記事

きじ

article, news story

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"記事" (きじ) refers to a written piece such as a news story or article found in newspapers, magazines, or online media. It is commonly used in contexts related to journalism and media.

Common Contexts

You will often see "記事" used when talking about news reports, magazine features, or any written content intended to inform or report. It can refer to both short news items and longer feature articles.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 記事を書く (きじをかく): to write an article
  • 記事を読む (きじをよむ): to read an article
  • 新聞記事 (しんぶんきじ): newspaper article
  • 雑誌の記事 (ざっしのきじ): magazine article

Register and Nuance

"記事" is a neutral, standard word suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is widely used in everyday conversation, journalism, and academic discussions about media.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "記事" with "文章" (ぶんしょう), which means "text" or "sentence" more generally. Remember, "記事" specifically implies a news or report style article, not just any written text.

Example Sentences

しんぶんにおもしろいきじがのっていた。

There was an interesting article in the newspaper.

かれはきじをかくしごとをしている。

He works writing articles.

このざっしのきじはとてもためになる。

The articles in this magazine are very informative.