What is the word for "handwriting" in Japanese?


When I looked up the word " _handwriting_ " on jisho.org, it came up with:

  1. 筆跡 {ひっせき}
  2. 手書き {てがき}
  3. 字 {じ}

So if I were to say, " _my **handwriting** is bad_," which word do I use?




The most common ways to say "my handwriting is bad" would probably be

  * **字** が汚{きたな}い (汚い often means "dirty," but here's it's "bad" or "messy")
  * **字** が下手{へた} (下手 means "bad" or "unskillful")

So, in that specific case **字** is the word you're looking for.

**字** refers to the actual letters themselves. You can use 字 for any letters,
even ones that are printed, but based on context it will usually be clear if
you mean handwriting.

**筆跡** is a broadly used term for handwritten letters or the manner of
writing. It also appears in compounds like 筆跡学{ひっせきがく} (graphology) or
筆跡鑑定{ひっせきかんてい} (handwriting analysis). The fact that it is kind of a "bigger"
word than 字 is what probably leads to it being used less in that kind of off-
the-cuff remark.

**手書き** is writing or drawing by hand, as well as things written or drawn by
hand. It's more about the process, the act of using your hand rather than a
machine, than about the resulting letters themselves. Examples include
手書きでサインをする (sign by hand) or 手書きのイラスト (hand-drawn illustration).




The most common ways to say "my handwriting is bad" would probably be

  * **字** が汚{きたな}い (汚い often means "dirty," but here's it's "bad" or "messy")
  * **字** が下手{へた} (下手 means "bad" or "unskillful")

So, in that specific case **字** is the word you're looking for.

**字** refers to the actual letters themselves. You can use 字 for any letters,
even ones that are printed, but based on context it will usually be clear if
you mean handwriting.

**筆跡** is a broadly used term for handwritten letters or the manner of
writing. It also appears in compounds like 筆跡学{ひっせきがく} (graphology) or
筆跡鑑定{ひっせきかんてい} (handwriting analysis). The fact that it is kind of a "bigger"
word than 字 is what probably leads to it being used less in that kind of off-
the-cuff remark.

**手書き** is writing or drawing by hand, as well as things written or drawn by
hand. It's more about the process, the act of using your hand rather than a
machine, than about the resulting letters themselves. Examples include
手書きでサインをする (sign by hand) or 手書きのイラスト (hand-drawn illustration).

