Types of Kanji

We all know the Japanese language is based on three script viz hiragana, katakana and kanji. Let’s talk about kanji, there are mainly 6 types of kanji. The kanji are the logographic Chinese character which is used in the Japanese language with the hiragana and katakana. Here are mainly 6 types of kanji mentioned below.

• Shōkei-moji 
• Shiji-moji 
• Kaii-moji 
• Keisei-moji 
• Tenchū-moji 
• Kasha-moji 

1. Shōkei-moji and Kaii-moji  – In these types all kanji character are the pictograms and sketches of the object they represent. Like eye, tree etc. The word Shōkei itself means pictogram.  
2. Shiji-moji  - In these types kanji character are like ideograms also called as associative compounds. These character are make up of moders character.
3. Keisei-moji  - These types of character is also called as phono-sementic or radical-phonetic compounds. Most of Japanese writing,  these types of character is to be used, This is the most important types of kanji character. Basically these characters are made up of two compounds. One is the left or top element and another Is the right or bottom element.
4. Tenchū-moji – The character in this group is also called as the derivative character or mutually synonymous character. Yes this will give you problem while learning. These character used where the meaning has extended.
5. Kasha-moji – These character is also called as rebuses. Specialty of these character is, these characters are appropriated to represent a similar sound words.

Kanji has the two different pronunciation namely "onyoumi" and "kunyoumi". Actually "onyoumi" is the natural Chinese pronunciation and “kunyoumi” is the pronunciation given to the kanji.