I just started learning and I was wondering what is the difference between the
kanji 聲 and 声. They both mean voice when I looked it up in the dictionary and
are said the same way too. When would you use each one or are they
interchangeable?
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2017-03-02T23:53:40.587
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kanji kyūjitai-and-shinjitai
What's the difference between the kanji 聲 and 声?
聲 is the traditional version of 声, that was in common use (and indeed the sole
character) prior to language reforms that took place after WW2. It is now used
very uncommonly, although you might see it occasionally in art or literature
for aesthetic purposes (for example there is a recent animated film that uses
it).

Functionally (ie, in meaning and reading), there is no difference; it is
essentially the same character. However, you should stick to using 声 as it is
what will be used 99% of the time by native Japanese speakers, and using 聲
will probably make you seem pretentious, as it is entirely unnecessary, unless
you are trying to replicate an archaic style of Japanese.
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2017-03-03T00:04:23.640
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「 聲{こえ} 」 is the old form of 「声{こえ}」, so the former is currently not taught in
school.

「 聲 」 can be found in creative writing such as poetry if the author's sense of
aesthetics calls for it, but it is not a kanji people use in their daily lives
**at all**.

The two kanji have the same meaning but they are hardly "interchangeable" for
the reason discussed above. Frankly, I wonder how you even encounter old kanji
like that if you have just started learning kanji.
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2017-03-03T00:09:06.237
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聲 ( _on-yomi: sei/shou, kun-yomi: koe_ ) is part of collectively-called "旧字体"
(kyujitai) form, in other words it is pre-simplified version of 声 (see
complete list [here](http://jgrammar.life.coocan.jp/ja/kanji001.htm#ryakuji),
some even originated from 略字 or abbreviated form commonly used in
handwriting).

Since currently there was no rule to ban former characters due to historical
reasons, they're still continue to use in archaical sense of literature and
interchangeable in certain situations (e.g. to make emphasis). However as
Ciaran said, kyujitai forms are rarely in use for modern Japanese texts, hence
声 become most common to be used nowadays.
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2017-03-03T05:17:09.383
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Strictly speaking, 「聲」 is 「こえ」, while 「声」 was originally a depiction of stone
chimes*** that is now written 「磬」. Since 「声」 was no longer used for its
original meaning, Kanji simplification efforts have redefined 「声」 as 「こえ」 and
「聲」 is no longer used as the standard form of 「こえ」.

* * *

***「聲」 means _sound_ as a compounded character comprised of 「声」 ( _stone
chimes_ ), 「殳」 ( _a striking motion_ ), and 「耳」 ( _an ear_ ), indicating the
meaning _the sound made from hitting stone chimes_.
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