JLPT N4 Kanji Study List – 218 Kanji by Theme

Explore 218 kanji in the Kanji Guide N4 study scope. The characters are grouped by theme to make review and navigation easier.

Select a linked kanji to open its complete guide, including meanings, readings, common words, and example sentences. Kanji shown under “Upcoming” are planned for future guides as the site expands.

Items marked “Extended” are useful for N4 study, although their level may vary between learning resources.

Jump to: Size, Degree, and Condition / Numbers and Quantity / Time and When / Seasons and Weather / Learning and School / Words and Communication / Movement and Travel / Everyday Actions / Body and Feelings / Food and Drink / Shops and Places / Family and People / Health and Medicine / Land and Water / Regions and Administration / Directions and Geography / Society and Community / Work and Occupation / Media, Shapes, and Representation / Technology and Materials / Existence and Contrast / Everyday Life and Living / Abstract and Functional Kanji

Size, Degree, and Condition (大きさ・程度・状態)

強
strong, powerful, intense
On: kyou / gou (キョウ・ゴウ)
Kun: tsuyoi / tsuyomaru (つよ-い・つよ-まる)
強い (つよい) — strong, powerful, tough
弱
weak, frail, vulnerable
On: jaku (ジャク)
Kun: yowai / yowaru (よわ-い・よわ-る)
弱い (よわい) — weak, frail, faint
高
high, tall, expensive
On: kou (コウ)
Kun: takai / taka (たか-い・たか)
高い (たかい) — tall, high; expensive
新
new, fresh
On: shin (シン)
Kun: atarashii / arata (あたら-しい・あらた)
新しい (あたらしい) — new
古
old, ancient
On: ko (コ)
Kun: furui / furusu (ふる-い・ふる-す)
古い (ふるい) — old (for things)
多
many, much
On: ta (タ)
Kun: ooi (おお-い)
多い (おおい) — many, numerous
少
few, little
On: shou (ショウ)
Kun: sukunai / sukoshi (すく-ない・すこ-し)
少し (すこし) — a little, a bit
Upcoming Kanji

低長短太安広重明暗暑寒

Numbers and Quantity (数・量)

Guides for these kanji are planned as the N4 collection expands.

Upcoming Kanji

万億Ext半全Ext分何

Time and When (時・とき)

時
time, hour, when
On: ji (ジ)
Kun: toki (とき)
時間 (じかん) — time, hours, duration
週
week
On: shuu (シュウ)
今週 (こんしゅう) — this week
朝
morning
On: chou (チョウ)
Kun: asa (あさ)
朝 (あさ) — morning
昼
noon, daytime
On: chuu (チュウ)
Kun: hiru (ひる)
昼 (ひる) — noon, daytime
夜
night, evening
On: ya (ヤ)
Kun: yoru / yo (よる・よ)
夜 (よる) — night
午
noon
On: go (ゴ)
午前 (ごぜん) — morning, a.m.
前
before, front
On: zen (ゼン)
Kun: mae (まえ)
前 (まえ) — front, before
後
after, behind
On: go / kou (ゴ・コウ)
Kun: ato / ushiro (あと・うし-ろ)
後 (あと) — after, later
今
now
On: kon / kin (コン・キン)
Kun: ima (いま)
今 (いま) — now
毎
every
On: mai (マイ)
毎日 (まいにち) — every day
間
interval, between
On: kan / ken (カン・ケン)
Kun: aida / ma (あいだ・ま)
時間 (じかん) — time, hour
世
world, generation
On: sei / se (セイ・セ)
Kun: yo (よ)
世界 (せかい) — world
曜
day of the week
On: you (ヨウ)
曜日 (ようび) — day of the week
Upcoming Kanji

度

Seasons and Weather (季節・天気)

春
spring (season)
On: shun (シュン)
Kun: haru (はる)
春 (はる) — spring
夏
summer
On: ka (カ)
Kun: natsu (なつ)
夏 (なつ) — summer
秋
autumn, fall
On: shuu (シュウ)
Kun: aki (あき)
秋 (あき) — autumn, fall
冬
winter
On: tou (トウ)
Kun: fuyu (ふゆ)
冬 (ふゆ) — winter
風
wind, style
On: fuu / fu (フウ・フ)
Kun: kaze / kaza- (かぜ・かざ-)
風 (かぜ) — wind
晴

