JLPT N4 · Elementary
JLPT N4 Kanji List
All 173 kanji for the JLPT N4, grouped in the order to learn them. Each one comes with its meaning, its readings in kana and romaji, how many strokes it takes, and a page showing how to write it stroke by stroke.
1.Work and business
Meeting, company, business, place, member, matter, serve and use.
- 会meeting, meetOnかい kaiKunあ(う) a(u)Strokes6
- 社company, firm, officeOnしゃ shaKunやしろ yashiroStrokes7
- 業business, vocation, artsOnぎょう gyōKunわざ wazaStrokes13
- 場location, placeOnじょう jōKunば baStrokes12
- 員employee, member, numberOnいん inStrokes10
- 事matter, thing, factOnじ jiKunこと kotoStrokes8
- 仕serve, attend, doOnし shiKunつか(える) tsuka(eru)Strokes5
- 用utilize, business, serviceOnよう yōKunもち(いる) mochi(iru)Strokes5
2.You and your family
Self, body and heart, a person, and your brothers, sisters, parents and family.
- 自oneselfOnじ ji, し shiKunみずか(ら) mizuka(ra)Strokes6
- 身bodyOnしん shinKunみ miStrokes7
- 体body, substance, objectOnたい taiKunからだ karadaStrokes7
- 心heart, mind, spiritOnしん shinKunこころ kokoroStrokes4
- 者someone, personOnしゃ shaKunもの monoStrokes8
- 兄elder brotherOnきょう kyō, けい keiKunあに aniStrokes5
- 弟younger brotherOnてい tei, だい dai, で deKunおとうと otōtoStrokes7
- 姉elder sisterOnし shiKunあね aneStrokes8
- 妹younger sisterOnまい maiKunいもうと imōtoStrokes8
- 親parent, intimacy, relativeOnしん shinKunおや oya, した(しい) shita(shii)Strokes16
- 族tribe, familyOnぞく zokuStrokes11
Morning, night, noon and evening, the four seasons, weekday and week.
- 朝morningOnちょう chōKunあさ asaStrokes12
- 夜night, eveningOnや yaKunよ yo, よる yoruStrokes8
- 昼daytime, noonOnちゅう chūKunひる hiruStrokes9
- 夕eveningOnせき sekiKunゆう yūStrokes3
- 春springOnしゅん shunKunはる haruStrokes9
- 夏summerOnか ka, げ geKunなつ natsuStrokes10
- 秋autumn, fallOnしゅう shūKunあき akiStrokes9
- 冬winterOnとう tōKunふゆ fuyuStrokes5
- 曜weekdayOnよう yōStrokes18
- 週weekOnしゅう shūStrokes11
4.Amounts and qualities
Many and few, times, new and old, bright and dark, strong and weak, wide, right, bad, cheap, heavy and special.
- 多many, frequent, muchOnた taKunおお(い) ō(i)Strokes6
- 少few, littleOnしょう shōKunすく(ない) suku(nai), すこ(し) suko(shi)Strokes4
- 度degrees, occurrence, timeOnど do, たく takuKunたび tabiStrokes9
- 新newOnしん shinKunあたら(しい) atara(shii), あら(た) ara(ta)Strokes13
- 古oldOnこ koKunふる(い) furu(i)Strokes5
- 明bright, lightOnめい mei, みょう myōKunあか(るい) aka(rui)Strokes8
- 暗dark, gloomyOnあん anKunくら(い) kura(i)Strokes13
- 強strongOnきょう kyō, ごう gōKunつよ(い) tsuyo(i)Strokes11
- 弱weakOnじゃく jakuKunよわ(い) yowa(i)Strokes10
- 広wide, broad, spaciousOnこう kōKunひろ(い) hiro(i)Strokes5
- 正correct, justice, righteousOnせい sei, しょう shōKunただ(しい) tada(shii), まさ(に) masa(ni)Strokes5
- 悪bad, evil, wrongOnあく akuKunわる(い) waru(i)Strokes11
- 安cheap, safe, peacefulOnあん anKunやす(い) yasu(i)Strokes6
- 重heavy, important, esteemOnじゅう jū, ちょう chōKunおも(い) omo(i), かさ(ねる) kasa(neru)Strokes9
- 特specialOnとく tokuStrokes10
5.Colours and body
Black, red, blue and colour, and hand, foot, eye and mouth.
