Readings, stroke counts, common words, and example sentences for each character — focused on kanji you will meet at work.
245 kanji · JLPT N3
JLPT N3 kanji
Kanji 171–180
shallow
ここは浅いので、子どもも遊べます。
ここ は あさい ので、こども も あそべます。
It is shallow here, so children can play too.
💡 Break 浅 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a well with its water surface catching the light, put 浅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shallow" — shallow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
sleep
毎晩、十一時に寝ます。
まいばん、じゅういちじ に ねます。
I go to bed at eleven every night.
💡 Picture a person resting under a blanket in bed: that is what 寝 means — sleep. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
sleep / sleepy
昨日あまり寝なかったので、眠いです。
きのう あまり ねなかった ので、ねむい です。
I did not sleep much last night, so I am sleepy.
💡 Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in: that is what 眠 means — sleep / sleepy. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 目 (eye) — an eye stood on its end, pupil lines inside. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
tired
今日は歩きすぎて疲れました。
きょう は あるきすぎて つかれました。
I walked too much today and got tired.
💡 Break 疲 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting, and beside it 皮 (skin / hide) — a hide pulled off in one piece. Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in, put 疲 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tired" — tired. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
painful
朝から頭が痛いです。
あさ から あたま が いたい です。
My head has hurt since this morning.
💡 Break 痛 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting, and beside it 甬 (tube / passage) — a hollow tube standing upright, open straight through from end to end. Picture a person resting under a blanket in bed, put 痛 inside it, and let that scene stand for "painful" — painful. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
medical treatment
歯の治療に通っています。
は の ちりょう に かよっています。
I am going to the dentist for treatment.
💡 Break 療 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting, and beside it 尞 (bonfire / companions) — a bonfire with sparks flying up and out to both sides. Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in, put 療 inside it, and let that scene stand for "medical treatment" — medical treatment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
watch over / nurse
姉は病院で看護師をしています。
あね は びょういん で かんごし を しています。
My older sister works as a nurse at a hospital.
💡 Break 看 down and you get 手 (hand) — a hand with its fingers and wrist, and beside it 目 (eye) — an eye stood on its end, pupil lines inside. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 看 inside it, and let that scene stand for "watch over" — watch over / nurse. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
teacher / master
姉は病院で看護師をしています。
あね は びょういん で かんごし を しています。
My older sister works as a nurse at a hospital.
💡 Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, and set 師 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 師 comes with it, meaning "teacher / master".
general / carrier
一般の人も会場に入れます。
いっぱん の ひと も かいじょう に はいれます。
Members of the public can enter the venue as well.
💡 Break 般 down and you get 舟 (boat) — a boat riding on the water, and beside it 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. Picture a boat under sail, put 般 inside it, and let that scene stand for "general" — general / carrier. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
step / grade
連絡手段はメールが便利です。
れんらく しゅだん は めーる が べんり です。
Email is a convenient means of contact.
💡 Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time: that is what 段 means — step / grade. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. 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 N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N3 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final set