Kanji Blog — Guides, Word Lists & JLPT Tips
Practical kanji articles: kanji by theme and meaning, how-to-learn methods, and JLPT N5→N1 study guides. New article every day.
- JLPT prep
Is JLPT N1 Worth It? Who Actually Needs the Top Level
N1 is a huge undertaking — 2,000+ kanji and academic-level reading. Is it worth the effort, or is N2 enough? Here's an honest cost-benefit look.
6 min - JLPT prep
JLPT Test-Day Tips: Timing, Strategy & Avoiding Silly Mistakes
You've studied for months — don't lose points to poor timing or test nerves. Here's how to manage each JLPT section on the day and finish strong.
6 min - JLPT prep
JLPT: Should You Study Kanji or Vocabulary First?
Kanji and vocabulary are tested together but studied differently. Here's why vocabulary-first usually wins, and how to make kanji a byproduct of words.
6 min - JLPT prep
JLPT N2 Kanji: Reaching the ~1,000 Mark for Work-Ready Japanese
N2 is the level employers ask for. It expects ~1,000 kanji and newspaper-level reading. Here are targeted tips to close the gap from N3 to N2.
7 min - JLPT prep
A 6-Month JLPT Study Plan You Can Actually Follow
A realistic month-by-month JLPT plan covering kanji, vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening — with weekly targets and a final-month mock-test routine.
8 min - JLPT prep
JLPT N3 Kanji: The Bridge Level and How to Cross It
N3 is where many learners stall. It roughly doubles your kanji to ~650 and demands real reading speed. Here's a strategy to break through the wall.
7 min - JLPT prep
JLPT Levels Explained: N5 to N1 and What Each Requires
The JLPT has five levels from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). Here's the kanji, vocabulary, and study hours each level demands, and how to choose yours.
8 min - JLPT prep
JLPT N4 Kanji List: The ~170 New Characters After N5
N4 adds roughly 170 kanji on top of N5, covering everyday verbs, adjectives, and places. Here's the themed list and how N4 differs from N5.
7 min - JLPT prep
JLPT N5 Kanji List: All ~100 Characters You Need to Pass
The JLPT N5 tests around 100 kanji. Here's the full list by theme — numbers, time, people, directions — with the readings each appears with on the exam.
8 min - How to learn
Which Kanji to Learn First: The Frequency-First Strategy
Not all kanji are worth the same effort. Learning by frequency means the characters you study show up immediately. Here's how to prioritize.
6 min - How to learn
Can You Learn Kanji Without Handwriting? Yes — Here's How
If your goal is reading, you can learn kanji recognition without endless handwriting drills. Here's the recognition-first approach and its trade-offs.
6 min - How to learn
Confusingly Similar Kanji and How to Tell Them Apart
Some kanji differ by a single stroke. Learn the most notorious look-alike pairs — 人/入, 日/曰, 末/未 — and the trick to never mix them up.
6 min - How to learn
Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji: The 3 Japanese Scripts Explained
Japanese uses three writing systems at once. Learn what each script is for, why a single sentence mixes all three, and which to learn first.
7 min - How to learn
The Best Way to Memorize Kanji (That Actually Sticks)
Rote copying doesn't work. Spaced repetition, mnemonics, component breakdown, and reading in context do. Here's how to combine them into a system.
8 min - How to learn
How Many Kanji Do You Need to Be Fluent in Japanese?
2,136 jōyō kanji cover daily reading, but you can read a lot with far fewer. Here's a realistic kanji count for each milestone from survival to fluency.
7 min - How to learn
Kanji Stroke Order: The 8 Rules That Cover Almost Everything
Stroke order isn't arbitrary — it follows a small set of rules. Learn the 8 core principles and you can write almost any kanji correctly the first time.
7 min - How to learn
Learn Kanji Faster with Radicals: The 214 Building Blocks
Kanji aren't random strokes — they're built from a few hundred reusable parts called radicals. Learn the high-value radicals and kanji stop being scary.
8 min - How to learn
On'yomi vs Kun'yomi: Why Kanji Have Multiple Readings
Every kanji has Chinese-derived (on'yomi) and native Japanese (kun'yomi) readings. Learn the rule of thumb for which to use and when.
8 min - Kanji by theme
Animal Kanji: Cat 猫, Dog 犬, and the Animal Radical
猫 (neko, cat) and 犬 (inu, dog) are gateway animal kanji. Learn their readings and the 犭 radical that marks dozens of other animals.
5 min - Kanji by theme
Time Kanji: Day 日, Month 月, Year 年, Time 時, Week 週
Dates and time rely on a handful of kanji — 日 月 年 時 週. Master their multiple readings and you can read any calendar, clock, or schedule.
7 min - Kanji by theme
Color Kanji in Japanese: Red, Blue, White, Black & More
The basic color kanji — 赤 青 白 黒 黄 — behave as both nouns and adjectives. Learn their readings and the adjective endings that trip learners up.
6 min - Kanji by theme
The Kanji for Peace (平和 and 和): Harmony in Japanese
和 (wa) is one of the most culturally loaded kanji in Japanese — meaning peace, harmony, and Japan itself. Learn 和 and 平 and the word 平和.
5 min - Kanji by theme
Family Kanji: Mother, Father, Older & Younger Siblings
Learn the kanji for every family member — 母 父 兄 弟 姉 妹 — plus the crucial humble vs honorific split for talking about your family vs someone else's.
7 min - Kanji by theme
The Kanji for Dragon (竜 and 龍): Readings, Difference & Names
竜 and 龍 both mean dragon. One is the modern simplified form, the other the traditional. Here's when each appears and how to read them.
5 min - Kanji by theme
Elemental Kanji: Water 水, Fire 火, Earth 土, Wood 木, Metal 金
The five elemental kanji also name the days of the week and dozens of everyday words. Learn 水火土木金 with readings and the words they unlock.
6 min - Kanji by theme
Japanese Numbers 1–10 in Kanji: Readings, Strokes & Counting
The kanji for 1 to 10 are the highest-value characters you can learn first. Full readings, stroke counts, and the on/kun split that trips beginners up.
7 min - Kanji by theme
The Kanji for Strength (力 and 強): Power, Readings & Words
力 (chikara) and 強 (tsuyoi) both express strength in Japanese. Here's what each means, their readings, and the most useful words built from them.
6 min - Kanji by theme
The Kanji for Love (愛 and 恋): Meaning, Readings & Difference
Japanese has two kanji for love — 愛 (ai) and 恋 (koi). Learn what each means, how they're read, and exactly when to use which.
6 min