Extended

clear (weather)
On: sei (セイ)
Kun: hareru / hare (は-れる・は-れ)
晴れ (はれ) — clear weather, sunny
雪

Extended

snow
On: setsu (セツ)
Kun: yuki (ゆき)
雪 (ゆき) — snow
Upcoming Kanji

雲Ext

Learning and School (学習)

教
teach, education, doctrine
On: kyou (キョウ)
Kun: oshieru / osowaru (おし-える・おそ-わる)
教える (おしえる) — to teach, to tell, to explain
知
know, knowledge, wisdom
On: chi (チ)
Kun: shiru (し-る)
知る (しる) — to know, to find out
考
think, consider, reflect
On: kou (コウ)
Kun: kangaeru (かんが-える)
考える (かんがえる) — to think, to consider
思
think, feel
On: shi (シ)
Kun: omou (おも-う)
思う (おもう) — to think, to feel
勉
study, diligence, effort
On: ben (ベン)
勉強 (べんきょう) — study, studying
問
question, ask, problem
On: mon (モン)
Kun: tou / toi (と-う・と-い)
問題 (もんだい) — problem, question, issue
題
topic, subject, title
On: dai (ダイ)
問題 (もんだい) — problem, question, issue
答
answer, reply, response
On: tou (トウ)
Kun: kotaeru / kotae (こた-える・こた-え)
答え (こたえ) — an answer, a solution
試
try, test, attempt
On: shi (シ)
Kun: kokoromiru / tamesu (こころ-みる・ため-す)
試験 (しけん) — exam, test
験
test, verify, experience
On: ken (ケン)
試験 (しけん) — exam, test
習
learn, practice, custom
On: shuu (シュウ)
Kun: narau (なら-う)
習う (ならう) — to learn (from a teacher), to take lessons in
Upcoming Kanji

究研

Words and Communication (言葉)

話
talk, speak, story, conversation
On: wa (ワ)
Kun: hanasu / hanashi (はな-す・はなし)
話す (はなす) — to speak, to talk
言
say, word
On: gen / gon (ゲン・ゴン)
Kun: iu / koto (い-う・こと)
言う (いう) — to say
聞
hear, listen, ask
On: bun / mon (ブン・モン)
Kun: kiku / kikoeru (き-く・き-こえる)
聞く (きく) — to listen, to hear, to ask
読
read, reading
On: doku (ドク)
Kun: yomu (よ-む)
読む (よむ) — to read
書
write, writing, document
On: sho (ショ)
Kun: kaku (か-く)
書く (かく) — to write
会
meet, meeting
On: kai / e (カイ・エ)
Kun: au (あ-う)
会う (あう) — to meet
Upcoming Kanji

語説計

Movement and Travel (移動・旅行)

乗
ride, board, get on
On: jou (ジョウ)
Kun: noru / noseru (の-る・の-せる)
乗る (のる) — to ride, to board, to get on
通
pass through, commute, street
On: tsuu / tsu (ツウ・ツ)
Kun: tooru / toosu (とお-る・とお-す)
通る (とおる) — to pass through, to go along
道
road, way, path
On: dou / tou (ドウ・トウ)
Kun: michi (みち)
道 (みち) — road, way, path
旅
travel, trip, journey
On: ryo (リョ)
Kun: tabi (たび)
旅行 (りょこう) — travel, trip
歩
walk, step
On: ho / bu (ホ・ブ)
Kun: aruku / ayumu (ある-く・あゆ-む)
歩く (あるく) — to walk
走
run
On: sou (ソウ)
Kun: hashiru (はし-る)
走る (はしる) — to run; to travel (of vehicles)
動
move, motion
On: dou (ドウ)
Kun: ugoku / ugokasu (うご-く・うご-かす)
動く (うごく) — to move (intransitive)
止
stop, halt
On: shi (シ)
Kun: tomaru / tomeru (と-まる・と-める)
止まる (とまる) — to stop (intransitive)
進
advance, proceed, progress
On: shin (シン)
Kun: susumu / susumeru (すす-む・すす-める)
進む (すすむ) — to advance, to proceed, to make progress (intransitive)
発
depart, start, emit, launch
On: hatsu / hatsu (ハツ・ハッ)
出発 (しゅっぱつ) — departure, setting off
着
arrive, wear
On: chaku / jaku (チャク・ジャク)
Kun: kiru / kiseru (き-る・き-せる)
着く (つく) — to arrive, to reach
来
to come
On: rai (ライ)
Kun: kuru / kitaru (く-る・きた-る)
来る (くる) — to come
行
to go, to carry out
On: kou / gyou (コウ・ギョウ)
Kun: iku / yuku (い-く・ゆ-く)
行く (いく) — to go
転
to turn, roll, change
On: ten (テン)
Kun: korogaru / korogeru (ころ-がる・ころ-げる)
運転 (うんてん) — driving, operation
遠
far, distant
On: en / on (エン・オン)
Kun: tooi / tooku (とお-い・とお-く)
遠い (とおい) — far, distant
近
near, close
On: kin / kon (キン・コン)
Kun: chikai / chikazuku (ちか-い・ちか-づく)
近い (ちかい) — near, close
Upcoming Kanji

