So, you crushed the JLPT N5 Level Kanji. You’re feeling confident. And then you hit the N4 kanji list.
Let’s be honest: the jump from N5 to N4 is the real deal. The N5 kanji are the tutorial level. The N4 kanji are the first boss battle. The list is longer, the concepts are more abstract, and you’re expected to combine them in ways you haven’t before.
Don’t panic. It’s completely manageable with the right resources. The problem is that most “complete” lists are just a giant, terrifying wall of text.
This isn’t that. This is an organized, all-in-one list designed to be studied, not just scrolled past.
How This JLPT N4 Kanji List is Organized
A simple A-Z list isn’t the best way to learn. Your brain learns by making connections.
To help you do that, this list is grouped by common themes and topics. You’ll learn kanji related to Time, Places, Actions, and Concepts together. This makes it much easier to remember them as a group.
For each kanji, you’ll find:
- Kanji: The character itself.
- Meaning: The most common English meaning.
- On’yomi (音読み): The “Chinese” reading, often used in compound words.
- Kun’yomi (訓読み): The “Japanese” reading, often used for standalone words or with hiragana.
- Common Example: A high-frequency N4 vocabulary word using the kanji.
The Complete JLPT N4 Kanji List
1. Actions & Verbs (Part 1)
This group covers common verbs you’ll use every day.
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 合 | Fit, Join | ゴウ | あ.う | 合う (au) – to fit |
| 答 | Answer | トウ | こた.える | 答える (kotaeru) – to answer |
| 終 | End, Finish | シュウ | お.わる | 終わる (owaru) – to end |
| 始 | Begin | シ | はじ.める | 始める (hajimeru) – to begin |
| 知 | Know | チ | し.る | 知る (shiru) – to know |
| 思 | Think | シ | おも.う | 思う (omou) – to think |
| 言 | Say | ゲン | い.う | 言う (iu) – to say |
| 待 | Wait | タイ | ま.つ | 待つ (matsu) – to wait |
| 持 | Hold | ジ | も.つ | 持つ (motsu) – to hold, have |
| 売 | Sell | バイ | う.る | 売る (uru) – to sell |
| 買 | Buy | バイ | か.う | 買い物 (kaimono) – shopping |
| 着 | Arrive, Wear | チャク | き.る, つ.く | 着る (kiru) – to wear |
| 貸 | Lend | タイ | か.す | 貸す (kasu) – to lend |
| 借 | Borrow | シャク | か.りる | 借りる (kariru) – to borrow |
| 帰 | Return | キ | かえ.る | 帰る (kaeru) – to return |
| 働 | Work | ドウ | はたら.く | 働く (hataraku) – to work |
| 作 | Make | サク | つく.る | 作る (tsukuru) – to make |
| 使 | Use | シ | つか.う | 使う (tsukau) – to use |
| 泳 | Swim | エイ | およ.ぐ | 泳ぐ (oyogu) – to swim |
| 運 | Carry, Luck | ウン | はこ.ぶ | 運転 (unten) – driving |
2. Actions & Verbs (Part 2)
More essential verbs for describing life.
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 転 | Revolve, Turn | テン | ころ.ぶ | 自転車 (jitensha) – bicycle |
| 洗 | Wash | セン | あら.う | 洗う (arau) – to wash |
| 教 | Teach | キョウ | おし.える | 教える (oshieru) – to teach |
| 習 | Learn | シュウ | なら.う | 習う (narau) – to learn |
| 勉 | Make effort | ベン | – | 勉強 (benkyou) – study |
| 走 | Run | ソウ | はし.る | 走る (hashiru) – to run |
| 歩 | Walk | ホ | ある.く | 歩く (aruku) – to walk |
| 止 | Stop | シ | と.まる | 止まる (tomaru) – to stop |
| 試 | Test, Try | シ | こころ.みる | 試験 (shiken) – test/exam |
| 切 | Cut | セツ | き.る | 切る (kiru) – to cut |
| 払 | Pay | – | はら.う | 払う (harau) – to pay |
| 死 | Death | シ | し.ぬ | 死ぬ (shinu) – to die |
| 集 | Gather | シュウ | あつ.める | 集める (atsumeru) – to collect |
| 住 | Reside | ジュウ | す.む | 住む (sumu) – to live |
| 送 | Send | ソウ | おく.る | 送る (okuru) – to send |
| 開 | Open | カイ | あ.ける | 開ける (akeru) – to open |
| 閉 | Close | ヘイ | し.める | 閉める (shimeru) – to close |
| 消 | Extinguish | ショウ | け.す | 消す (kesu) – to turn off, erase |
| 乗 | Ride | ジョウ | の.る | 乗る (noru) – to ride |
| 降 | Descend | コウ | お.りる | 降りる (oriru) – to get off |
3. Study, Concepts & Thought
Abstract kanji related to thinking, school, and ideas.
