Master advanced Japanese grammar with our comprehensive JLPT N3 Kanji guides. Includes detailed explanations, native-level examples, and practice exercises to help you succeed in the JLPT N3 exam.
JLPT N3 Kanji: Master 情 (jou / nasake) – Emotion & Feeling 情 Readings: ジョウ (Onyomi), なさけ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Emotion, feeling, sentiment, passion, circumstances, facts, sympathy Formed from the radical 心 (heart/mind), representing inner feelings, and 青 (blue/green), used phonetically for concepts of purity or growth. Together, they imply the true, often deep, feelings of […]
JLPT N3 Kanji: 感 – Exploring Feelings and Sensations 感 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: feeling, sense, emotion, impression The kanji 感 is composed of 咸 (xián), meaning “to feel” or “to perceive,” and 心 (xīn), meaning “heart” or “mind.” The top part (咸) depicts a weapon or spear, symbolizing being affected or moved, while
JLPT N3 Kanji 係: Master the Kanji for “In Charge” and “Connection” 係 Readings: ケイ (Onyomi), かか(る), かかり, がかり (Kunyomi) Meaning: person in charge, connection, concern, related The kanji 係 is composed of 糸 (thread/connection) and 氏 (a phonetic component also conveying attachment or belonging). Together, they convey the idea of being connected to, being
JLPT N3 Kanji: Learn 「増」 (zou, masu, fueru, fuyasu) – Increase & Grow! 増 Readings: ゾウ (Onyomi), ま.す, ふ.える, ふ.やす (Kunyomi) Meaning: increase, add, grow The kanji 増 is composed of the radical 土 (earth/soil), and the component 曽 (sou), which signifies “piling up” or “accumulating.” Together, they suggest the idea of something growing or
JLPT N3 Kanji: 官 (kan) – Unlocking the World of Officials and Organs 官 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: official, government, organ, office The kanji 官 depicts a roof (宀) over a person sitting (卩), symbolizing a building where officials work or reside. It evolved to represent “official,” “government,” and later extended to “organ” in
JLPT N3 Kanji: 論 (RON) – Discussing Theories and Arguments 論 Readings: ロン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: argument, discourse, theory, debate undefined View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 論 (ron) consists of 15 strokes. It begins with the 言 (word) radical on the left. The right side is composed
JLPT N3 Kanji: 昨 (Saku) – Mastering “Last/Yesterday” 昨 Readings: サク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: last, yesterday The kanji 昨 combines 日 (hi/nichi, meaning “sun” or “day”) with 乍 (saku/sa, which acts as a phonetic component and originally meant “to appear” or “to emerge”). Together, it signifies “the day that has passed” or “yesterday.” View JLPT
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
