The Complete Guide to JLPT N3 Kanji (N3漢字)

The JLPT N3 Kanji syllabus represents the bridge between elementary and advanced Japanese literacy. Transitioning to N3 means you will expand your visual vocabulary by 341 unique characters, bringing your cumulative kanji target to exactly 625 characters (comprising N5, N4, and N3). At this stage of your language journey, study moves away from simple physical items and routine actions to abstract concepts, public systems, technical modifiers, and emotions. Mastering N3 Kanji is the key to comfortable, independent reading of daily Japanese news columns, intermediate blog posts, and official announcements.

1. Semantic-Phonetic Compounds (Keisei Moji) in N3

As you study N3 Kanji, you will discover that memorization becomes easier if you understand how characters are constructed. Over 80% of Japanese Kanji belong to a category called semantic-phonetic compounds (形声文字 - Keisei Moji). These characters are divided into two distinct components: one part provides the general category of meaning (the semantic radical), while the other part indicates its On'yomi reading (the phonetic component).

For example, consider the character for "ocean" or "sea" (洋 - read as you). On the left, we see the three-stroke water radical (氵), indicating it relates to water. On the right, we see the character for "sheep" (羊), which is read as you. The right side is not there because of sheep; it is there purely to indicate the On'yomi reading of the character is you. By identifying these phonetic templates, you can instantly guess the On'yomi readings of dozens of intermediate Kanji.

2. The Importance of Intermediate Prefixes and Suffixes

At the N3 level, Kanji characters are heavily used as prefixes or suffixes to build compound terms. This is a highly efficient way for Japanese to generate specialized nouns or modifiers. By learning these grammatical components, you can decipher new vocabulary words even if you have never seen the compound before.

Here are the most common N3 prefixes and suffixes you should study:

  • 〜化 (ka - suffix for change): Functions like the English suffix "-ification" or "to turn into". Examples: 変化 (henka - change), 温暖化 (ondanka - global warming), and 文化 (bunka - culture).
  • 〜性 (sei - suffix for quality/nature): Functions like the English suffix "-ity" or "-ness". Examples: 可能性 (kanousei - possibility), 安全性 (anzensei - safety), and 必要性 (hitsuyousei - necessity).
  • 〜的 (teki - suffix for state): Turns nouns into adjectives, similar to "-al" or "-ish" in English. Examples: 社会的 (shakaiteki - social/societal), 具体的 (gutaiteki - concrete/specific), and 個性的 (koseiteki - individual/unique).
  • 最〜 (sai - prefix for extreme): Means "most" or "first". Examples: 最近 (saikin - recently), 最高 (saikou - highest/best), and 最悪 (saiaku - worst).

3. Managing Homophones: The "Same Sound" Trap

A major challenge when stepping up to N3 is the massive volume of homophones—different Kanji characters that share the exact same On'yomi pronunciation. For instance, the sound kou can correspond to 校 (school), 港 (harbor), 向 (opposite), 好 (like), 降 (descend), and 航 (navigation).

To prevent confusion, study Kanji in semantic families or thematic clusters rather than alphabetically or by stroke count. For example, group transportation terms together: 港 (harbor), 航 (navigation), and 船 (ship). By anchoring similar-sounding characters to distinct contextual contexts, your brain creates separate neural pathways, allowing you to select the correct Kanji instantly when writing or typing in context.

4. Reorganizing the 341 N3 Kanji by Topic

Structure your N3 Kanji studies by grouping them into these four core themes:

  • Academic & Intellectual: Verbs and nouns of study like 研 (research), 究 (study), 質 (quality/query), 問 (question), 意 (intent), 味 (meaning), and 説 (theory/explain).
  • Daily Infrastructure & Society: Public markers like 鉄 (iron/railway), 線 (line), 局 (bureau/office), 役 (service/role), 所 (place), 市 (city), and 都 (metropolis).
  • Science, Math & Technology: Analytical terms like 科 (department/science), 数 (number), 機 (machine/opportunity), 算 (calculate), and 術 (art/technique).
  • Human Emotions & Internal States: Abstract modifiers like 確 (certain), 信 (trust/believe), 認 (recognize), 悲 (sad), and 喜 (rejoice).

5. Recommended Study Plan for N3 Kanji

To acquire these 341 characters efficiently, we recommend a pace of 7 characters per day. For each Kanji card, study the five vocabulary compounds provided in our grid above. Write down the compound, its reading, and its English meaning. For example, when studying 研, write out and practice compounds like 研究 (research), 研究者 (researcher), and 研修 (training). This contextual practice is the single most effective way to lock the readings and definitions in your memory.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How does N3 Kanji help with the Reading section of the N3 exam?

A: The N3 Reading section features long columns of text with minimal furigana. Knowing these 341 characters allows you to read sentences smoothly without stumbling over phonetic pronunciations, directly saving you valuable exam time.

Q: Can I read standard Japanese newspapers with N3 Kanji?

A: While newspapers require N2/N1 levels (approx. 2,000 characters) for full comprehension, knowing N3 Kanji is sufficient to read simplified daily news services (like NHK News Web Easy) and intermediate blog posts.

About this kanji data

The kanji readings, stroke counts and English meanings on this page are compiled from open, freely-licensed Japanese dictionary databases (including the EDRDG KANJIDIC2 and JMdict projects, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licence). The level groupings, example words, study tips and explanations are our own, written and organised by the NihongoDoya team to help you learn each character in context.

JLPT N3 kanji quick-reference list (341 kanji)

Every JLPT N3 kanji with its readings and English meaning. Use the interactive grid above for example words, search and audio — or open the groups below for a printable-style reference.

Kanji 1–100
KanjiReadingsMeaning
よ・あたえる・あずかる・くみするbestow, participate in, give
りょう・てる・ふたつboth, old japanese coin, counter for carriages (e.g., in a train)
よ・しゃ・あらかじめbeforehand, previous, myself
そう・あらそう・いかでかcontend, dispute, argue
ご・たがい・かたみにmutually, reciprocally, together
ぼう・もう・ない・なきdeceased, the late, dying
こう・まじわる・まじえる・まじるmingle, mixing, association
た・ほかother, another, the others
ふ・つける・づける・つけadhere, attach, refer to
けん・くだんaffair, case, matter
にん・まかせる・まかすresponsibility, duty, term
でん・てん・つたわる・つたえるtransmit, go along, walk along
じ・にる・ひるbecoming, resemble, counterfeit
い・くらい・ぐらいrank, grade, throne
よ・あまる・あまり・あますtoo much, myself, surplus
れい・たとえるexample, custom, usage
きょう・く・くう・ぐsubmit, offer, present
けい・かかる・かかり・がかりperson in charge, connection, duty
しんfaith, truth, fidelity
とう・たおれる・だおれ・たおすoverthrow, fall, collapse
こう・そうろうclimate, season, weather
ち・ね・あたいprice, cost, value
い・えらいadmirable, greatness, remarkable
そく・かわ・がわ・そばside, lean, oppose
ぐう・たまaccidentally, even number, couple
び・そなえる・そなわる・つぶさにequip, provision, preparation
ゆう・う・やさしい・すぐれるtenderness, excel, surpass
ぜん・まったく・すべてwhole, entire, all
きょう・とも・ともに・どもtogether, both, neither
ぐ・そなえる・つぶさにtool, utensil, means
ない・だい・うちinside, within, between
れい・つめたい・ひえる・ひやcool, cold (beer, person), chill
しょ・ところ・こ・おるdispose, manage, deal with
れつ・れfile, row, rank
しょ・はじめ・はじめて・はつfirst time, beginning
はん・ばん・わかるjudgement, signature, stamp
り・きくprofit, advantage, benefit
とう・いたるarrival, proceed, reach
せいsystem, law, rule
こく・きざむ・きざみengrave, cut fine, chop
かつ・わる・わり・われるproportion, comparatively, divide
か・くわえる・くわわるadd, addition, increase
じょ・たすける・たすかる・すけるhelp, rescue, assist
ど・つとめるtoil, diligent, as much as possible
ろう・ろうする・いたわる・いたずきlabor, thank for, reward for
む・つとめるtask, duties
しょう・かつ・がち・まさるvictory, win, prevail
きん・ごん・つとめる・づとめdiligence, become employed, serve
か・け・ばける・ばかすchange, take the form of, influence
たん・ひとえsimple, one, single
き・あぶない・あやうい・あやぶむdangerous, fear, uneasy
げん・はらmeadow, original, primitive
さん・しん・まいる・まいnonplussed, three (in documents), going