- 黒blackOnこく kokuKunくろ kuroStrokes11
- 赤redOnせき seki, しゃく shakuKunあか(い) aka(i)Strokes7
- 青blueOnせい sei, しょう shōKunあお(い) ao(i)Strokes8
- 色colorOnしょく shoku, しき shikiKunいろ iroStrokes6
- 手handOnしゅ shuKunて teStrokes4
- 足leg, foot, be sufficientOnそく sokuKunあし ashi, た(りる) ta(riru)Strokes7
- 目eye, class, lookOnもく moku, ぼく bokuKunめ meStrokes5
- 口mouthOnこう kōKunくち kuchiStrokes3
6.Moving, thinking and saying
Move, run, walk, stand, get up, turn, stop and send; think, consider, know, say and ask.
- 動move, motion, changeOnどう dōKunうご(く) ugo(ku)Strokes11
- 走runOnそう sōKunはし(る) hashi(ru)Strokes7
- 歩walk, counter for stepsOnほ ho, ぶ buKunある(く) aru(ku), あゆ(む) ayu(mu)Strokes8
- 立stand, rise, set upOnりつ ritsuKunた(つ) ta(tsu)Strokes5
- 起wake up, get up, rouseOnき kiKunお(きる) o(kiru), おこ(す) oko(su)Strokes10
- 転roll, turn, revolveOnてん tenKunころ(がる) koro(garu)Strokes11
- 止stop, haltOnし shiKunと(まる) to(maru), とど(まる) todo(maru), や(める) ya(meru) +1 moreStrokes4
- 送send, escortOnそう sōKunおく(る) oku(ru)Strokes9
- 思thinkOnし shiKunおも(う) omo(u)Strokes9
- 考consider, think over, thinkOnこう kōKunかんが(える) kanga(eru)Strokes6
- 知know, wisdomOnち chiKunし(る) shi(ru)Strokes8
- 言say, wordOnげん gen, ごん gonKunい(う) i(u), こと kotoStrokes7
- 問question, ask, problemOnもん monKunと(う) to(u)Strokes11
7.Study, writing and making
Learn, teach, research, effort and study; characters and writing; make, open and build.
- 習learnOnしゅう shūKunなら(う) nara(u)Strokes11
- 教teach, faith, doctrineOnきょう kyōKunおし(える) oshi(eru), おそ(わる) oso(waru)Strokes11
- 研polish, study of, sharpenOnけん kenKunと(ぐ) to(gu)Strokes9
- 究research, studyOnきゅう kyūKunきわ(める) kiwa(meru)Strokes7
- 勉exertion, endeavor, effortOnべん benKunつと(める) tsuto(meru)Strokes10
- 字character, letter, wordOnじ jiKunあざ azaStrokes6
- 文sentence, literature, styleOnぶん bun, もん monKunふみ fumiStrokes4
- 作make, production, prepareOnさく saku, さ saKunつく(る) tsuku(ru)Strokes7
- 開open, unfold, unsealOnかい kaiKunひら(く) hira(ku), あ(ける) a(keru)Strokes12
- 建buildOnけん ken, こん konKunた(てる) ta(teru)Strokes9
8.Everyday actions
Drink, wear, sell, buy, lend, borrow, pour, return, wait and try.
- 飲drinkOnいん inKunの(む) no(mu)Strokes12
- 着arrive, wear, counter for suits of clothingOnちゃく chakuKunき(る) ki(ru), つ(く) tsu(ku)Strokes12
- 売sellOnばい baiKunう(る) u(ru)Strokes7
- 買buyOnばい baiKunか(う) ka(u)Strokes12
- 貸lendOnたい taiKunか(す) ka(su)Strokes12
- 借borrow, rentOnしゃく shakuKunか(りる) ka(riru)Strokes10
- 注pour, irrigate, shed (tears)Onちゅう chūKunそそ(ぐ) soso(gu), さ(す) sa(su), つ(ぐ) tsu(gu)Strokes8
- 帰return, go home, homecomingOnき kiKunかえ(る) kae(ru), かえ(す) kae(su)Strokes10
- 待wait, depend onOnたい taiKunま(つ) ma(tsu)Strokes9
- 試test, try, attemptOnし shiKunこころ(みる) kokoro(miru), ため(す) tame(su)Strokes13
9.Travel and buildings
Station, trip, carry and departure; house, shop, hall, building, room, institution and living somewhere.
