紙

• Reading: てがみ
• Romaji: tegami
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te/shu) — hand; 紙 (gami/kami/shi) — paper
• Pronunciation: /te.ɡa.mi/

Meaning

Letter; note. A written message sent to someone, typically by post.

Despite containing the kanji 紙 (paper), 手紙 specifically means a personal letter or correspondence. Note that in Chinese, 手紙 means 'toilet paper,' which is a common source of confusion. Writing letters remains valued in Japan, especially for formal occasions like New Year cards (年賀状).

Examples

1. 友達に手紙を書きました。 I wrote a letter to my friend.
2. 母から手紙が届きました。 A letter arrived from my mother.
3. 日本語で手紙を書くのは難しいです。 Writing letters in Japanese is difficult.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, daily life, post office

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 手 (te, hand) + 紙 (kami/gami, paper). Literally 'hand paper,' meaning paper held in the hand — a handwritten letter.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal