Kanji

Kanji (漢字, literally "Han characters") are Chinese-derived logographic characters used in Japanese writing. They are the single biggest challenge in learning Japanese, requiring years of systematic study. This guide explains the kanji system, the key lists, reading types, and the most effective learning methods.

The Scale of the Problem

Reading Types: On'yomi and Kun'yomi

Every kanji has (potentially) two types of readings:

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-Derived Reading

Imported from Chinese when kanji were adopted. Typically used in:

• Multi-kanji compound words (熟語, jukugo): 電車 (densha, train), 学校 (gakkou, school)
• Scientific and formal vocabulary
• Written Japanese

On'yomi are typically written in katakana in dictionaries: デン、シャ、ガク、コウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese Reading

The native Japanese word that was mapped onto a kanji for its meaning. Typically used:

• When a kanji stands alone or with okurigana (hiragana trailing)
• Verbs and adjectives
• Common everyday words

Kun'yomi are written in hiragana in dictionaries, with okurigana after a dot: たべ.る、たか.い

Examples of Both Readings

Which Reading to Use?

• Alone (single kanji): Usually kun'yomi. 山 alone = やま (yama)
• In compound words (2+ kanji together): Usually on'yomi. 山岳 = さんがく (sangaku)
• With okurigana (hiragana after): Usually kun'yomi. 食べる = たべる (taberu)
• Exceptions: Every rule has exceptions. Learn readings through vocabulary, not in isolation.

The Radical System (部首 Bushu)

All kanji contain one or more radicals (部首, bushu). There are 214 classical radicals inherited from Chinese lexicography. Radicals serve as:

1. Dictionary classification: Kanji are indexed by radical in traditional dictionaries
2. Meaning hints: Many radicals hint at semantic category
3. Learning aid: Recognizing radicals breaks complex kanji into familiar components

Key radicals for Japanese learners

See full radical reference →

The Kyoiku Kanji — School Grade System

Japan's Ministry of Education mandates which kanji are taught at each school grade:

Full grade-level kanji list →

JLPT Kanji Distribution

The JLPT kanji are a subset of Joyo kanji, distributed across levels roughly by frequency and difficulty:

Learning Methods

Method 1: WaniKani (Recommended for Beginners)

WaniKani is a web-based kanji SRS that teaches radicals → kanji → vocabulary in sequence using mnemonics.

How it works:

1. Learn "radical" components (custom names, not always traditional radicals)
2. Use those components to form a mnemonic story for each kanji meaning
3. Learn vocabulary that uses the kanji in context
4. SRS reviews reinforce memory at optimal intervals

Coverage: ~2,000 kanji in 60 levels; covers most N4 kanji by level 20, most N2 by level 40

Cost: Free through level 3; ~$9/month or ~$300 lifetime after that

Best for: Learners who want a structured, guided path with minimal self-organization

Method 2: Anki + RTK (Remembering the Kanji)

James Heisig's "Remembering the Kanji" book teaches all 2,136 Joyo kanji meanings (not readings) using a story-building system.

How it works:

1. Book assigns each kanji a keyword (one English meaning)
2. You build a memorable story using component primitives
3. Anki deck drills: English keyword → write kanji from memory
4. Readings learned separately through vocabulary study

Coverage: All 2,136 Joyo kanji

Cost: Book ~$30; Anki RTK deck is free

Best for: Disciplined self-studiers who want kanji meaning foundation before vocabulary

Method 3: KKLC (Kodansha Kanji Learner's Course)

Andrew Scott Conning's book organizes kanji by component, grouping visually and semantically related kanji together for systematic study.

How it works:

1. 2,300 kanji in a single volume, organized by component groupings
2. Each entry: kanji, component analysis, meanings, readings, example vocabulary
3. No mnemonic stories — relies on component analysis and example words

Coverage: 2,300 kanji (Joyo + some Jinmeiyo)

Cost: Book ~$40

Best for: Learners who prefer seeing kanji in linguistic context rather than invented mnemonics

Method 4: Vocabulary-First (KiC — Kanji in Context)

Instead of studying kanji in isolation, learn kanji through high-frequency vocabulary. As you acquire vocabulary with Anki, you naturally encounter kanji repeatedly and learn their readings contextually.

How it works:

1. Use Core 2K/6K Anki deck (front: Japanese sentence + target word; back: meaning + furigana)
2. Kanji appears repeatedly in different words — readings internalized through exposure
3. Supplement with KANJIDIC2 lookup for unknown kanji

Coverage: Proportional to vocabulary studied

Best for: Learners who dislike abstract kanji drilling and prefer learning in context from the start

Study Principles

1. Learn readings through vocabulary, not in isolation: Seeing 食 in 食べる (taberu), 食堂 (shokudou), and 食品 (shokuhin) is far more effective than memorizing two isolated readings.

2. Don't aim for perfection before moving on: If you know the meaning and one reading of a kanji, move on. Second readings emerge naturally through reading.

3. Frequency first: Learn the most frequent kanji first. JLPT ordering is a good proxy, but pure frequency lists (from JPDB or Wordfreq) are even better.

4. Reading > writing for most goals: Recognition is far faster to achieve than writing from memory. For the JLPT, recognition is all that's tested.

5. Context trumps isolated study: Every minute spent reading real Japanese (manga, NHK, novels) is worth 10 minutes of isolated kanji drilling.

See Also

• Radicals Reference — All 214 bushu with examples
• On'yomi vs Kun'yomi Deep Dive — Full reading patterns explained
• Kyoiku Kanji by Grade — School grade breakdown
• JLPT N5 Kanji — The first 103 kanji