1. Large characters
2. Alternate numbers

1. Large characters

■ Characters or letters that are large in size.

2. Alternate numbers

■ These numbers are provided in lieu of regular kanji numbers for use in contexts where accuracy and avoiding fraud are critical such as in finance and legal agreements. In handwritten documents, for example, it would be easy for a forger to add a line above or below a numeral 一 to make 二, changing, say, 一万円 (10,000 yen) to 二万円 (20,000 yen); the alternate numbers prevent such alterations.

The list below gives the typical number kanji followed by the 大字 numbers and the Arabic equivalent.

◇ 　　　零(レイ) 0
一　　　壱・壹 1
二　　　弐・貳 2
三　　　参・參 3
四　　　肆 4
五　　　伍 5
六　　　陸 6
七　　　漆 7
八　　　捌 8
九　　　玖 9
十　　　拾 10
百　　　佰・陌 100
千　　　阡・仟 1000
万　　　萬 10,000

Also, there are
二十　　　廿 20
三十　　　卅 30
四十　　　(As 卅, but with one more extra vertical line) 40

The most commonly used 大字 are probably 壱, 弐, 参, and 拾. For more information about kanji for fractions and for very large numbers, see 漢数字講座.

This entry was created by Benjamin Barrett. Entry inspired by Dr. Paul Atkins.

Created 2004-11-23.