- 駅stationOnえき ekiStrokes14
- 旅trip, travelOnりょ ryoKunたび tabiStrokes10
- 運carry, luck, destinyOnうん unKunはこ(ぶ) hako(bu)Strokes12
- 発departure, discharge, startOnはつ hatsu, ほつ hotsuStrokes9
- 家house, home, familyOnか kaKunいえ ie, や ya, うち uchiStrokes10
- 店store, shopOnてん tenKunみせ miseStrokes8
- 館building, mansion, large buildingOnかん kanKunやかた yakataStrokes16
- 屋shop, house, roofOnおく okuKunや yaStrokes9
- 室room, apartment, chamberOnしつ shitsuKunむろ muroStrokes9
- 堂public chamber, hallOnどう dōStrokes11
- 院institution, temple, mansionOnいん inStrokes10
- 住live, dwell, resideOnじゅう jūKunす(む) su(mu), す(まう) su(mau)Strokes7
10.Land, sea and sky
Ground, direction, town, capital, field, road and world; sky, wind, sea and ocean.
- 地ground, earthOnち chi, じ jiStrokes6
- 方direction, person, alternativeOnほう hōKunかた kataStrokes4
- 町town, village, blockOnちょう chōKunまち machiStrokes7
- 京capitalOnきょう kyō, けい kei, きん kinKunみやこ miyakoStrokes8
- 野plains, field, rusticOnや yaKunの noStrokes11
- 道road, way, streetOnどう dōKunみち michiStrokes12
- 世generation, world, societyOnせい sei, せ seKunよ yoStrokes5
- 空sky, empty, voidOnくう kūKunそら sora, から kara, あ(く) a(ku) +2 moreStrokes8
- 風wind, air, styleOnふう fū, ふ fuKunかぜ kaze, かざ- kaza-Strokes9
- 海sea, oceanOnかい kaiKunうみ umiStrokes9
- 洋ocean, sea, foreignOnよう yōStrokes9
11.Food, animals and everyday things
Meal, meat, vegetable, tea, fish, cow, bird, egg and dog; clothes, paper and flower.
- 飯meal, riceOnはん hanKunめし meshiStrokes12
- 肉meatOnにく nikuStrokes6
- 菜vegetable, greensOnさい saiKunな naStrokes11
- 茶teaOnちゃ cha, さ saStrokes9
- 魚fishOnぎょ gyoKunうお uo, さかな sakanaStrokes11
- 牛cowOnぎゅう gyūKunうし ushiStrokes4
- 鳥bird, chickenOnちょう chōKunとり toriStrokes11
- 卵eggOnらん ranKunたまご tamagoStrokes7
- 犬dogOnけん kenKunいぬ inuStrokes4
- 服clothing, admit, obeyOnふく fukuStrokes8
- 紙paperOnし shiKunかみ kamiStrokes10
- 花flowerOnか ka, け keKunはな hanaStrokes7
12.Arts, ideas and states
Music, song and film; meaning, reason and power; illness and death; pass through; things, goods and materials; doctor and craft.
- 楽music, comfort, easeOnがく gaku, らく rakuKunたの(しい) tano(shii)Strokes13
- 歌song, singOnか kaKunうた uta, うた(う) uta(u)Strokes14
- 映reflect, reflection, projectionOnえい eiKunうつ(る) utsu(ru), は(える) ha(eru)Strokes9
- 意idea, mind, heartOnい iStrokes13
- 理reason, logic, arrangementOnり riStrokes11
- 力power, strength, strongOnりょく ryoku, りき rikiKunちから chikaraStrokes2
- 病ill, sickOnびょう byōKunや(む) ya(mu)Strokes10
- 死death, dieOnし shiKunし(ぬ) shi(nu)Strokes6
- 通traffic, pass through, avenueOnつう tsūKunとお(る) tō(ru), かよ(う) kayo(u)Strokes10
- 物thing, object, matterOnぶつ butsu, もつ motsuKunもの monoStrokes8
- 品goods, refinement, dignityOnひん hinKunしな shinaStrokes9
- 料fee, materialsOnりょう ryōStrokes10
- 医doctor, medicineOnい iStrokes7
- 工craft, constructionOnこう kō, く ku, ぐ guStrokes3
13.Starting, having and basics
Begin, end and cut; have, lack, hold and use; not, origin, substitute, same and by means of.
