字書|じしょjisho[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noundictionary of Chinese characters; kanji dictionary
2. noundictionary

• Synonym漢和かんわNeutralShort for 「漢和辞典」: a kanji dictionary that explains characters in Japanese. It centers on kanji, while 「字書」 is a broader term for dictionaries in general.
• Synonym字引じびきCasualAn old-fashioned colloquial word for a dictionary, with a nostalgic ring, as in 「生き字引」.
• Synonym字典じてんNeutralA dictionary organized by kanji character, like 「康熙字典」. Sounds identical to 「辞典」 and 「事典」; the written form tells them apart.
• Related辞典じてんNeutralA dictionary of words and their meanings. Frequently used in formal book titles, e.g. 「国語辞典」.
• Related辞書じしょNeutralThe most common everyday word for a dictionary; a general term that does not separate kanji dictionaries from word dictionaries.
• Related辞林じりんWrittenA dictionary that gathers words; written style, seen mostly in book titles such as 「広辞林」.
• RelatedレキシコンWrittenWritten style. A loanword for dictionaries of classical languages or vocabulary collections; carries an academic, linguistic flavor.
• Related辞彙じいWrittenA vocabulary collection or dictionary; old-fashioned written style, found mostly in older book titles.
• Related字林じりんWrittenA book that gathers and explains kanji; literary and archaic, used mostly as a book title.

「字書」 is a book explaining kanji one character at a time — form, readings, meanings — and can also mean dictionaries in general. In daily conversation say 「辞書」. For kanji dictionaries use 「字典」 or 「漢和」; for word dictionaries, 「辞典」. 「字引」 is an old-fashioned colloquial alternative; 「レキシコン」, 「辞彙」, 「字林」 and 「辞林」 are literary words or book titles.

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

1. 漢字かんじ一いち字じごとの成り立なりたち、発音はつおん、含意がんいなどを解説かいせつした書物しょもつ。
2. 言葉ことばの意味いみなどを解説かいせつした書物しょもつ。