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 意 | Mind, Meaning | イ | – | 意味 (imi) – meaning |
| 味 | Taste, Flavor | ミ | あじ | 趣味 (shumi) – hobby |
| 注 | Pour, Focus | チュウ | そそ.ぐ | 注意 (chuui) – warning |
| 質 | Quality, Question | シツ | – | 質問 (shitsumon) – question |
| 問 | Question, Ask | モン | と.う | 問題 (mondai) – problem |
| 題 | Title, Topic | ダイ | – | 宿題 (shukudai) – homework |
| 文 | Sentence | ブン | ふみ | 文法 (bunpou) – grammar |
| 化 | Change | カ | ば.ける | 文化 (bunka) – culture |
| 究 | Research | キュウ | きわ.める | 研究 (kenkyuu) – research |
| 考 | Think, Consider | コウ | かんが.える | 考える (kangaeru) – to think |
| 度 | Degree, Time | ド | たび | 今度 (kondo) – next time |
| 回 | -times, Turn | カイ | まわ.る | 一回 (ikkai) – one time |
| 用 | Use, Business | ヨウ | – | 用事 (youji) – things to do |
| 心 | Heart, Mind | シン | こころ | 心配 (shinpai) – worry |
| 声 | Voice | セイ | こえ | 声 (koe) – voice |
| 同 | Same | ドウ | おな.じ | 同じ (onaji) – same |
| 漢 | China | カン | – | 漢字 (kanji) – kanji |
| 字 | Character | ジ | – | 字 (ji) – character |
| 紙 | Paper | シ | かみ | 紙 (kami) – paper |
| 辞 | Word, Resign | ジ | や.める | 辞書 (jisho) – dictionary |
| 方 | Direction, Way | ホウ | かた | 方法 (houhou) – method |
| 法 | Law, Method | ホウ | – | 文法 (bunpou) – grammar |
| 説 | Explain | セツ | – | 説明 (setsumei) – explanation |
4. Places & Direction
Kanji for navigating the world and describing locations.
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 地 | Ground | チ | – | 地図 (chizu) – map |
| 図 | Drawing, Plan | ズ | – | 図書館 (toshokan) – library |
| 館 | Building, Hall | カン | – | 映画館 (eigakan) – cinema |
| 所 | Place | ショ | ところ | 台所 (daidokoro) – kitchen |
| 場 | Place | ジョウ | ば | 場所 (basho) – place |
| 市 | City, Market | シ | いち | 市場 (ichiba) – market |
| 町 | Town | チョウ | まち | 町 (machi) – town |
| 村 | Village | ソン | むら | 村 (mura) – village |
| 京 | Capital | キョウ | – | 東京 (toukyou) – Tokyo |
| 都 | Capital, Metro | ト | みやこ | 都合 (tsugou) – convenience |
| 府 | Prefecture | フ | – | 政府 (seifu) – government |
| 県 | Prefecture | ケン | – | 県 (ken) – prefecture |
| 区 | Ward, District | ク | – | 区 (ku) – ward |
| 池 | Pond | チ | いけ | 池 (ike) – pond |
| 海 | Sea | カイ | うみ | 海 (umi) – sea |
| 洋 | Ocean | ヨウ | – | 洋服 (youfuku) – Western clothes |
| 旅 | Travel | リョ | たび | 旅行 (ryokou) – travel |
| 屋 | Roof, Shop | オク | や | 部屋 (heya) – room |
| 店 | Shop | テン | みせ | 店 (mise) – shop |
| 堂 | Hall | ドウ | – | 食堂 (shokudou) – cafeteria |
| 発 | Depart | ハツ | – | 出発 (shuppatsu) – departure |
| 建 | Build | ケン | た.てる | 建物 (tatemono) – building |
| 階 | Floor, Stair | カイ | – | 一階 (ikkai) – first floor |
5. Objects & Things
Kanji that represent physical things in the world.