- 始commence, beginOnし shiKunはじ(める) haji(meru)Strokes8
- 終end, finishOnしゅう shūKunお(わる) o(waru)Strokes11
- 切cut, cutoff, be sharpOnせつ setsu, さい saiKunき(る) ki(ru)Strokes4
- 有possess, have, existOnゆう yū, う uKunあ(る) a(ru)Strokes6
- 無nothing, none, notOnむ mu, ぶ buKunな(い) na(i)Strokes12
- 持hold, haveOnじ jiKunも(つ) mo(tsu)Strokes9
- 使use, order, messengerOnし shiKunつか(う) tsuka(u)Strokes8
- 不negative, non-, badOnふ fu, ぶ buStrokes4
- 元origin, beginning, former timeOnげん gen, がん ganKunもと motoStrokes4
- 代substitute, change, convertOnだい daiKunか(わり) ka(wari)Strokes5
- 同same, agree, equalOnどう dōKunおな(じ) ona(ji)Strokes6
- 以by means of, because, in view ofOnい iKunもっ(て) mo(te)Strokes5
14.Questions, pictures and measures
Topic, measure, answer, diagram and picture; gather, separate, sound, test and photograph.
- 題topic, subjectOnだい daiStrokes18
- 計plot, plan, schemeOnけい keiKunはか(る) haka(ru)Strokes9
- 答solution, answerOnとう tōKunこた(える) kota(eru)Strokes12
- 図map, drawing, planOnず zu, と toKunはか(る) haka(ru)Strokes7
- 画picture, drawing, brush-strokeOnが ga, かく kakuStrokes8
- 集gather, meetOnしゅう shūKunあつ(める) atsu(meru)Strokes12
- 別separate, branch off, divergeOnべつ betsuKunわか(れる) waka(reru), わ(ける) wa(keru)Strokes7
- 音sound, noiseOnおん onKunおと oto, ね neStrokes9
- 験test, verification, effectOnけん kenStrokes18
- 写copy, be photographed, describeOnしゃ shaKunうつ(る) utsu(ru), うつ(す) utsu(su)Strokes5
15.Near, far and the rest
Silver, world and quality, field and master, near, early and urgent, true, brilliant, leave, private, public, flavour, stand, China and blade.
- 銀silverOnぎん ginStrokes14
- 界world, boundaryOnかい kaiStrokes9
- 質substance, quality, matterOnしつ shitsu, しち shichiStrokes15
- 田rice paddy, rice field, fieldOnでん denKunた taStrokes5
- 主main, chief, masterOnしゅ shuKunぬし nushi, おも omoStrokes5
- 近near, early, akinOnきん kinKunちか(い) chika(i)Strokes7
- 早early, fastOnそう sō, さっ saKunはや(い) haya(i)Strokes6
- 急hurry, emergency, suddenOnきゅう kyūKunいそ(ぐ) iso(gu)Strokes9
- 真true, reality, Buddhist sectOnしん shinKunま ma, まこと makotoStrokes10
- 英English, England, heroOnえい eiStrokes8
- 去gone, past, quitOnきょ kyo, こ koKunさ(る) sa(ru)Strokes5
- 私I, me, privateOnし shiKunわたくし watakushi, わたし watashiStrokes7
- 公public, prince, officialOnこう kōKunおおやけ ōyakeStrokes4
- 味flavor, tasteOnみ miKunあじ ajiStrokes8
- 台stand, counter for machines and vehicles, pedestalOnだい dai, たい taiStrokes5
- 漢Chinese, Han, ChinaOnかん kanStrokes13
- 刃blade, sword, edgeOnじん jin, にん ninKunは ha, やいば yaibaStrokes3
Practise the N4 kanji on paper
Every kanji on this list has a free practice sheet: its stroke order, its readings and squares to write in. Print the group you are on, or pick any mix of kanji and fit several to a page.
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A free quiz on all 173, or on one group at a time: pick the meaning, pick the reading, or pick the kanji. Mark the ones you got right as learned, and they join your spaced-repetition reviews.
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How many kanji are on the JLPT N4?
The JLPT has not published an official kanji list since the test was revised in 2010, so every N4 list, this one included, is a study list rather than an official syllabus.
Ours has 173, grouped by theme in the order we would teach them, starting with 会社 and the words around work. A few of them, 身 暗 弱 菜 卵 刃, are kanji that other lists file at N3 or above; we kept them here. If you are still on the first level, start with the N5 list.