sci.lang.japan FAQ / 1. Writing / 1.3. Other questions on writing

1.3.11. Is Japanese ever written with spaces between the words?

Japanese is usually written without spaces between kanji and kana. Wakachigaki (分かち書き) is the name given to Japanese written with spaces. Wakachigaki is usually used for books for small children who have not yet studied kanji. It is also used in Japanese braille.

Unlike the romanized Japanese used in textbooks for foreign learners, the Japanese system of breaking words with spaces usually treats particles as part of the preceding word, as follows:

わたしは　ねこが　きらい　だ。
Watashiwa nekoga kirai da. (I don't like cats.)

and it also treats combinations using the possessive no as one word.

sci.lang.japan FAQ / 1. Writing / 1.3. Other questions on writing

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