運帰

Everyday Actions (日常の動作)

買
buy, purchase
On: bai (バイ)
Kun: kau (か-う)
買う (かう) — to buy
売
sell, sale
On: bai (バイ)
Kun: uru / ureru (う-る・う-れる)
売る (うる) — to sell
使
use, employ
On: shi (シ)
Kun: tsukau (つか-う)
使う (つかう) — to use
持
hold, have, carry, possess
On: ji (ジ)
Kun: motsu (も-つ)
持つ (もつ) — to hold, to carry, to have
集
gather, collect, assemble
On: shuu (シュウ)
Kun: atsumaru / atsumeru (あつ-まる・あつ-める)
集まる (あつまる) — to gather, to come together (intransitive)
送
send; see off
On: sou (ソウ)
Kun: okuru (おく-る)
送る (おくる) — to send; to see someone off
貸
lend, loan
On: tai (タイ)
Kun: kasu (か-す)
貸す (かす) — to lend, to loan
借
borrow, rent
On: shaku (シャク)
Kun: kariru (か-りる)
借りる (かりる) — to borrow; to rent (apartment, car, etc.)
洗
wash
On: sen (セン)
Kun: arau (あら-う)
洗う (あらう) — to wash
始
begin, start
On: shi (シ)
Kun: hajimaru / hajimeru (はじ-まる・はじ-める)
始まる (はじまる) — to begin, to start (intransitive)
終
end, finish
On: shuu (シュウ)
Kun: owaru / oeru (お-わる・お-える)
終わる (おわる) — to end, to finish (intransitive)
作
make, create
On: saku / sa (サク・サ)
Kun: tsukuru (つく-る)
作る (つくる) — to make, to create
Upcoming Kanji

建引起待切別

Body and Feelings (体・気持ち)

体
body, physical
On: tai / tei (タイ・テイ)
Kun: karada (からだ)
体 (からだ) — body
頭
head; mind
On: tou / zu (トウ・ズ)
Kun: atama / kashira (あたま・かしら)
頭 (あたま) — head; mind, intelligence (informal)
声
voice
On: sei / shou (セイ・ショウ)
Kun: koe (こえ)
声 (こえ) — voice
Upcoming Kanji

心意首急悪顔

Food and Drink (食べ物・飲み物)

食
eat, food, meal
On: shoku / jiki (ショク・ジキ)
Kun: taberu / kuu (た-べる・く-う)
食べる (たべる) — to eat
肉
meat, flesh
On: niku (ニク)
肉 (にく) — meat
魚
fish
On: gyo (ギョ)
Kun: sakana / uo (さかな・うお)
魚 (さかな) — fish
牛
cow, cattle
On: gyuu (ギュウ)
Kun: ushi (うし)
牛 (うし) — cow, cattle
鳥
bird
On: chou (チョウ)
Kun: tori (とり)
鳥 (とり) — bird; (in food contexts) chicken
飯
cooked rice, meal
On: han (ハン)
Kun: meshi (めし)
ご飯 (ごはん) — cooked rice; meal
茶
tea
On: cha / sa (チャ・サ)
お茶 (おちゃ) — tea; green tea; tea break
味
taste, flavor
On: mi (ミ)
Kun: aji / ajiwau (あじ・あじ-わう)
味 (あじ) — taste, flavor
料
materials, fee, cooking
On: ryou (リョウ)
料理 (りょうり) — cooking; a dish, cuisine
品
goods, article, quality
On: hin (ヒン)
Kun: shina (しな)
品物 (しなもの) — goods, article, item
Upcoming Kanji

飲菜

Shops and Places (店・場所)

