N3 Kanji

JLPT N3 Kanji: 指 (yubi/sasu) – Fingers and Pointing! 指 Readings: シ (Onyomi), ゆび, さ.す (Kunyomi) Meaning: finger, point, indicate The kanji 指 combines the radical 扌 (hand) with 旨 (meaning “purpose” or “delicious,” used here phonetically and semantically to suggest pointing towards something with a purpose). View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write […]

JLPT N3 Kanji: 初 – Master the Kanji for “First” and “Beginning” 初 Readings: ショ (Onyomi), はつ, はじ, そめ, うい (Kunyomi) Meaning: first, beginning, initial The kanji 初 is composed of the radical 刀 (katana: knife) and 衣 (koromo: garment). Historically, it depicts a knife cutting fabric to make a garment for the first time,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 記 (Ki) – To Write, Record, Describe 記 Readings: キ (Onyomi), しる.す (Kunyomi) Meaning: to write, record, describe, remember 形声文字。言葉を表す「言（ごんべん）」と音を表す「己（キ）」から成り、「書き記す」を意味する。 View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 記 begins with the radical 讠 (speech radical), followed by the component 己 on the right. Write the two

JLPT N3 Kanji: 数 (SŪ / KAZU) – Number, Count 数 Readings: スウ (Onyomi), かず, かぞ.える (Kunyomi) Meaning: number, several, count The character is a phono-semantic compound. The left part 米 (rice) suggests a connection to counting grains, and the right part 𠬛 (a hand holding something) implies manipulation or arrangement. Together, it conveys the

JLPT N3 Kanji: 進 (Shin/Susu) – Advance Your Japanese! 進 Readings: シン (Onyomi), すす.む, すす.める (Kunyomi) Meaning: advance, proceed, progress, promote Semantic-phonetic compound: 辶 (movement) + 隹 (short-tailed bird, phonetic; suggesting moving forward like a bird taking small steps). View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The stroke order for 進

JLPT N3 Kanji: 続 (Zoku, Tsuzuku, Tsuzukeru) – Keep Going! 続 Readings: ゾク (Onyomi), つづ.く, つづ.ける (Kunyomi) Meaning: continue, follow, succession, series The kanji 続 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 糸 (いと, ito, meaning “thread,” which serves as the radical indicating connection or continuity) and 売 (ばい, bai, meaning “sell,” which functions as the

JLPT N3 Kanji: Mastering 受 (Uke, Ju) – Receive & Accept 受 Readings: ジュ (Onyomi), う.ける, う.かる, う.け (Kunyomi) Meaning: Receive, accept, undergo, suffer, catch, take The kanji 受 (うける) is a pictograph depicting two hands (又 and 爪, a variant of 手) passing an object (爻). This visual representation clearly conveys the meaning of

JLPT N3 Kanji: 加 (ka, kuwaeru) – Add, Increase, Join 加 Readings: カ (Onyomi), くわ.える, くわ.わる (Kunyomi) Meaning: Add, increase, join, include The kanji 加 combines 力 (chikara, power/strength) and 口 (kuchi, mouth, here representing a vessel or container). The original meaning related to adding something to a container or applying force/power to something, thus

JLPT N3 Kanji: Learn 平 (hei/taira) for “Flat, Peace, Ordinary” 平 Readings: ヘイ, ビョウ (Onyomi), たいら, ひら (Kunyomi) Meaning: flat, even, peace, ordinary The character depicts something flat or level. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 平 is written with 5 strokes. Start with the top horizontal stroke,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 機 (Ki / Hata) – Machine, Opportunity 機 Readings: キ (Onyomi), はた (Kunyomi) Meaning: machine, occasion, chance, mechanism The kanji 機 combines 木 (tree/wood) representing material, and 幾 (how many/a few, also implying subtle movement). Together, it depicts a wooden device with intricate parts and movements, leading to meanings of machine, mechanism,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 和 (Wa) – Harmony, Japan, Peace 和 Readings: ワ, オ (Onyomi), やわ, なご, あえる (Kunyomi) Meaning: harmony, peace, Japan, sum The kanji 和 combines 禾 (grain, rice plant) and 口 (mouth, opening). It originally represented a type of flute made from stalks or perhaps the sound of harmony produced by different instruments,

JLPT N3 Kanji: Master 都 (miyako, to) – Capital & Metropolis 都 Readings: ト, ツ (Onyomi), みやこ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Capital, metropolis, city, all, everything The kanji 都 (tō) is formed by combining the radical 邑 (むら, village, town, city) and the component 者 (もの, person, thing, but here acts as a phonetic component that also

JLPT N3 Kanji: Learn 「取」 (toru) – To Take, To Get 取 Readings: シュ (Onyomi), と.る, と.り, と.れる (Kunyomi) Meaning: take, fetch, get, obtain, collect, choose The kanji 取 is a pictograph representing a hand (又) taking an ear (耳). It originally depicted taking an enemy’s ear as a trophy. View JLPT N3 Kanji List

JLPT N3 Kanji: 期 (KI) – Understanding “Period, Time, Term” 期 Readings: キ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: period, time, date, term The kanji 期 is composed of the radical 月 (つきへん), often associated with “month” or “moon cycles,” and 其 (き), which serves as a phonetic component and also carries the nuance of “that” or “a

JLPT N3 Kanji: 成 – Master the Kanji for “Become” and “Achieve” 成 Readings: セイ, ジョウ (Onyomi), な.る, な.す, -な.す, なり, なる (Kunyomi) Meaning: become, turn into, achieve, complete Pictograph of a person and a weapon, implying completion or achievement. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 成 is

JLPT N3 Kanji: 務 (Mu) – Duty & Service 務 Readings: ム (Onyomi), つと.める, つと.まる (Kunyomi) Meaning: Duty, business, task, affairs, service The kanji 務 combines 矛 (hoko, spear) with 力 (chikara, power/strength). Originally, it referred to military service or duties involving strength and weapons. Over time, its meaning broadened to encompass general duties, tasks,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 治 – Mastering “Govern, Cure, Heal” 治 Readings: チ, ジ (Onyomi), なお.す, なお.る, おさ.める, おさ.まる (Kunyomi) Meaning: Govern, cure, heal, reign, administer, peace The kanji 治 combines the water radical (水) and the phonetic component 台 (dai/tai), which also implies “stand” or “platform.” This combination suggests the control or management of water

JLPT N3 Kanji: Master 「制」 (Sei) – System, Control, Law 制 Readings: セイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: system, institution, control, command, regulation, law, rule 形声 (けいせい – phono-semantic compound). From 衣 (clothing) + 刀 (knife), originally depicting cutting out a pattern for clothes, implying making, establishing, or regulating. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write

JLPT N3 Kanji: Master 要 (YŌ, Iru, Kaname) – Essential & Need 要 Readings: ヨウ (Onyomi), かなめ, いる (Kunyomi) Meaning: essential, need, main point, demand, require The kanji 要 (yào) combines a picture of a woman (女) with a stylized representation of her waist/loins (the upper part resembling a sash or belt, similar to the

JLPT N3 Kanji: 的 (teki / mato) – Hit the Mark with This Versatile Kanji! 的 Readings: テキ (Onyomi), まと (Kunyomi) Meaning: Target, mark, aim; (suffix) -like, -ish, -al The kanji 的 depicts an arrow (矢) hitting a white (白) target. It originally meant “target” or “aim.” Over time, it evolved to function as a