How to say "letter" in Japanese

• 文字もじJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA letter of an alphabet or a written character, not a message sent to someone. Use it when talking about letters, symbols, or characters as units of writing.
  へー、キーボード見みないで文字もじ打うてるんだ。スゴイわねー。↗

  Oh? You can type without looking at the keyboard. That's cool!
• 文ふみJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA letter, note, or mail in a formal or literary register. Seldom the everyday word for a letter you send; choose it for literary contexts or set formal expressions.
• 手紙てがみJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe usual word for a letter or note sent to someone, a physical piece of correspondence. If you mean 'letter' as a mailed message, this is the word you want.
  ここにあなたあての手紙てがみが何なん通つうかあります。↗

  Here are some letters for you.
• 字じJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounA character, especially a kanji, or a letter; also written text. Like 文字, it refers to written characters rather than correspondence, with a stronger lean toward kanji.
• 文書ぶんしょJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA document, piece of writing, papers, or letter in the sense of official or business paperwork. Not the word for a personal letter; think documents and written records.
  この文書ぶんしょはあなたのお目めにだけ留とめていただきたい。↗

  This document is for your eyes only.

For a mailed letter use 手紙; for a letter of the alphabet use 文字 or 字; 文 is a formal or literary word for a letter or note; 文書 means a document or piece of writing.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 文字もじletter (of an alphabet)
• 文ふみletter
• 手紙てがみletter
• 字じcharacter (esp. kanji)
• 文書ぶんしょdocument
• レターletter
• 書簡しょかんletter
• 書面しょめんdocument
• 消息しょうそくnews (from someone)
• 書状しょじょうletter
• 投書とうしょletter (e.g. of complaint)
• 音信おんしんcorrespondence
• 便りたよりnews
• 信書しんしょletter
• 書信しょしんletter
• 雁の使いかりのつかい(a) letter
• 雁の文かりのふみ(a) letter
• 雁の便りかりのたより(a) letter
• 雁書がんしょletter
• 尊翰そんかん(another's) letter
• 書札しょさつletter
• 芳信ほうしんletter
• 字母じぼletter (of an alphabet)
• 手簡しゅかんletter
• 尺牘せきとくletter
• 申し入れ書もうしいれしょletter (often open)
• 音沙汰おとさたnews (from someone)
• 書牘しょとくepistle
• 一字いちじ(one) letter
• 玉梓たまずさ(precious) letter
• 状じょうletter
• 便びんmail
• 紙面しめんletter
• 文もんletter
• 簡かんletter
• 寄書きしょsending a letter
• 書しょletter