JLPT N3 Kanji: 次 (Tsugi/Shi) – Mastering ‘Next’ and ‘Second’ 次 Readings: シ (Onyomi), つぎ, つぐ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Next, second, sequence, to follow The kanji 次 originally depicted a person (人) with an open mouth (欠), implying someone following in line, taking turns, or ordering/counting. It evolved to mean “next” or “second.” View JLPT N3 […]
JLPT N3 Kanji: 所 (tokoro, sho) – Mastering ‘Place’ and Its Nuances 所 Readings: ショ (Onyomi), ところ, どころ, とこ (Kunyomi) Meaning: place, spot, address, thing, what The character 所 originally depicted a door (戶) with an axe or battle-axe (斤) beside it, possibly symbolizing a place where things are cut or prepared, or a dwelling
JLPT N3 Kanji: 求 (kyuu, moto.meru) – Seek, Request, Demand 求 Readings: キュウ (Onyomi), もと.める (Kunyomi) Meaning: Seek, request, demand, want, wish The character originally depicted a fur garment (裘), which was highly sought after. Over time, it simplified and came to represent the act of seeking or demanding something. View JLPT N3 Kanji List
JLPT N3 Kanji: 引 – Pull, Draw, Lead 引 Readings: イン (Onyomi), ひ.く, ひ.き, ひ.き-, -び.き, ひ.ける (Kunyomi) Meaning: pull, draw, lead, stretch, prolong, attract, subtract This kanji is a pictograph depicting a bow (弓) with a string (丨) being pulled back, illustrating the action of “pulling” or “drawing.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List How
JLPT N3 Kanji: 任 (NIN, maka.seru) – Responsibility and Entrustment 任 Readings: ニン (Onyomi), まか.せる, まか.す (Kunyomi) Meaning: responsibility, duty, appoint, entrust The kanji 任 combines the radical 人 (person) and 壬 (duty/burden, originally a weaving implement for thread, suggesting arrangement or order). Together, it signifies entrusting a person with a duty or responsibility. View
JLPT N3 Kanji: 側 (Soku, Kawa, Gawa) – Understanding Sides and Aspects 側 Readings: ソク (Onyomi), かわ, がわ (Kunyomi) Meaning: side, row, adjoining, aspect, part Formed from 人 (person radical, indicating something related to people or position) and 則 (soku – rule, model, standard, which lends its sound). The original meaning relates to “side” or
JLPT N3 Kanji: Master 件 (ken) – Matter, Case, Item 件 Readings: ケン (Onyomi), くだん (Kunyomi) Meaning: matter, case, item, affair The kanji 件 is composed of 人 (person) and 牛 (cow/ox). Historically, it depicted a person offering a cow, evolving to signify an “item,” “matter,” or “affair.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to
JLPT N3 Kanji: 在 (zai, a.ru) – Meaning, Readings, and Usage 在 Readings: ザイ (Onyomi), あ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: exist, be, reside, located The character combines 土 (earth, ground) and 才 (a phonetic component that also conveys the sense of ‘being capable’ or ‘being present’). It metaphorically represents something ‘existing on the ground’ or ‘being present’.
JLPT N3 Kanji: 信 (shin) – Trust, Believe, Message 信 Readings: シン (Onyomi), しんじる (Kunyomi) Meaning: Trust, believe, faith, message, reliable The kanji 信 is composed of two radicals: 人 (hito/nin – person) on the left, and 言 (gon/gen – word, speech) on the right. Together, they conceptually represent “a person’s word,” which naturally leads
JLPT N3 Kanji: Mastering 組 (kumi/kumu) – Group, Assemble, Organize 組 Readings: ソ, ソウ (Onyomi), く.む, くみ, -ぐみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: group, association, assemble, organize, unite The kanji 組 combines 糸 (thread, string) and 且 (a phonetic component that also implies “moreover” or “together”). Historically, it depicts threads being woven or tied together, leading to its
JLPT N3 Kanji: 利 (Ri) – Profit, Advantage 利 Readings: リ (Onyomi), き.く (Kunyomi) Meaning: profit, advantage, benefit, interest The kanji 利 combines 禾 (grain, harvest) and 刀 (knife/sword). Its original meaning relates to “cutting grain efficiently” or “sharpness,” which evolved to signify “profit,” “advantage,” or “benefit.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write
JLPT N3 Kanji: 参 – Participate, Visit, Consult 参 Readings: サン (Onyomi), まい.る, まじわる (Kunyomi) Meaning: participate, visit (a shrine/temple), consult, go, come, be humbled, reference The kanji 参 (cān) originally depicted three people standing together, hence its ancient meaning of “three.” Over time, its meaning expanded to include “participate,” “visit (a shrine/temple),” or “come/go”
JLPT N3 Kanji: 認 (Nin) – Recognize, Admit, Approve 認 Readings: ニン (Onyomi), みと.める, したた.める (Kunyomi) Meaning: Recognize, admit, approve, notice The kanji 認 is composed of 言 (word, speech) and 忍 (endure, bear). Its etymology suggests the meaning of “to acknowledge or confirm by word,” hinting at the idea of recognizing or admitting something
JLPT N3 Kanji: 判 (Han) – Judgment, Seal, Decision 判 Readings: ハン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: judgment, seal, stamp, decide The kanji 判 originally depicts a knife (刀) cutting something in half (半), which gives it the meaning of dividing, judging, or distinguishing. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji
JLPT N3 Kanji: Learn 「反」 (Han) – Oppose, Anti-! 反 Readings: ハン, ホン (Onyomi), そ-る, そ-らす, たん, ほご, へど (Kunyomi) Meaning: Anti-, opposite, oppose, counter- The kanji 反 depicts a person turning away or backward, symbolizing opposition or reversal. It is formed from 又 (right hand) and a stroke indicating turning or reversing. View JLPT
JLPT N3 Kanji: 告 (Koku, Tsu-geru) – Announce, Inform 告 Readings: コク (Onyomi), つげる (Kunyomi) Meaning: announce, inform, tell, declare The kanji 告 is thought to be a pictograph combining 口 (mouth) and 牛 (ox/cow), possibly depicting a person speaking or a horn being blown to make an announcement. It signifies conveying information or declaring
JLPT N3 Kanji: 面 (men, omo, tsura) – Face, Surface, Aspect 面 Readings: メン (Onyomi), おも, つら (Kunyomi) Meaning: face, mask, surface, aspect, side A pictograph of a human face, depicting eyes and a mouth. It originally referred to the face or a mask. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order
JLPT N3 Kanji: 勝 (Katsu) – Winning with this Essential Character! 勝 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), か.つ, まさ.る, すぐ.れる (Kunyomi) Meaning: victory, win, prevail, excel The kanji 勝 combines 力 (power/strength) and a phonetic component, likely representing the idea of overcoming or triumphing through effort and power. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write –
JLPT N3 Kanji: 際 – Mastering “Occasion” and “Edge” 際 Readings: サイ (Onyomi), きわ (Kunyomi) Meaning: occasion, side, edge, border, when, at the time of The kanji 際 combines 阝 (こざとへん, “hill” or “mound” radical, indicating a boundary or raised area) and 祭 (a phonetic component that also suggests a “joining” or “coming together”). Together,
JLPT N3 Kanji: 予 – Your Guide to “In Advance” and “Forecast” 予 Readings: ヨ (Onyomi), あらかじめ (Kunyomi) Meaning: in advance, beforehand, I, myself The character is thought to be a pictogram of a shuttle used in weaving, which signifies something being “given” or “provided” in preparation, leading to meanings of “beforehand” or “in advance.”