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 物 | Thing | ブツ, モツ | もの | 食べ物 (tabemono) – food |
| 品 | Goods | ヒン | しな | 品物 (shinamono) – goods |
| 服 | Clothes | フク | – | 服 (fuku) – clothes |
| 着 | Arrive, Wear | チャク | き.る | 上着 (uwagi) – jacket |
| 飯 | Meal, Rice | ハン | めし | ご飯 (gohan) – rice, meal |
| 茶 | Tea | チャ, サ | – | お茶 (ocha) – tea |
| 牛 | Cow | ギュウ | うし | 牛肉 (gyuuniku) – beef |
| 肉 | Meat | ニク | – | 肉 (niku) – meat |
| 鳥 | Bird | チョウ | とり | 鳥 (tori) – bird |
| 魚 | Fish | ギョ | さかな | 魚 (sakana) – fish |
| 犬 | Dog | ケン | いぬ | 犬 (inu) – dog |
| 羽 | Feather | ウ | はね | 羽 (hane) – feather |
| 薬 | Medicine | ヤク | くすり | 薬 (kusuri) – medicine |
| 箱 | Box | – | はこ | 箱 (hako) – box |
| 具 | Tool | グ | – | 道具 (dougu) – tool |
| 画 | Picture | ガ | – | 映画 (eiga) – movie |
| 写 | Copy | シャ | うつ.す | 写真 (shashin) – picture |
| 真 | True | シン | ま | 真ん中 (mannaka) – middle |
| 黒 | Black | コク | くろ.い | 黒い (kuroi) – black |
| 青 | Blue | セイ | あお.い | 青い (aoi) – blue |
| 赤 | Red | セキ | あか.い | 赤い (akai) – red |
| 白 | White | ハク | しろ.い | 白い (shiroi) – white |
| 色 | Color | ショク | いろ | 色 (iro) – color |
| 自 | Self | ジ | – | 自分 (jibun) – self |
| 車 | Car | シャ | くるま | 電車 (densha) – train |
6. Time, Nature & Weather
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 春 | Spring | シュン | はる | 春 (haru) – spring |
| 夏 | Summer | カ | なつ | 夏 (natsu) – summer |
| 秋 | Autumn | シュウ | あき | 秋 (aki) – autumn |
| 冬 | Winter | トウ | ふゆ | 冬 (fuyu) – winter |
| 朝 | Morning | チョウ | あさ | 朝ご飯 (asagohan) – breakfast |
| 昼 | Noon | チュウ | ひる | 昼ご飯 (hirugohan) – lunch |
| 夕 | Evening | セキ | ゆう | 夕方 (yuugata) – evening |
| 晩 | Evening | バン | – | 晩ご飯 (bangohan) – dinner |
| 夜 | Night | ヤ | よる | 夜 (yoru) – night |
| 天 | Heaven, Sky | テン | あま | 天気 (tenki) – weather |
| 気 | Spirit, Air | キ | – | 元気 (genki) – healthy |
| 雨 | Rain | ウ | あめ | 雨 (ame) – rain |
| 雪 | Snow | セツ | ゆき | 雪 (yuki) – snow |
| 風 | Wind | フウ | かぜ | 風 (kaze) – wind |
| 晴 | Clear up | セイ | は.れる | 晴れ (hare) – clear weather |
| 雲 | Cloud | ウン | くも | 雲 (kumo) – cloud |
| 光 | Light | コウ | ひかり | 光 (hikari) – light |
| 空 | Sky, Empty | クウ | そら | 空 (sora) – sky |
7. Adjectives, Feelings & Qualities
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 明 | Bright | メイ | あか.るい | 明るい (akarui) – bright |
| 暗 | Dark | アン | くら.い | 暗い (kurai) – dark |
| 広 | Wide, Spacious | コウ | ひろ.い | 広い (hiroi) – wide |
| 多 | Many | タ | おお.い | 多い (ooi) – many |
| 少 | Few | ショウ | すく.ない | 少ない (sukunai) – few |
| 長 | Long, Chief | チョウ | なが.い | 長い (nagai) – long |
| 短 | Short | タン | みじか.い | 短い (mijikai) – short |
| 悪 | Bad | アク | わる.い | 悪い (warui) – bad |
| 重 | Heavy | ジュウ | おも.い | 重い (omoi) – heavy |
| 軽 | Light | ケイ | かる.い | 軽い (karui) – light (weight) |
| 早 | Early | ソウ | はや.い | 早い (hayai) – early |
| 強 | Strong | キョウ | つよ.い | 強い (tsuyoi) – strong |
| 弱 | Weak | ジャク | よわ.い | 弱い (yowai) – weak |
| 暑 | Hot | ショ | あつ.い | 暑い (atsui) – hot (weather) |
| 寒 | Cold | カン | さむ.い | 寒い (samui) – cold (weather) |
| 熱 | Hot (thing) | ネツ | あつ.い | 熱い (atsui) – hot (object) |
| 冷 | Cold (thing) | レイ | つめ.たい | 冷たい (tsumetai) – cold (object) |
| 楽 | Easy, Fun | ラク | たの.しい | 楽しい (tanoshii) – fun |
| 好 | Like | コウ | す.き | 好き (suki) – to like |
| 親 | Parent, Kind | シン | おや | 親切 (shinsetsu) – kind |
| 静 | Quiet | セイ | しず.か | 静か (shizuka) – quiet |
| 元 | Origin, Healthy | ゲン | – | 元気 (genki) – healthy |
| 便 | Convenient | ベン | – | 便利 (benri) – convenient |
| 利 | Profit | リ | – | 便利 (benri) – convenient |
| 不 | Not, Un- | フ | – | 不便 (fuben) – inconvenient |
