JLPT N4 kanji: 50 essential characters
Fifty core JLPT N4 kanji with meanings, on’yomi and kun’yomi readings, and a common example word for each. Free flashcards with spaced repetition.
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- 1会Kanji meaningmeet; meetingOn: カイ, エ · Kun: あ(う) 会社 (kaisha) · company
- 2同Kanji meaningsameOn: ドウ · Kun: おな(じ) 同じ (onaji) · the same
- 3事Kanji meaningthing; matterOn: ジ, ズ · Kun: こと 仕事 (shigoto) · work, job
- 4自Kanji meaningoneselfOn: ジ, シ · Kun: みずか(ら) 自分 (jibun) · oneself
- 5発Kanji meaningdeparture; emitOn: ハツ, ホツ 出発 (shuppatsu) · departure
- 6者Kanji meaningperson (someone who)On: シャ · Kun: もの 医者 (isha) · doctor
- 7地Kanji meaningground; earthOn: チ, ジ 地図 (chizu) · map
- 8業Kanji meaningbusiness; workOn: ギョウ, ゴウ · Kun: わざ 授業 (jugyō) · class, lesson
- 9方Kanji meaningdirection; way; person (polite)On: ホウ · Kun: かた 夕方 (yūgata) · evening
- 10場Kanji meaningplaceOn: ジョウ · Kun: ば 場所 (basho) · place
- 11員Kanji meaningmember; employeeOn: イン 会社員 (kaishain) · office worker
- 12開Kanji meaningopenOn: カイ · Kun: ひら(く), あ(く), あ(ける) 開始 (kaishi) · start
- 13力Kanji meaningpower; strengthOn: リョク, リキ · Kun: ちから 体力 (tairyoku) · physical strength
- 14問Kanji meaningquestion; askOn: モン · Kun: と(う) 問題 (mondai) · problem, question
- 15代Kanji meaninggeneration; fee; substituteOn: ダイ, タイ · Kun: か(わる), よ 時代 (jidai) · era, period
- 16明Kanji meaningbright; clearOn: メイ, ミョウ · Kun: あか(るい), あ(ける) 説明 (setsumei) · explanation
- 17動Kanji meaningmoveOn: ドウ · Kun: うご(く) 自動車 (jidōsha) · car
- 18京Kanji meaningcapitalOn: キョウ, ケイ 東京 (Tōkyō) · Tokyo
- 19通Kanji meaningpass through; commuteOn: ツウ, ツ · Kun: とお(る), かよ(う) 交通 (kōtsū) · traffic
- 20理Kanji meaningreason; logicOn: リ 料理 (ryōri) · cooking
- 21体Kanji meaningbodyOn: タイ, テイ · Kun: からだ 体重 (taijū) · body weight
- 22題Kanji meaningtopic; titleOn: ダイ 宿題 (shukudai) · homework
- 23意Kanji meaningmeaning; mindOn: イ 意味 (imi) · meaning
- 24不Kanji meaningnot; un-On: フ, ブ 不便 (fuben) · inconvenient
- 25作Kanji meaningmakeOn: サク, サ · Kun: つく(る) 作文 (sakubun) · essay, composition
- 26用Kanji meaninguse; errandOn: ヨウ · Kun: もち(いる) 用事 (yōji) · errand, things to do
- 27度Kanji meaningdegree; timesOn: ド, ト, タク · Kun: たび 今度 (kondo) · this time; next time
- 28強Kanji meaningstrongOn: キョウ, ゴウ · Kun: つよ(い) 勉強 (benkyō) · study
- 29持Kanji meaninghold; haveOn: ジ · Kun: も(つ) 気持ち (kimochi) · feeling
- 30思Kanji meaningthinkOn: シ · Kun: おも(う) 思い出 (omoide) · memory, recollection
- 31家Kanji meaninghouse; familyOn: カ, ケ · Kun: いえ, や 家族 (kazoku) · family
- 32世Kanji meaningworld; generationOn: セイ, セ · Kun: よ 世界 (sekai) · world
- 33正Kanji meaningcorrect; rightOn: セイ, ショウ · Kun: ただ(しい), まさ お正月 (oshōgatsu) · New Year
- 34心Kanji meaningheart; mindOn: シン · Kun: こころ 安心 (anshin) · relief, peace of mind
- 35教Kanji meaningteachOn: キョウ · Kun: おし(える), おそ(わる) 教室 (kyōshitsu) · classroom
- 36文Kanji meaningwriting; sentenceOn: ブン, モン · Kun: ふみ 文化 (bunka) · culture
- 37近Kanji meaningnearOn: キン · Kun: ちか(い) 近所 (kinjo) · neighborhood
- 38考Kanji meaningthink; considerOn: コウ · Kun: かんが(える) 考え (kangae) · idea, thought
- 39海Kanji meaningseaOn: カイ · Kun: うみ 海外 (kaigai) · overseas
- 40売Kanji meaningsellOn: バイ · Kun: う(る) 売り場 (uriba) · sales floor, counter
- 41知Kanji meaningknowOn: チ · Kun: し(る) 知人 (chijin) · acquaintance
- 42集Kanji meaninggather; collectOn: シュウ · Kun: あつ(まる), あつ(める) 集合 (shūgō) · gathering, meeting up
- 43物Kanji meaningthingOn: ブツ, モツ · Kun: もの 買い物 (kaimono) · shopping
- 44使Kanji meaninguseOn: シ · Kun: つか(う) 大使館 (taishikan) · embassy
- 45始Kanji meaningbeginOn: シ · Kun: はじ(める), はじ(まる) 始発 (shihatsu) · first train of the day
- 46朝Kanji meaningmorningOn: チョウ · Kun: あさ 朝ご飯 (asagohan) · breakfast
- 47終Kanji meaningend; finishOn: シュウ · Kun: お(わる), お(える) 終電 (shūden) · last train of the day
- 48病Kanji meaningillnessOn: ビョウ, ヘイ · Kun: や(む), やまい 病院 (byōin) · hospital
- 49待Kanji meaningwaitOn: タイ · Kun: ま(つ) 招待 (shōtai) · invitation
- 50帰Kanji meaningreturn homeOn: キ · Kun: かえ(る) 帰国 (kikoku) · returning to one’s country
Frequently asked questions
What is the JLPT N4?
The second level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, testing basic Japanese used in daily life. Learners usually know around 300 kanji at this stage.
Is there an official N4 kanji list?
No. The JLPT has not published official kanji lists since 2010, so this deck follows widely used study lists built from the older test.
Should I finish N5 kanji first?
Yes. N5 covers numbers, days and basic nouns; N4 builds on them, and many example words here combine N5 and N4 kanji.
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