Readings, stroke counts, common words, and example sentences for each character — focused on kanji you will meet at work.
168 kanji · JLPT N4
JLPT N4 kanji
Kanji 21–30
open
暑いので、窓を開けます。
あつい ので、まど を あけます。
It is hot, so I will open the window.
💡 Two hands lifting the bar off a gate (門) to open it. 開 means to open.
music / fun
日本語の授業は楽しいです。
にほんご の じゅぎょう は たのしい です。
Japanese class is fun.
💡 A wooden zither with strings stretched across its bridge — the strings sing. 楽 means music or fun.
building / hall
図書館で本を借りました。
としょかん で ほん を かりました。
I borrowed a book from the library.
💡 Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it: that is what 館 means — building / hall. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 飠 (food / eat) — a bowl of food set at the left. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
China / Han
漢字を五十覚えました。
かんじ を ごじゅう おぼえました。
I memorized fifty kanji.
💡 Break 漢 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 漢 inside it, and let that scene stand for "China" — China / Han. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
wake up / occur
私は毎朝六時に起きます。
わたし は まいあさ ろくじ に おきます。
I get up at six every morning.
💡 Break 起 down and you get 走 (run) — someone running along the road, and beside it 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself. Picture legs springing up from a bed at the moment of waking, put 起 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wake up" — wake up / occur. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
research
大学でAIについて研究しています。
だいがく で AI について けんきゅう しています。
I am researching AI at university.
💡 Break 究 down and you get 穴 (hole / cave) — a hollow opening in the ground. Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds, put 究 inside it, and let that scene stand for "research" — research. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
hurry / sudden
電車の時間なので、急ぎましょう。
でんしゃ の じかん な ので、いそぎましょう。
It is almost train time, so let's hurry.
💡 Break 急 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 急 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hurry" — hurry / sudden. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
cow
牧場でたくさんの牛を見ました。
ぼくじょう で たくさん の うし を みました。
I saw many cows at the ranch.
💡 牛 is the picture: an ox with horns above its head. Set it against a four-legged animal standing in profile and the shape carries its meaning, "cow", with it.
leave / past
去年、大学を卒業しました。
きょねん、だいがく を そつぎょう しました。
I graduated from university last year.
💡 Picture a gateway standing open: that is what 去 means — leave / past. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 厶 (private / self) — arms drawn in, keeping something to oneself. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
capital
東京の会社で働いています。
とうきょう の かいしゃ で はたらいています。
I work at a company in Tokyo.
💡 Break 京 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 京 inside it, and let that scene stand for "capital" — capital. 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 N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 kanji level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final set