8. People, Body & Life
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Common Example |
| 医 | Medicine | イ | – | 医者 (isha) – doctor |
| 者 | Person | シャ | もの | 医者 (isha) – doctor |
| 体 | Body | タイ | からだ | 体 (karada) – body |
| 頭 | Head | トウ | あたま | 頭 (atama) – head |
| 顔 | Face | ガン | かお | 顔 (kao) – face |
| 鼻 | Nose | ビ | はな | 鼻 (hana) – nose |
| 耳 | Ear | ジ | みみ | 耳 (mimi) – ear |
| 歯 | Tooth | シ | は | 歯 (ha) – tooth |
| 首 | Neck | シュ | くび | 首 (kubi) – neck |
| 指 | Finger | シ | ゆび | 指 (yubi) – finger |
| 足 | Leg, Foot | ソク | あし | 足 (ashi) – leg, foot |
| 毛 | Hair, Fur | モウ | け | 毛 (ke) – hair, fur |
| 形 | Shape | ケイ | かたち | 形 (katachi) – shape |
| 兄 | Older Brother | キョウ | あに | 兄弟 (kyoudai) – siblings |
| 弟 | Younger Brother | ダイ | おとうと | 弟 (otouto) – younger brother |
| 姉 | Older Sister | シ | あね | 姉 (ane) – older sister |
| 妹 | Younger Sister | マイ | いもうと | 妹 (imouto) – younger sister |
| 家 | House | カ | いえ | 家族 (kazoku) – family |
| 族 | Family | ゾク | – | 家族 (kazoku) – family |
| 始 | Begin | シ | はじ.める | 始める (hajimeru) – to begin |
| 終 | End, Finish | シュウ | お.わる | 終わる (owaru) – to end |
| 事 | Thing, Matter | ジ | こと | 仕事 (shigoto) – work |
| 仕 | Serve | シ | – | 仕事 (shigoto) – work |
| 特 | Special | トク | – | 特別 (tokubetsu) – special |
| 別 | Separate | ベツ | わか.れる | 別れる (wakareru) – to separate |
| 料 | Fee, Material | リョウ | – | 料理 (ryouri) – cooking |
| 理 | Reason | リ | – | 料理 (ryouri) – cooking |
| 有 | Have, Exist | ユウ | あ.る | 有名 (yuumei) – famous |
| 名 | Name | メイ | な | 名前 (namae) – name |
| 公 | Public | コウ | – | 公園 (kouen) – park |
| 園 | Garden | エン | その | 公園 (kouen) – park |
| 野 | Field | ヤ | の | 野菜 (yasai) – vegetable |
| 菜 | Vegetable | サイ | – | 野菜 (yasai) – vegetable |
A List is Just a List. Here’s How to Actually Learn Them to Pass JLPT Exam.
You can’t just read this list and magically absorb over 180 kanji. (If you can, please tell me your secret.)
For the rest of us, here are three practical ways to use this list to make the kanji stick.
- Make Flashcards (Digital or Physical):
- Don’t just put the kanji on one side and the meaning on the other.
- Front: The Kanji (e.g., 運)
- Back: The meaning (Carry), the readings (ウン / はこ.ぶ), and your example word (運転).
- Review them using spaced repetition (apps like Anki are perfect for this).
- Write Them Down. No, Really.
- This isn’t just about muscle memory. It’s about forcing your brain to process the components of the kanji—the radicals, the stroke order, the balance.
- Write the kanji and its example word (e.g., 運転, 運転, 運転) five times. Say the word out loud as you write it.
- Start “Kanji Hunting”:
- Now that you have this list, your job is to find these kanji “in the wild.”
- When you read Japanese news, manga, or even just look at product labels, actively search for the N4 kanji you just studied. When you find one, point at it (mentally or physically) and say its reading and meaning.
- This “hunt” connects the abstract character to a real-world context, which is the final step to truly learning it.
You’ve Got This – Let’s pass JLPT N4!!
The JLPT N4 is a significant step up, but it’s the true gateway to functional Japanese. This list is your blueprint. Take it one section at a time, practice consistently, and you’ll be ready for the N3 list before you know it.
- Ready for the next step? Check out our [JLPT N3 Kanji List].
- Need to review? Visit our [JLPT N5 Kanji List].
- Kanji is only part of the test: Don’t forget to study our [ JLPT N4 Grammar Guide].