Readings, stroke counts, common words, and example sentences for each character — focused on kanji you will meet at work.
219 kanji · JLPT N2
JLPT N2 kanji
Kanji 121–130
comfort
落ち込んでいる友人を慰めました。
おちこんで いる ゆうじん を なぐさめました。
I comforted a friend who was feeling low.
💡 Break 慰 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 慰 inside it, and let that scene stand for "comfort" — comfort. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
hate
失敗した自分を憎んでも仕方がありません。
しっぱい した じぶん を にくんで も しかた が ありません。
There is no point in hating yourself for failing.
💡 Break 憎 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 曽 (once / long ago) — several storeys stacked one above another over a single window. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 憎 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hate" — hate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
hold / embrace
結果が出るまで辛抱が必要です。
けっか が でる まで しんぼう が ひつよう です。
You need patience until the results come.
💡 Break 抱 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 抱 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hold" — hold / embrace. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
suppress
気持ちを抑えて落ち着いて話しました。
きもち を おさえて おちついて はなしました。
I held back my feelings and spoke calmly.
💡 Break 抑 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 抑 inside it, and let that scene stand for "suppress" — suppress. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
aid / assist
被災地に救援物資が届きました。
ひさいち に きゅうえん ぶっし が とどきました。
Relief supplies arrived in the disaster area.
💡 Break 援 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 援 inside it, and let that scene stand for "aid" — aid / assist. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
protect
個人情報は法律で保護されています。
こじん じょうほう は ほうりつ で ほご されています。
Personal information is protected by law.
💡 Picture a perimeter fence enclosing the yard: that is what 護 means — protect. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
lose
大きな損失を出してしまいました。
おおきな そんしつ を だして しまいました。
We suffered a large loss.
💡 Break 失 down and you get 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left. Picture tally marks counted off in groups of five, put 失 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lose" — lose. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
error / mistake
説明が足りなくて誤解されました。
せつめい が たりなくて ごかい されました。
I was misunderstood because my explanation was insufficient.
💡 Break 誤 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture a megaphone broadcasting sound waves outward, put 誤 inside it, and let that scene stand for "error" — error / mistake. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
apologize / thank
会社は顧客に謝罪しました。
かいしゃ は こきゃく に しゃざい しました。
The company apologized to its customers.
💡 Break 謝 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 謝 inside it, and let that scene stand for "apologize" — apologize / thank. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
courtesy / thanks
忘れ物を届けてもらったので、お礼を言いました。
わすれもの を とどけて もらった ので、おれい を いいました。
Someone brought me the thing I had left behind, so I thanked them.
💡 Break 礼 down and you get 礻 (show / sign) — a sign standing at the left of the character, and beside it 乙 (bend / second) — a stroke that bends before it finishes. Picture a figure standing on a raised platform, put 礼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "courtesy" — courtesy / thanks. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Full-level practice
Ten sets, fifty randomly selected questions in every set.
Randomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N2 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final set