How many kanji do you need for N2?
Most learners aim for about 1,000 kanji in total by the time they sit N2. That's roughly half of the 2,136 jōyō kanji, the set taught in Japanese schools and used in everyday writing.
Here's how the Kantan JLPT sets add up:
| Level |
New kanji in our set |
Running total |
| N5 |
81 |
81 |
| N4 |
174 |
255 |
| N3 |
386 |
641 |
| N2 |
406 |
1,047 |
So if you've worked through our lists up to N3, the 406 kanji below take you to 1,047. The jump from N3 to N2 is the biggest single step on this table, which is one reason N2 feels like a much harder test than N3. For a wider view of what each level asks of you, see JLPT levels explained.
Is there an official JLPT N2 kanji list?
No. The JLPT stopped publishing official kanji and vocabulary lists when the test was revised in 2010. Every N2 list, including this one, is based on older test guidelines, past test content and teaching experience. That's why one N2 list might have about 350 kanji and another closer to 450.
Don't let the differences worry you. Kanji like 域, 況, 輸 and 療 appear on almost every N2 list. If a kanji you see elsewhere is missing here, it's usually one that other lists place at N3 or N1.
How to read the tables
- On'yomi are written in katakana and kun'yomi in hiragana, as in dictionaries. If you want a refresher on when each type is used, see on'yomi vs kun'yomi.
- Parentheses show okurigana, the hiragana written after the kanji. あず(ける) means the word is written 預ける and read あずける.
- A hyphen means the reading only appears as part of a longer word, as a prefix or suffix.
- A dash (—) means the kanji has no reading of that type in common use. 億 has no kun'yomi, for example, and 咲 has no on'yomi.
At N2, many kanji are used mostly in compound words, so their on'yomi matter more than at earlier levels. You don't need to memorize every kun'yomi listed. Learn the readings that show up in the words you study, and leave the rare ones for later.
JLPT N2 kanji list by topic
Government, politics and law
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 党 |
political party; faction, one side in a dispute |
トウ |
— |
| 協 |
cooperation, working together; association (in group names) |
キョウ |
— |
| 区 |
city ward; zone, section (of a divided area) |
ク |
— |
| 領 |
territory, domain; govern, control; receive (as in 領収書, receipt) |
リョウ |
— |
| 県 |
prefecture |
ケン |
— |
| 府 |
seat of government; urban prefecture (Osaka, Kyoto); office, bureau |
フ |
— |
| 委 |
to entrust, leave to others; committee |
イ |
ゆだ(ねる) |
| 州 |
state, province; sandbank |
シュウ |
— |
| 署 |
government office, station (police, fire); to sign (one's name) |
ショ |
— |
| 庁 |
government agency; public office |
チョウ |
— |
| 省 |
government ministry; leave out, omit; reflect on oneself; save (energy, effort) |
セイ, ショウ |
かえり(みる), はぶ(く) |
| 令 |
order, command; decree, law |
レイ |
— |
| 臣 |
minister (of state); retainer, subject |
シン, ジン |
— |
| 籍 |
family register; registration, membership |
セキ |
— |
| 則 |
rule, law; to follow (a rule) |
ソク |
— |
| 律 |
law, rule; rhythm, pitch |
リツ, リチ |
— |
| 禁 |
to forbid, ban; prohibition |
キン |
— |
Military, crime and competition
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 軍 |
army, armed forces; military; troops |
グン |
— |
| 兵 |
soldier; troops; military |
ヘイ, ヒョウ |
— |
| 武 |
military, martial; warrior |
ブ, ム |
— |
| 将 |
commander, general; future; about to |
ショウ |
— |
| 団 |
group, body of people; organization, team |
ダン, トン |
— |
| 勢 |
force, power; momentum, energy; number of people |
セイ |
いきお(い) |
| 暴 |
violence, wild behavior; to expose, reveal; rash, reckless |
ボウ, バク |
あば(く), あば(れる) |
| 爆 |
explosion; to burst; bomb |
バク |
— |
| 乱 |
