Kanji

Readings, stroke counts, common words, and example sentences for each character — focused on kanji you will meet at work.

102 kanji · JLPT N5

mountain

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
3

I learned the kanji "山".

💡 Three peaks rising up. 山 is a mountain — you can see the summits.

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river

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
3

I learned the kanji "川".

💡 Three lines flowing downward like channels of water. 川 means river.

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rice field

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

I learned the kanji "田".

💡 A field divided into four plots by paths. 田 means rice field.

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heaven / sky

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
4

The weather is very important.

💡 A person (大) with a line above their head — the heavens. 天 means heaven or sky.

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spirit / air

N5
On
Strokes
6

The healthy is very important.

💡 Vapor/steam rising and swirling. 気 means spirit, energy, air, or mood.

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rain

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
8

I learned the kanji "雨".

💡 Droplets falling from a cloud. 雨 means rain.

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station

N5
On
Strokes
14

The station is very important.

💡 A horse (馬) station where travelers once changed mounts. 駅 means (train) station.

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road / way

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
12

The news reporting is very important.

💡 A head (首) moving along the road (辶). 道 means road, way, or path.

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school

N5
On
Strokes
10

The school is very important.

💡 A tree (木) crossing paths (交) where students gather. 校 means school.

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previous / ahead

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

The teacher is very important.

💡 A foot stepping out ahead of others. 先 means ahead, previous, or "teacher" (先生).

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year

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

The this year is very important.

💡 A person carrying the harvest, marking the passing of a year. 年 means year.

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minute / part / understand

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
4

The to understand is very important.

💡 分 means "minute / part / understand". Its on'yomi フン・ブン and kun'yomi わ(かる). To remember it, picture "minute" every time you see 分, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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half

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

The incomplete is very important.

💡 半 means "half". Its on'yomi ハン and kun'yomi なか(ば). To remember it, picture "half" every time you see 半, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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now

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
4

The today is very important.

💡 今 means "now". Its on'yomi コン・キン and kun'yomi いま. To remember it, picture "now" every time you see 今, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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what

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
7

The Do you have any questions? is very important.

💡 何 means "what". Its on'yomi カ and kun'yomi なに・なん. To remember it, picture "what" every time you see 何, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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come

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
7

The next week is very important.

💡 Grain ripening, drawing people to come for the harvest. 来 means to come.

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return

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
10

The to return home is very important.

💡 A person turning back along the path home. 帰 means to return home.

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hear / ask

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
14

The to listen is very important.

💡 An ear (耳) at the gate (門), listening. 聞 means to hear or ask.

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read

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
14

The to read is very important.

💡 Words (言) being sold/spread (売) — reading aloud. 読 means to read.

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write

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
10

The to write is very important.

💡 A hand with a brush writing lines on paper. 書 means to write.

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speak / story

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
13

The to speak is very important.

💡 Words (言) from a tongue (舌) — speaking. 話 means to talk or a story.

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buy

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
12

The to buy is very important.

💡 A net (罒) over a shell (貝, money) — catching goods with cash. 買 means to buy.

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drink

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
12

The to drink is very important.

💡 Food/drink (食) beside a person opening their mouth (欠). 飲 means to drink.

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old

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

The old is very important.

💡 Ten (十) mouths (口) passing a story down through generations. 古 means old.

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tall / expensive

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
10

The expensive is very important.

💡 A tall tower standing above the city. 高 means tall or expensive.

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cheap / peaceful

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

The cheap is very important.

💡 A woman (女) safe and calm under a roof. 安 means cheap, peaceful, or safe.

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long / chief

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
8

The long is very important.

💡 長 means "long / chief". Its on'yomi チョウ and kun'yomi なが(い). To remember it, picture "long" every time you see 長, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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white

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

The interesting is very important.

💡 白 means "white". Its on'yomi ハク and kun'yomi しろ(い). To remember it, picture "white" every time you see 白, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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friend

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
4

The friend is very important.

💡 Two hands reaching toward each other. 友 means friend.

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country

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
8

The country is very important.

💡 A border (囗) enclosing treasure (玉) — a nation. 国 means country.

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language / word

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
14

The Japanese language is very important.

💡 Words (言) repeated by five (五) mouths (口) — language. 語 means language or word.

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English / excellent

N5
On
Strokes
8

The English language is very important.

💡 A flower (艹) at its finest — excellence, and "England/English." 英 means English or excellent.

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father

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
4

The father is very important.

💡 A hand raising a tool to provide — the father. 父 means father.

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mother

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

The mother is very important.

💡 A figure with two dots for a mother nursing. 母 means mother.

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every

N5
On
Strokes
6

The every day is very important.

💡 毎 means "every". Its on'yomi マイ. To remember it, picture "every" every time you see 毎, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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week

N5
On
Strokes
11

The this week is very important.

💡 週 means "week". Its on'yomi シュウ. To remember it, picture "week" every time you see 週, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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noon

N5
On
Strokes
4

I learned the kanji "午".

💡 午 means "noon". Its on'yomi ゴ. To remember it, picture "noon" every time you see 午, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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before / front

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
9

The name is very important.

💡 前 means "before / front". Its on'yomi ゼン and kun'yomi まえ. To remember it, picture "before" every time you see 前, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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after / behind

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
9

The the end is very important.

💡 後 means "after / behind". Its on'yomi ゴ・コウ and kun'yomi あと・うし(ろ). To remember it, picture "after" every time you see 後, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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name

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

The famous is very important.

💡 In the evening (夕) you call out a mouth (口) — a name. 名 means name.

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east

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
8

I learned the kanji "東".

💡 東 means "east". Its on'yomi トウ and kun'yomi ひがし. To remember it, picture "east" every time you see 東, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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west

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

I learned the kanji "西".

💡 西 means "west". Its on'yomi セイ・サイ and kun'yomi にし. To remember it, picture "west" every time you see 西, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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south

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
9

I learned the kanji "南".

💡 南 means "south". Its on'yomi ナン and kun'yomi みなみ. To remember it, picture "south" every time you see 南, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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north

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

I learned the kanji "北".

💡 北 means "north". Its on'yomi ホク and kun'yomi きた. To remember it, picture "north" every time you see 北, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

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enter / put in

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
2

The to enter is very important.

💡 An arrow pointing into an opening. 入 means to enter.

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exit / take out

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

The to leave is very important.

💡 Legs stepping out of an enclosure, again and again. 出 means to exit or go out.

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stand

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
5

The to stand is very important.

💡 A person standing firmly on the ground. 立 means to stand.

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rest

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

The to rest is very important.

💡 A person (亻) resting against a tree (木). 休 means to rest.

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early

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
6

The early is very important.

💡 The sun (日) just above the horizon (十) — early morning. 早 means early or fast.

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fish

N5
On
Kun
Strokes
11

The fish is very important.

💡 A fish with head, body, and tail fins. 魚 means fish.

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