当て字（あてじ）
JLPT N1 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, then stays high with no drop
Meaning: phonetic use of kanji
Example sentences
- 外来語に当て字を使う。 — To use phonetic kanji substitutes for loanwords.
- 当て字は意味より音を優先する。 — Ateji characters prioritize sound over meaning.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “当て字” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)