disorder, chaos; riot, revolt; to disturb |
ラン |
みだ(れる), みだ(す) |
| 防 |
to prevent, guard against; defense |
ボウ |
ふせ(ぐ) |
| 被 |
to suffer (damage), be subjected to; to cover, put on |
ヒ |
こうむ(る) |
| 捜 |
to search for, look for; to investigate |
ソウ |
さが(す) |
| 査 |
to investigate, look into; to inspect, check closely |
サ |
— |
| 狙 |
aim at, target |
ソ |
ねら(う) |
| 毒 |
poison, toxin; harm |
ドク |
— |
| 賭 |
bet, gamble |
ト |
か(ける) |
| 競 |
to compete, vie; race, contest |
キョウ, ケイ |
きそ(う), せ(る) |
Business, trade and money
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 営 |
to run (a business), operate; business, management |
エイ |
いとな(む) |
| 販 |
to sell, market |
ハン |
— |
| 貿 |
foreign trade, commerce |
ボウ |
— |
| 輸 |
to ship, convey (goods); used in import and export words |
ユ |
— |
| 貨 |
goods, freight; money, currency |
カ |
— |
| 額 |
amount (of money), sum; picture frame; forehead |
ガク |
ひたい |
| 税 |
tax, taxes (paid to government) |
ゼイ |
— |
| 券 |
ticket; voucher, coupon; certificate |
ケン |
— |
| 札 |
paper money, bill; tag, label; card, ticket |
サツ |
ふだ |
| 貯 |
to save, store up |
チョ |
— |
| 預 |
to deposit; to entrust, leave with someone |
ヨ |
あず(ける), あず(かる) |
| 損 |
loss; damage, harm; to spoil |
ソン |
そこ(なう), そこ(ねる) |
| 募 |
to recruit, call for (people); to raise (funds); to grow stronger |
ボ |
つの(る) |
| 雇 |
to hire, take on (staff) |
コ |
やと(う) |
| 績 |
achievement, results; record of performance |
セキ |
— |
| 担 |
to be in charge of, take on; to carry, shoulder |
タン |
かつ(ぐ), にな(う) |
| 課 |
section (of a company); lesson; impose (a task, tax) |
カ |
— |
| 専 |
exclusive, specialized; solely, entirely |
セン |
もっぱ(ら) |
| 管 |
pipe, tube; to manage, be in control of |
カン |
くだ |
| 介 |
stand between, mediate; help, care for (as in 介護); shellfish (as in 魚介) |
カイ |
— |
| 紹 |
to introduce (people); to link up, connect |
ショウ |
— |
| 鉱 |
ore, mineral; mine |
コウ |
— |
| 荷 |
load, cargo; baggage |
カ |
に |
Numbers, counters and measuring
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 億 |
one hundred million (100,000,000) |
オク |
— |
| 兆 |
trillion; sign, omen |
チョウ |
きざ(す), きざ(し) |
| 零 |
zero; to spill (old use) |
レイ |
— |
| 倍 |
double, twice; times (as a multiplier) |
バイ |
— |
| 個 |
individual, single; piece; counter for small items |
コ |
— |
| 枚 |
counter for flat things (paper, plates); sheet |
マイ |
— |
| 冊 |
counter for books; booklet, volume |
サツ, サク |
— |
| 匹 |
counter for small animals; to match, be equal to |
ヒツ |
ひき |
| 軒 |
counter for houses; eaves |
ケン |
のき |
| 隻 |
counter for ships; one of a pair |
セキ |
— |
| 双 |
pair, twin; both |
ソウ |
ふた |
| 片 |
one side, one of a pair; piece, fragment |
ヘン |
かた |
| 複 |
multiple, double; complex; copy, duplicate |
フク |
— |
| 量 |
quantity, amount; to measure, weigh |
リョウ |
はか(る) |
| 測 |
to measure; to estimate, guess |
ソク |
はか(る) |
| 比 |
to compare; ratio, proportion |
ヒ |
くら(べる) |
| 均 |
even, level; equal; average |
キン |
— |
| 算 |
to calculate, count; estimate, plan |
サン |
— |
| 幅 |
width, breadth; range, margin; hanging scroll |
フク |
はば |
| 層 |
layer, stratum; social class, group |
ソウ |
— |
Change and movement
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 改 |
revise, reform; renew; anew |
カイ |
あらた(める), あらた(まる) |
| 革 |
leather, hide; reform; revolution |
カク |
かわ |
| 減 |
to decrease, go down; to reduce, cut; subtraction |
ゲン |
へ(る), へ(らす) |
| 復 |
to return, go back; to restore, recover; again, once more |
フク |
— |
| 移 |
to move, shift; to transfer |
イ |
うつ(る), うつ(す) |
| 延 |
to extend, lengthen; to postpone, delay |
エン |
の(びる), の(べる), の(ばす) |
| 伸 |
to stretch, extend; to grow, increase |
シン |
の(びる), の(ばす), の(べる) |
| 昇 |
to rise, go up; promotion (in rank) |
ショウ |
のぼ(る) |
| 低 |
low (in level or height); to lower |