店
shop, store
On: ten (テン)
Kun: mise (みせ)
店 (みせ) — shop, store
堂
hall, public building
On: dou (ドウ)
食堂 (しょくどう) — cafeteria, dining hall, casual restaurant
市
city, market
On: shi (シ)
Kun: ichi (いち)
市 (し) — city
Upcoming Kanji

屋室場地工院館駅門開

Family and People (家族・人)

家
house, home, family
On: ka / ke (カ・ケ)
Kun: ie / ya (いえ・や)
家 (いえ) — house, home (the building)
族
family, tribe, group
On: zoku (ゾク)
家族 (かぞく) — family
親
parent, intimate
On: shin (シン)
Kun: oya / shitashii (おや・した-しい)
親 (おや) — parent
兄
older brother
On: kei / kyou (ケイ・キョウ)
Kun: ani (あに)
兄 (あに) — (my) older brother
弟
younger brother
On: tei / dai (テイ・ダイ)
Kun: otouto (おとうと)
弟 (おとうと) — (my) younger brother
姉
older sister
On: shi (シ)
Kun: ane (あね)
姉 (あね) — (my) older sister
妹
younger sister
On: mai (マイ)
Kun: imouto (いもうと)
妹 (いもうと) — (my) younger sister
友
friend
On: yuu (ユウ)
Kun: tomo (とも)
友達 (ともだち) — friend
自
self, oneself
On: ji / shi (ジ・シ)
Kun: mizukara (みずか-ら)
自分 (じぶん) — oneself, myself
Upcoming Kanji

主者

Health and Medicine (健康・医療)

Guides for these kanji are planned as the N4 collection expands.

Upcoming Kanji

医病死薬

Land and Water (自然・水)

海
sea, ocean
On: kai (カイ)
Kun: umi (うみ)
海 (うみ) — sea, ocean
洋
ocean, Western-style
On: you (ヨウ)
洋服 (ようふく) — Western-style clothes
Upcoming Kanji

池注漢

Regions and Administration (地域・行政)

国
country, nation
On: koku (コク)
Kun: kuni (くに)
国 (くに) — country
都
metropolis, capital
On: to / tsu (ト・ツ)
Kun: miyako (みやこ)
都市 (とし) — city, urban area
Upcoming Kanji

京県区

Directions and Geography (方角・地理)

東
east
On: tou (トウ)
Kun: higashi (ひがし)
東 (ひがし) — east
西
west
On: sei / sai (セイ・サイ)
Kun: nishi (にし)
西 (にし) — west
南
south
On: nan / na (ナン・ナ)
Kun: minami (みなみ)
南 (みなみ) — south
北
north
On: hoku (ホク)
Kun: kita (きた)
北 (きた) — north
Upcoming Kanji

方外内Ext

Society and Community (社会・共同体)

Guides for these kanji are planned as the N4 collection expands.

Upcoming Kanji

社民公Ext界野

Work and Occupation (仕事・職業)

Guides for these kanji are planned as the N4 collection expands.

Upcoming Kanji

仕事業働員

Media, Shapes, and Representation (図・表現)

図
diagram, map, plan
On: zu / to (ズ・ト)
Kun: hakaru (はか-る)
地図 (ちず) — map
写
copy, photograph
On: sha (シャ)
Kun: utsusu / utsuru (うつ-す・うつ-る)
写真 (しゃしん) — photograph
画
picture, stroke
On: ga / kaku (ガ・カク)
映画 (えいが) — movie, film
色
color
On: shoku / shiki (ショク・シキ)
Kun: iro (いろ)
色 (いろ) — color
Upcoming Kanji

紙映黒光

Technology and Materials (技術・素材)

Guides for these kanji are planned as the N4 collection expands.

Upcoming Kanji

電銀物産用

Existence and Contrast (存在・対比)

Guides for these kanji are planned as the N4 collection expands.

Upcoming Kanji

有無Ext好便合同軽

Everyday Life and Living (暮らし)

服
clothes
On: fuku (フク)
服 (ふく) — clothes
Upcoming Kanji

住台楽歌

Abstract and Functional Kanji (抽象・機能)

代
generation, substitute, cost
On: dai / tai (ダイ・タイ)
Kun: kawaru / kaeru (か-わる・か-える)
時代 (じだい) — era, period
私
I, private
On: shi (シ)
Kun: watashi / watakushi (わたし・わたくし)
私 (わたし) — I, me
Upcoming Kanji

不以元去所回Ext真英特理質