Readings, stroke counts, common words, and example sentences for each character — focused on kanji you will meet at work.
205 kanji · JLPT N1
JLPT N1 kanji
Kanji 91–100
lock / tablet
出かける前に玄関に錠をかけました。
でかける まえ に げんかん に じょう を かけました。
I locked the front door before going out.
💡 Break 錠 down and you get 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious. Picture a bar of metal, put 錠 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lock" — lock / tablet. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
key
家の鍵をどこかに忘れました。
いえ の かぎ を どこか に わすれました。
I left my house key somewhere.
💡 Break 鍵 down and you get 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious. Picture a bar of metal, put 鍵 inside it, and let that scene stand for "key" — key. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
chain
事故で道路が封鎖されました。
じこ で どうろ が ふうさ されました。
The road was blocked off due to the accident.
💡 Break 鎖 down and you get 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious. Picture a bar of metal, put 鎖 inside it, and let that scene stand for "chain" — chain. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
calm / suppress
暴動は数時間で鎮圧されました。
ぼうどう は すうじかん で ちんあつ されました。
The riot was suppressed within hours.
💡 Break 鎮 down and you get 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious, and beside it 真 (true / genuine) — an eye set squarely on its stand, the same from every angle. Picture a bar of metal, put 鎮 inside it, and let that scene stand for "calm" — calm / suppress. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
pressure
消防隊が火事を制圧しました。
しょうぼうたい が かじ を せいあつ しました。
The fire brigade brought the fire under control.
💡 Break 圧 down and you get 厂 (cliff / shelter) — an overhanging cliff you can shelter under, and beside it 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it, put 圧 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pressure" — pressure. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
press / urge
彼らは迫害を逃れて移住しました。
かれら は はくがい を のがれて いじゅう しました。
They emigrated to escape persecution.
💡 Break 迫 down and you get 白 (white / bright) — the first pale light of the sun, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road arching over a bridge across water, put 迫 inside it, and let that scene stand for "press" — press / urge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
press / imminent
病院の体制が逼迫しています。
びょういん の たいせい が ひっぱく しています。
The hospital system is under severe strain.
💡 Break 逼 down and you get 辶 (road / movement) — a road sweeping under the character. Picture a crossroads with a person walking through it and a signboard at the corner, put 逼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "press" — press / imminent. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
abuse / cruel
動物の虐待は犯罪です。
どうぶつ の ぎゃくたい は はんざい です。
Animal abuse is a crime.
💡 Break 虐 down and you get 虍 (tiger) — a tiger's striped head, seen from the front. Picture a four-legged animal standing in profile, put 虐 inside it, and let that scene stand for "abuse" — abuse / cruel. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
squeeze / exploit
労働者の搾取が問題になっています。
ろうどうしゃ の さくしゅ が もんだい に なっています。
The exploitation of workers has become a problem.
💡 Break 搾 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 搾 inside it, and let that scene stand for "squeeze" — squeeze / exploit. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
defense / guard
国の防衛について議論が続いています。
くに の ぼうえい について ぎろん が つづいています。
Debate continues about national defense.
💡 Picture a perimeter fence enclosing the yard: that is what 衛 means — defense / guard. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 行 (go / conduct) — a crossroads seen from above, paths leading off in both directions, and beside it 韋 (hide / surround) — a hide stretched taut between feet planted on either side of it. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
Full-level practice
Ten sets, fifty randomly selected questions in every set.
Randomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N1 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final set