テイ |
ひく(い), ひく(める), ひく(まる) |
| 極 |
extreme, utmost; pole (north or south); to go to the limit |
キョク, ゴク |
きわ(める), きわ(まる), きわ(み) |
| 停 |
to stop, halt; to stay (for a while) |
テイ |
— |
| 了 |
to finish, complete; to understand |
リョウ |
— |
| 換 |
to exchange, swap; to convert, replace |
カン |
か(える), か(わる) |
| 替 |
to replace, exchange; to switch |
タイ |
か(える), か(わる) |
| 傾 |
to lean, tilt; tendency, trend |
ケイ |
かたむ(く), かたむ(ける) |
| 沈 |
to sink, submerge; calm, quiet |
チン |
しず(む), しず(める) |
| 並 |
to line up; a row; ordinary, average |
ヘイ |
な(み), なみ, なら(べる), なら(ぶ), なら(びに) |
| 混 |
to mix, blend; to be crowded |
コン |
ま(じる), ま(ざる), ま(ぜる), こ(む) |
| 逆 |
opposite, reverse; against, contrary |
ギャク |
さか, さか(らう) |
Time and history
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 史 |
history, historical record |
シ |
— |
| 歴 |
history, the past; record of; successive |
レキ |
— |
| 永 |
forever, eternity; long-lasting |
エイ |
なが(い) |
| 久 |
a long time; lasting, enduring |
キュウ, ク |
ひさ(しい) |
| 翌 |
next, following (day, year) |
ヨク |
— |
| 季 |
season |
キ |
— |
| 秒 |
second (unit of time) |
ビョウ |
— |
Abstract ideas and situations
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 象 |
phenomenon, outward form; image, impression; elephant |
ショウ, ゾウ |
— |
| 況 |
situation, circumstances |
キョウ |
— |
| 境 |
border, boundary; state, situation |
キョウ, ケイ |
さかい |
| 域 |
region, zone; scope, range |
イキ |
— |
| 型 |
type, model; mold, template; style, set form |
ケイ |
かた |
| 普 |
widespread, general; ordinary |
フ |
— |
| 般 |
general, all; sort, kind |
ハン |
— |
| 順 |
order, sequence; one's turn; obedient |
ジュン |
— |
| 希 |
hope, wish; rare, scarce |
キ |
— |
| 略 |
to abbreviate, shorten; to omit; plan, strategy |
リャク |
— |
| 効 |
effect, effectiveness; to work, take effect |
コウ |
き(く) |
| 圧 |
pressure; to press, overwhelm |
アツ |
— |
| 設 |
to set up, establish; to provide (facilities) |
セツ |
もう(ける) |
| 補 |
to supplement, make up for; assistant, sub- |
ホ |
おぎな(う) |
| 導 |
to guide, lead; to conduct (heat, electricity) |
ドウ |
みちび(く) |
| 述 |
to state, mention; to set out in words |
ジュツ |
の(べる) |
| 依 |
to rely on, depend on; to request |
イ, エ |
— |
| 栄 |
to prosper, flourish; glory, honor |
エイ |
さか(える), は(え), は(える) |
| 謎 |
riddle, mystery |
— |
なぞ |
Buildings and structures
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 門 |
gate, entrance; field of study |
モン |
かど |
| 階 |
floor, story (of a building); stairs; rank, level |
カイ |
— |
| 橋 |
bridge |
キョウ |
はし |
| 戸 |
door; household, house |
コ |
と |
| 城 |
castle |
ジョウ |
しろ |
| 寺 |
temple |
ジ |
てら |
| 殿 |
palace, hall; lord; honorific title |
デン, テン |
との, -どの |
| 塔 |
tower, pagoda |
トウ |
— |
| 柱 |
pillar, column; post, support |
チュウ |
はしら |
| 庫 |
storehouse, warehouse; storage |
コ, ク |
くら |
| 蔵 |
storehouse, warehouse; to keep, store; to own, possess |
ゾウ |
くら |
| 築 |
to build, construct; architecture |
チク |
きず(く) |
| 造 |
to make, build; manufacturing; structure |
ゾウ |
つく(る) |
| 床 |
floor; bed |
ショウ |
とこ, ゆか |
Places, positions and getting around
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 底 |
bottom; base, depth |
テイ |
そこ |
| 角 |
corner; angle; horn |
カク |
かど, つの |
| 隅 |
corner (inside a room or space) |
グウ |
すみ |
| 央 |
the center, middle point |
オウ |
— |
| 周 |
around, circumference; a lap, a round; surroundings |
シュウ |
まわ(り) |
| 辺 |
area around (a place); side, edge (of a shape) |
ヘン |
あた(り), -べ |
| 裏 |
back, reverse side; behind the scenes; inside, lining |
リ |
うら |
| 奥 |
the back, inner part; depths; wife |
オウ |
おく |
| 囲 |
to surround, enclose; fence; area around |
イ |
かこ(む), かこ(う) |
| 隙 |
gap, opening |
ゲキ |
すき |
| 跡 |
trace, mark; ruins, remains; footprints |
セキ |
あと |
| 線 |
line, stripe; railway line, route; wire, cord |
