The Meaning of kiji [記事] In Japanese

記事
きじ
Romaji: kiji N3

What does 記事 mean?

Translation and Meaning

article, news article, report

Definition

What does 記事 mean? It refers to a written piece published in newspapers, magazines, or online media, such as a news article or feature; it denotes a standalone publication intended for public readership.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1) News article (nyūsu kiji) — a report on current events published by a newspaper, magazine, or online outlet.
  • 2) Feature article (tokushū kiji) — a longer piece that explores a topic in depth for publication.
  • 3) Opinion article (iken kiji) — a piece presenting a viewpoint or analysis from a writer or editor.
  • 4) Publication entry (kiji) — a discrete item listed in a catalog, database, or archive describing a subject.

Origin

The modern sense of 記事 as a publishable written piece solidified in the Meiji era with the rise of newspapers and magazines; the concept existed earlier in classical Chinese sources, but contemporary usage as an article in media developed in modern Japanese journalism.

Composition

  • 記: write, record
  • 事: matter, affair
  • 記事: a written record or published item formed by combining the action of writing with the notion of a matter, resulting in an article

Usage

Used to refer to a written piece published in newspapers, magazines, or online media; in journalism, education, and library cataloging it denotes a single publishable item such as a news article or feature; casual blogs and portal pages also use 記事 to label individual entries.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: KIJI — Keep It Journalized: remember that 記 means write/record and 事 means matter; visualize a journalist writing a matter into a publishable page.

Variations

  • ニュース記事 (nyūsu kiji) — news article
  • 特集記事 (tokushū kiji) — feature article
  • 意見記事 (iken kiji) — opinion article
  • コラム (koramu) — column or op-ed style piece

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 記事 を 読む の が 楽しい。
    Kyou wa kiji o yomu no ga tanoshii.
    Today, reading articles is enjoyable.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 記事 (kiji) – article
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 読む (yomu) – read
    • の (no) – nominalizer
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 楽しい (tanoshii) – fun
    The core grammar point is 「記事」 as the direct object of 読む, shown by を in 記事を読む.
記事