セン |
— |
| 航 |
to sail, navigate; to fly (aviation) |
コウ |
— |
| 駐 |
to be stationed, stay; to park |
チュウ |
— |
| 輪 |
ring, circle; wheel; counter for flowers |
リン |
わ |
| 舟 |
boat (small, often hand-rowed) |
シュウ |
ふね, ふな- |
Geography and nature
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 島 |
island |
トウ |
しま |
| 村 |
village |
ソン |
むら |
| 谷 |
valley |
コク |
たに |
| 湾 |
bay, gulf |
ワン |
— |
| 岸 |
shore, riverbank; coast |
ガン |
きし |
| 森 |
forest |
シン |
もり |
| 林 |
woods, grove; small forest |
リン |
はやし |
| 河 |
large river |
カ |
かわ |
| 陸 |
land, dry land; continent |
リク |
— |
| 泉 |
spring (of water); fountain, source |
セン |
いずみ |
| 湖 |
lake |
コ |
みずうみ |
| 池 |
pond, pool; battery |
チ |
いけ |
| 郊 |
suburbs, outskirts |
コウ |
— |
| 崖 |
cliff |
ガイ |
がけ |
| 岩 |
rock (large stone) |
ガン |
いわ |
| 砂 |
sand; grit |
サ, シャ |
すな |
| 泥 |
mud, mire |
デイ |
どろ |
| 波 |
wave; ripple; surge |
ハ |
なみ |
| 雲 |
cloud |
ウン |
くも |
| 星 |
star; planet; spot, dot |
セイ, ショウ |
ほし |
| 宇 |
the universe, outer space (in compounds) |
ウ |
— |
| 竹 |
bamboo |
チク |
たけ |
| 根 |
root; basis, origin; perseverance |
コン |
ね |
| 枝 |
branch, twig |
シ |
えだ |
| 坂 |
slope, hill |
ハン |
さか |
Weather, fire, water and light
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 温 |
warm, warmth; temperature; mild, gentle |
オン |
あたた(か), あたた(かい), あたた(まる), あたた(める) |
| 氷 |
ice; to freeze |
ヒョウ |
こおり, ひ |
| 凍 |
to freeze; frozen |
トウ |
こお(る), こご(える) |
| 湿 |
damp, moist; humid |
シツ |
しめ(る), しめ(す) |
| 乾 |
to dry; dried; dry (weather) |
カン, ケン |
かわ(く), かわ(かす), ほ(す), ひ(る), いぬい |
| 燥 |
dry; to dry out; parched |
ソウ |
— |
| 曇 |
cloudy; overcast; to fog up |
ドン |
くも(る) |
| 涼 |
cool; refreshing |
リョウ |
すず(しい), すず(む) |
| 灯 |
lamp, light; lantern |
トウ |
ひ |
| 炭 |
charcoal; coal; carbon |
タン |
すみ |
| 燃 |
to burn; combustion |
ネン |
も(える), も(やす), も(す) |
| 焼 |
to bake, grill, roast; to burn; to get a tan |
ショウ |
や(く), や(ける) |
| 灰 |
ash; gray |
カイ |
はい |
| 震 |
to shake, tremble; earthquake |
シン |
ふる(う), ふる(える) |
| 沸 |
to boil; to heat up; to get excited |
フツ |
わ(く), わ(かす) |
| 溶 |
to dissolve, melt; to blend in |
ヨウ |
と(ける), と(かす), と(く) |
| 蒸 |
to steam; humid, muggy; to evaporate |
ジョウ |
む(す), む(れる), む(らす) |
| 滴 |
drop; drip; trickle |
テキ |
しずく, したた(る) |
| 油 |
oil, grease |
ユ |
あぶら |
| 液 |
liquid, fluid |
エキ |
— |
| 闇 |
darkness |
— |
やみ |
Body and health
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 脳 |
brain; brains, intellect |
ノウ |
— |
| 血 |
blood |
ケツ |
ち |
| 骨 |
bone; frame; knack |
コツ |
ほね |
| 胸 |
chest, breast; heart, feelings |
キョウ |
むね, むな- |
| 腕 |
arm; skill, ability |
ワン |
うで |
| 肩 |
shoulder |
ケン |
かた |
| 腰 |
lower back, hips; waist |
ヨウ |
こし |
| 鼻 |
nose |
ビ |
はな |
| 胃 |
stomach |
イ |
— |
| 膚 |
skin |
フ |
— |
| 肌 |
skin; complexion, texture |
— |
はだ |
| 毛 |
hair, fur; wool |
モウ |
け |
| 乳 |
milk; breast; dairy |
ニュウ |
ちち, ち |
| 涙 |
tears, a teardrop |
ルイ |
なみだ |
| 汗 |
sweat |
カン |
あせ |
| 脂 |
fat, grease; resin |
シ |
あぶら |
| 臓 |
internal organ |
ゾウ |
— |
| 尻 |
buttocks; rear end |
— |
しり |
| 脇 |
side; armpit |
— |
わき |
| 膝 |
knee |
— |
ひざ |
| 肘 |
elbow |
— |
ひじ |
| 頰 |
cheek |
キョウ |
ほお |
| 爪 |
nail, claw |
— |
つめ, つま- |
| 患 |
illness, disease; patient; to suffer from |
カン |
わずら(う) |
| 療 |
medical treatment; to heal, cure |
リョウ |
— |
| 齢 |
age, years of life |
レイ |
— |
People and relationships
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 児 |
child, infant; youth |
ジ, ニ |
— |
| 童 |
child, children |
ドウ |
わらべ |
| 孫 |
grandchild; descendant |
ソン |
まご |
| 幼 |
very young, infant; childhood |
ヨウ |
おさな(い) |
| 仲 |
relationship, terms (with someone); go-between, middle |
チュウ |
なか |
| 姓 |
family name, surname |
セイ, ショウ |
— |
| 孝 |
devotion to parents |
コウ |
— |
| 戚 |
relatives |
セキ |
— |
| 恋 |
romantic love; longing |
レン |
こ(う), こい, こい(しい) |
| 敬 |
to respect, honor; polite |
ケイ |
うやま(う) |
| 尊 |
to respect, revere; precious, noble |
ソン |
たっと(い), とうと(い), たっと(ぶ), とうと(ぶ) |
| 群 |
group, crowd; flock, herd |
グン |
む(れる), む(れ), むら |
Food and drink
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 塩 |
salt |
エン |
しお |
| 甘 |
sweet; lenient, soft on; to indulge |
カン |
あま(い), あま(える), あま(やかす) |
| 辛 |
spicy, hot; painful, hard |
シン |
から(い) |
| 菜 |
vegetables, greens; side dish |
サイ |
な |
| 卵 |
egg (of birds, fish, etc.) |
ラン |
たまご |
| 菓 |
sweets, confectionery; snack |
カ |
— |
| 麦 |
wheat, barley (grain crops) |
バク |
むぎ |
| 粉 |
powder, flour; dust |
フン |
こ, こな |
| 粒 |
grain; drop, particle; bead |
リュウ |
つぶ |
| 湯 |
hot water; hot bath, hot spring |
トウ |
ゆ |
| 喫 |
to smoke (tobacco); to drink, take in |
キツ |
— |
| 餅 |
rice cake |
ヘイ |
もち |
| 蜜 |
honey, nectar |
ミツ |
— |
| 丼 |
rice bowl dish |
— |
どんぶり, どん |
| 麺 |
noodles |
メン |
— |
| 餌 |
animal feed, bait |
ジ |
え, えさ |
| 柿 |
persimmon |
— |
かき |
| 皿 |
plate, dish (for food) |
— |
さら |
| 瓶 |
bottle, jar; vase |
ビン |
— |
| 缶 |
can, tin; canister |
カン |
— |
Animals, farming and plants
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 虫 |
insect, bug; worm |
チュウ |
むし |
| 蜂 |
bee, wasp |
ホウ |
はち |
| 貝 |
clam, shellfish; seashell |
— |
かい |
| 畜 |
livestock; domestic animals; animal husbandry |
チク |
— |
| 羽 |
feather, wing; counter for birds |
ウ |
は, わ, はね |
| 植 |
to plant; plant, planting |
ショク |
う(える), う(わる) |
| 農 |
agriculture, working the land; farmer |
ノウ |
— |
| 漁 |
fishing (as an industry); catching fish |
ギョ, リョウ |
— |
| 耕 |
to plow, till (a field); to cultivate |
コウ |
たがや(す) |
| 枯 |
to wither; to dry up; dead (of plants) |
コ |
か(れる), か(らす) |
| 咲 |
to bloom, blossom |
— |
さ(く) |
Clothing, materials and tools
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 衣 |
clothing, garment; coating (batter) |
イ |
ころも |
| 帯 |
belt, sash (for a kimono); zone, band; to carry, wear |
タイ |
お(びる), おび |
| 袖 |
sleeve |
— |
そで |
| 帽 |
hat, cap; headgear |
ボウ |
— |
| 装 |
to dress, wear; to equip, fit out; to pretend |
ソウ, ショウ |
よそお(う) |
| 粧 |
adorn, make up |
ショウ |
— |
| 布 |
cloth, fabric; to spread, distribute |
フ |
ぬの |
| 糸 |
thread, string; yarn |
シ |
いと |
| 綿 |
cotton; padding, stuffing |
メン |
わた |
| 皮 |
skin, peel; hide, leather |
ヒ |
かわ |
| 袋 |
bag, sack, pouch |
タイ |
ふくろ |
| 机 |
desk (for writing or study) |
キ |
つくえ |
| 枕 |
pillow |
— |
まくら |
| 畳 |
tatami mat; to fold; to pile up |
ジョウ |
たた(む), たたみ |
| 蓋 |
lid, cover |
ガイ |
ふた |
| 巾 |
cloth |
キン |
— |
| 鉄 |
iron, steel; railway |
テツ |
— |
| 銅 |
copper; bronze |
ドウ |
— |
| 材 |
material, timber; talented people |
ザイ |
— |
| 械 |
machinery, mechanical device |
カイ |
— |
| 棒 |
stick, rod, bar; pole |
ボウ |
— |
| 筒 |
tube, pipe; cylinder |
トウ |
つつ |
| 板 |
board, plank; thin plate, sheet |
ハン, バン |
いた |
| 針 |
needle, pin; hand (of a clock); policy, course |
シン |
はり |
| 玉 |
ball, sphere; jewel, gem; coin |
ギョク |
たま |
| 宝 |
treasure; precious, valuable |
ホウ |
たから |
Describing words
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 緑 |
green; greenery, plants |
リョク, ロク |
みどり |
| 紅 |
crimson, deep red; lipstick, rouge |
コウ, ク |
べに, くれない |
| 黄 |
yellow |
コウ, オウ |
き, こ- |
| 薄 |
thin; pale, light (in color); weak, faint |
ハク |
うす(い), うす(める), うす(まる), うす(らぐ), うす(れる) |
| 濃 |
thick, dense; dark, deep (in color); strong (in taste) |
ノウ |
こ(い) |
| 厚 |
thick; warm-hearted, generous |
コウ |
あつ(い) |
| 浅 |
shallow; light (in color); superficial |
セン |
あさ(い) |
| 細 |
thin, slender; fine, detailed; narrow |
サイ |
ほそ(い), ほそ(る), こま(か), こま(かい) |
| 硬 |
hard, stiff; rigid, formal |
コウ |
かた(い) |
| 柔 |
soft, gentle; flexible |
ジュウ, ニュウ |
やわ(らか), やわ(らかい) |
| 軟 |
soft, supple; flexible |
ナン |
やわ(らか), やわ(らかい) |
| 固 |
hard, firm; solid, fixed; stubborn |
コ |
かた(める), かた(まる), かた(い) |
| 鈍 |
dull, blunt; slow, insensitive |
ドン |
にぶ(い), にぶ(る) |
| 鋭 |
sharp, keen; acute |
エイ |
するど(い) |
| 軽 |
light (in weight); easy, casual; minor, slight |
ケイ |
かる(い), かろ(やか) |
| 弱 |
weak, frail; a little under (after a number) |
ジャク |
よわ(い), よわ(る), よわ(まる), よわ(める) |
| 短 |
short, brief; weak point, shortcoming |
タン |
みじか(い) |
| 清 |
pure, clean; clear (water); Qing dynasty |
セイ, ショウ |
きよ(い), きよ(まる), きよ(める) |
| 豊 |
abundant, plentiful; rich (in) |
ホウ |
ゆた(か) |
| 荒 |
rough, wild; stormy; to lay waste, ruin |
コウ |
あら(い), あ(れる), あ(らす) |
| 珍 |
rare, unusual; curious, strange |
チン |
めずら(しい) |
| 巨 |
huge, giant; great, enormous |
キョ |
— |
| 丸 |
round, circle; whole, entire; suffix in ship names |
ガン |
まる, まる(める), まる(い) |
| 汚 |
dirty, filthy; to pollute, stain; to disgrace |
オ |
けが(す), けが(れる), けが(らわしい), よご(す), よご(れる), きたな(い) |
| 快 |
pleasant, comfortable; cheerful; fast |
カイ |
こころよ(い) |
| 賢 |
wise, clever |
ケン |
かしこ(い) |
| 勇 |
brave, courageous; courage |
ユウ |
いさ(む) |
| 凄 |
amazing; dreadful |
セイ |
すご(い), すさ(まじい) |
| 純 |
pure, genuine; innocent, naive |
ジュン |
— |
School, writing and media
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 講 |
lecture, class; to take (measures) |
コウ |
— |
| 訓 |
teaching, instruction; training; Japanese reading of a kanji |
クン |
— |
| 練 |
to practice, train; to refine, polish |
レン |
ね(る) |
| 卒 |
to graduate, finish; soldier (old use) |
ソツ |
— |
| 章 |
chapter, section; badge, emblem |
ショウ |
— |
| 詞 |
word, part of speech; lyrics |
シ |
— |
| 符 |
mark, symbol; ticket; charm, talisman |
フ |
— |
| 編 |
to edit, compile; to knit, braid; part, volume (of a book) |
ヘン |
あ(む) |
| 刊 |
publication, edition; to publish (a paper, magazine) |
カン |
— |
| 版 |
edition, version; printing block; to publish |
ハン |
— |
| 誌 |
magazine, journal; record, document |
シ |
— |
| 著 |
to write (a book), author; notable, conspicuous |
チョ |
あらわ(す), いちじる(しい) |
| 刷 |
to print; to renew |
サツ |
す(る) |
| 録 |
to record, write down; a record, recording |
ロク |
— |
| 像 |
image, likeness; statue, figure |
ゾウ |
— |
| 劇 |
drama, play, theater; severe, intense |
ゲキ |
— |
| 芸 |
art, performing arts; skill, trick |
ゲイ |
— |
| 賞 |
prize, award; to praise, admire |
ショウ |
— |
| 筆 |
writing brush; pen, writing; handwriting |
ヒツ |
ふで |
| 封 |
to seal; envelope |
フウ, ホウ |
— |
| 郵 |
mail, postal service |
ユウ |
— |
| 宛 |
addressed to |
— |
あ(てる) |
| 印 |
mark, sign; seal, stamp; printing; India (short form) |
イン |
しるし |
| 簡 |
simple, brief; letter (old use) |
カン |
— |
| 技 |
skill, technique; craft, art |
ギ |
わざ |
Feelings, religion and polite language
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 悩 |
to worry, be troubled; distress |
ノウ |
なや(む), なや(ます) |
| 憎 |
to hate; hateful |
ゾウ |
にく(む), にく(い), にく(らしい), にく(しみ) |
| 羨 |
envy |
セン |
うらや(む), うらや(ましい) |
| 諦 |
give up |
テイ |
あきら(める) |
| 肯 |
to agree, consent; to affirm |
コウ |
— |
| 祝 |
to celebrate, congratulate; festive day, holiday |
シュク, シュウ |
いわ(う) |
| 祭 |
festival; to worship, enshrine |
サイ |
まつ(る), まつ(り), まつり |
| 拝 |
to worship, pray; humbly (to see, receive) |
ハイ |
おが(む) |
| 祈 |
to pray; to wish for, hope |
キ |
いの(る) |
| 伺 |
to visit (humble); to ask (humble); to inquire |
シ |
うかが(う) |
| 召 |
to summon, call; to eat, wear (honorific) |
ショウ |
め(す) |
| 戴 |
receive humbly |
タイ |
いただ(く) |
| 承 |
to accept, agree; to hear (humble); to inherit, carry on |
ショウ |
うけたまわ(る) |
| 仏 |
Buddha, Buddhism; France (short form) |
ブツ |
ほとけ |
| 香 |
fragrance, scent; incense |
コウ, キョウ |
か, かお(り), かお(る) |
Everyday actions
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 掃 |
to sweep, clean; to clear away |
ソウ |
は(く) |
| 掘 |
to dig; to excavate, mine |
クツ |
ほ(る) |
| 捨 |
to throw away; to discard, give up on |
シャ |
す(てる) |
| 拾 |
to pick up; to find; ten (formal, on documents) |
シュウ, ジュウ |
ひろ(う) |
| 塗 |
to paint, coat; to smear, spread |
ト |
ぬ(る) |
| 磨 |
to polish; to brush (teeth); to refine (a skill) |
マ |
みが(く) |
| 詰 |
to pack, cram; to stuff, clog; to press, corner (someone) |
キツ |
つ(める), つ(まる), つ(む) |
| 挟 |
to put between; to sandwich; to pinch |
キョウ |
はさ(む), はさ(まる) |
| 包 |
to wrap, pack; to envelop, include |
ホウ |
つつ(む) |
| 巻 |
to roll, wind, wrap; volume (of a book); scroll |
カン |
ま(く), まき |
| 刺 |
to pierce, stab; to sting; business card |
シ |
さ(す), さ(さる) |
| 拭 |
wipe |
ショク |
ぬぐ(う), ふ(く) |
| 蹴 |
kick |
シュウ |
け(る) |
| 叫 |
to shout, cry out; to scream |
キョウ |
さけ(ぶ) |
| 踊 |
dance |
ヨウ |
おど(る) |
| 浴 |
to bathe; bath; to bask in |
ヨク |
あ(びる), あ(びせる) |
| 泊 |
to stay overnight; lodging |
ハク |
と(まる), と(める) |
| 届 |
to deliver, reach; notice filed with an office |
— |
とど(ける), とど(く) |
| 干 |
to dry; to interfere |
カン |
ほ(す), ひ(る) |
| 埋 |
to bury; to fill in, make up for |
マイ |
う(める), う(まる), う(もれる) |
| 触 |
to touch, feel; contact |
ショク |
ふ(れる), さわ(る) |
| 接 |
to touch, be in contact; to connect, join; to receive (guests) |
セツ |
つ(ぐ) |
| 含 |
to include, contain; to hold in the mouth; implied meaning |
ガン |
ふく(む), ふく(める) |
| 占 |
to occupy, take up; to tell fortunes |
セン |
し(める), うらな(う) |
| 採 |
to gather, collect; to adopt, take on; to hire |
サイ |
と(る) |
| 照 |
to shine on, light up; to compare, check against; to feel shy |
ショウ |
て(る), て(らす), て(れる) |
| 捉 |
grasp, perceive |
ソク |
とら(える) |
| 潰 |
crush; go under |
カイ |
つぶ(す), つぶ(れる) |
| 絡 |
to get in touch, connect; to get tangled |
ラク |
から(む), から(まる), から(める) |
| 贈 |
to give, present; gift |
ゾウ, ソウ |
おく(る) |
| 濯 |
to rinse, wash; laundry |
タク |
— |
Prefixes and word parts
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 再 |
again, once more; re- (doing over) |
サイ, サ |
ふたた(び) |
| 副 |
vice-, deputy; secondary, side (as in side effect) |
フク |
— |
| 超 |
to go beyond, exceed; super-, ultra- |
チョウ |
こ(える), こ(す) |
| 各 |
each, every (one of several) |
カク |
おのおの |
| 諸 |
various, many; all |
ショ |
— |
| 総 |
overall, total; general (as in general manager); all together, whole |
ソウ |
— |
| 旧 |
old, former; the past; the old calendar |
キュウ |
— |
| 準 |
standard, level; semi-, quasi-; to follow, conform to |
ジュン |
— |
Place names and countries
| Kanji |
Meaning |
On'yomi |
Kun'yomi |
| 茨 |
thorn (place names) |
— |
いばら |
| 栃 |
horse chestnut (place names) |
— |
とち |
| 阜 |
mound (place names) |
フ |
— |
| 欧 |
Europe (short form); European |
オウ |
— |
| 唐 |
China (old); Tang |
トウ |
から |
How should you study the N2 kanji?
406 kanji is a big list, but you won't be starting from zero. Many of these kanji appear in words you probably know already, like 雑誌 (zasshi, magazine), 洗濯 (sentaku, laundry) and 喫茶店 (kissaten, coffee shop). At five new kanji a day, you can get through the list in about three months. Four to five months is comfortable with time for review. Here's how to make that time count:
- Check your N3 kanji first. N2 vocabulary mixes kanji from every level, so gaps lower down slow you at every step. A quick pass through the N3 kanji list shows you where you stand.
- Learn kanji through compound words. Most N2 kanji are used in two-kanji words, not on their own. Learn 輸 with 輸入 (yunyū, import) and 輸出 (yushutsu, export), or 療 with 治療 (chiryō, medical treatment).
- Use the on'yomi families. Kanji that share a component often share a reading. 復 and 複 are both フク, and 低 and 底 are both テイ. Once you see the pattern, you can often guess the reading of a new compound. Our guide to kanji radicals shows the components worth knowing.
- Study the formal words that use them. A lot of N2 kanji come from news and business Japanese: 状況 (jōkyō, situation), 地域 (chiiki, region), 減少 (genshō, decrease) and 効果 (kōka, effect). Reading short news articles is one of the best ways to see them in action.
- Don't skip the everyday kanji. Not everything at N2 is formal. 拾う (hirou, to pick up), 捨てる (suteru, to throw away), 珍しい (mezurashii, rare) and 柔らかい (yawarakai, soft) all show up in daily life and on the test.
- Learn N2 grammar alongside. Kanji, vocabulary and grammar share one scored section at N2, so it pays to study them together. Our N2 grammar list covers the patterns you'll meet in the same passages.
- Review a little every day. With more than 1,000 kanji across all levels, short daily reviews with spaced repetition beat long weekly sessions.
Here's a sentence that uses several N2 kanji:
転んでけがをした膝に、看護師さんが包帯を巻いてくれた。
Koronde kega o shita hiza ni, kangoshi-san ga hōtai o maite kureta. The nurse wrapped a bandage around the knee I'd hurt when I fell.
Which N2 kanji are easy to confuse?
At N2 you know enough kanji that new ones often look like old ones. These pairs are worth learning side by side:
- 拾 (pick up) and 捨 (throw away): both have the hand radical 扌, and their meanings are opposites. 拾う is to pick up, and 捨てる is to throw away.
- 低 (low) and 底 (bottom): both are read テイ. 低 has the person radical 亻, as in 低い (hikui, low). 底 sits under the "roof" 广, as in 海の底 (the bottom of the sea).
- 復 (return, again) and 複 (multiple): both are read フク. 復 has the "going" radical 彳, as in 復習 (fukushū, review). 複 has the clothing radical 衤, as in 複雑 (fukuzatsu, complicated).
- 輸 (transport) and 輪 (ring, wheel): both have 車 (car) on the left, and the right sides look alike. 輸 is in 輸入 (import), and 輪 is in 指輪 (yubiwa, ring).
- 績 (achievement) and 積 (pile up): the left side tells them apart. 績 has the thread radical 糸, as in 成績 (seiseki, grades). 積 has the grain radical 禾, as in 面積 (menseki, area). 積 is an N3 kanji.
- 券 (ticket) and 巻 (roll, volume): the tops are the same. 券 has 刀 (sword) at the bottom, and 巻 has 己.
- 季 (season) and 委 (entrust): both have 禾 on top. 季 has 子 (child) underneath, and 委 has 女 (woman).
- 硬い, 固い and 堅い: all three are read かたい and mean "hard." 硬い is for hard materials, 固い for things that are firm or fixed, and 堅い for things that are solid or reliable. 堅 is usually placed at N1, but it can turn up in orthography questions as a wrong choice.
- 換 and 替 (exchange): both mean to swap or replace and are read か(える). 換 appears in 交換 (kōkan, exchange), and 替 in 両替 (ryōgae, changing money).
How does the JLPT N2 test kanji?
At N2, kanji are tested in the Language Knowledge section, which shares one test period with reading. In kanji reading questions, you choose the right reading of an underlined word. In orthography questions, you choose the right kanji for a word written in hiragana. Word formation questions test prefixes and suffixes like 再, 超 and 副, which is why the "Prefixes and word parts" table above is worth extra attention. Everything is multiple choice, so you never have to write kanji by hand.
Kanji matter even more in the reading questions. N2 passages include editorials, explanations and notices, and they don't give furigana for kanji you're expected to know. The faster you recognize kanji, the more time you have for the questions. For more on how the test is laid out, see the JLPT test format guide, and check the official JLPT website for the current format.
Frequently asked questions
How many kanji are on the JLPT N2?
There's no official number. Most lists add roughly 350–400 kanji at N2, for about 1,000 in total. The Kantan JLPT N2 set has 406, which brings you to 1,047 when combined with our N5, N4 and N3 sets.
Is there a JLPT N2 kanji list PDF?
We don't offer a PDF file, but you can print this page from your browser, or save it as a PDF with your browser's print option. The tables are grouped by topic, so they also work well as a printed checklist.
Do I need to learn the N3 kanji first?
Yes. The JLPT levels are cumulative, so N2 questions can use any kanji from N5 to N3 as well. Many N2 words, like 往復 (ōfuku, round trip) and 委員会 (iinkai, committee), combine kanji from different levels.
Why are there kanji like 謎, 闇 and 餅 on an N2 list?
They're common in everyday writing, and they were added to the jōyō kanji in 2010. Because they're relatively new to the official school list, some older N2 lists leave them out. You'll still see them often in manga, menus and signs.
How long does it take to learn the N2 kanji?
At about five kanji a day with regular review, most learners can cover this list in three to five months. If you're also studying N2 vocabulary and grammar, plan for longer. Our JLPT study plan shows how to fit kanji into a full schedule.
Study the N2 kanji in Kantan JLPT
This list comes from the N2 kanji set in Kantan JLPT. In the app, each kanji is linked to the N2 words it appears in, so you learn meanings and readings together instead of memorizing them in isolation. Spaced-repetition reviews bring back the kanji you miss, and N2 mock tests include kanji reading and orthography questions in the JLPT style. When you're ready to plan your next step, the kanji guide has a study plan for every level.