はん・ほん・たん・ほanti-
しゅう・おさめる・おさまるincome, obtain, reap
しゅ・とる・とり・どりtake, fetch, take up
じゅ・うける・うけ・うかるaccept, undergo, answer (phone)
ごう・さけぶ・よびなnickname, number, item
こう・むく・むい・むきyonder, facing, beyond
くん・きみ・ぎみmister, you, ruler
ひ・いな・いやnegate, no, noes
きゅう・すうsuck, imbibe, inhale
すい・ふくblow, breathe, puff
こく・つげるrevelation, tell, inform
こ・よぶcall, call out to, invite
めい・みょう・いのちfate, command, decree
わ・お・か・やわらぐharmony, japanese style, peace
しょう・あきなうmake a deal, selling, dealing in
き・よろこぶ・よろこばすrejoice, take pleasure in
いん・よる・ちなむcause, factor, be associated with
こん・こまるquandary, become distressed, annoyed
えん・そのpark, garden, yard
ざい・あるexist, outskirts, suburbs
ほう・むくいるreport, news, reward
ぞう・ます・まし・ふえるincrease, add, augment
へん・かわる・かわり・かえるunusual, change, strange
む・ぼう・ゆめ・ゆめみるdream, vision, illusion
ふ・ふう・ぶ・おっとhusband, man
しつ・うしなう・うせるlose, error, fault
さい・つまwife, spouse
じょう・むすめ・こdaughter, girl
こんmarriage
ふ・よめlady, woman, wife
そん・ぞん・ながらえる・あるexist, suppose, be aware of
たくhome, house, residence
しゅ・す・まもる・まもりguard, protect, defend
かんperfect, completion, end
かんbureaucrat, the government, organ
てい・じょう・さだめる・さだまるdetermine, fix, establish
じつ・しつ・み・みのるreality, truth
きゃく・かくguest, visitor, customer
がいharm, injury
よう・いれるcontain, form, looks
宿しゅく・やど・やどる・やどすinn, lodging, relay station
き・よる・より・よせるdraw near, stop in, bring near
ふ・ふう・とむ・とみwealth, enrich, abundant
しん・ねる・ねかす・いぬlie down, sleep, rest
さつguess, presume, surmise
たい・つい・あいて・こたえるvis-a-vis, opposite, even
きょく・つぼねbureau, board, office
Kanji 101–200
KanjiReadingsMeaning
きょ・こ・いる・いreside, to be, exist
さ・さす・さしdistinction, difference, variation
し・いくさexpert, teacher, master
せき・むしろseat, mat, occasion
じょう・つね・とこusual, ordinary, normal
へい・びょう・ひょう・たいらeven, flat, peace
こう・さいわい・さち・しあわせhappiness, blessing, fortune
き・いく・いくつ・いくらhow many, how much, how far
ざ・すわるsquat, seat, cushion
てい・にわcourtyard, garden, yard
しきstyle, ceremony, rite
とう・あたる・あたり・あてるhit, right, appropriate
けい・ぎょう・かた・がたshape, form, style
やく・えきduty, war, campaign
ひ・かれ・かのhe, that, the
と・いたずら・あだon foot, junior, emptiness
とく・える・うるgain, get, find
ぎょ・ご・おん・おhonorable, manipulate, govern
ひつ・かならずinvariably, certain, inevitable
ぼう・わすれるforget
ぼう・もう・いそがしい・せわしいbusy, occupied, restless
ねんwish, sense, idea
ど・ぬ・いかる・おこるangry, be offended
ふ・ほ・こわい・こわがるdreadful, be frightened, fearful
せい・しょう・さがsex, gender, nature
きょう・おそれる・おそる・おそろしいfear, dread, awe
ち・はじる・はじ・はじらうshame, dishonor
そく・いきbreath, respiration, son
ひ・かなしい・かなしむgrieve, sad, deplore
じょう・せい・なさけfeelings, emotion, passion
そう・そ・おもうconcept, think, idea
あい・いとしい・かなしい・めでるlove, affection, favourite
かんemotion, feeling, sensation
かん・なれる・ならすaccustomed, get used to, become experienced
せい・じょう・なる・なすturn into, become, get
せん・いくさ・たたかう・おののくwar, battle, match
れい・もどす・もどるre-, return, revert
さいgenius, years old, cubic shaku
だ・だあす・うつ・うちstrike, hit, knock
ふつ・ひつ・ほつ・はらうpay, clear out, prune
とう・なげる・なげthrow, discard, abandon
せつ・しゃく・おる・おりfold, break, fracture
ばつ・はつ・はい・ぬくslip out, extract, pull out
ほう・だく・いだく・かかえるembrace, hug, hold in arms
おう・おす・おし・おっpush, stop, check
しょう・まねくbeckon, invite, summon
し・ゆび・さす・さしfinger, point to, indicate
ほ・とらえる・とらわれる・とるcatch, capture
かい・けい・かける・かけhang, suspend, depend
たん・さぐる・さがすgrope, search, look for
し・ささえる・つかえる・かうbranch, support, sustain
ほう・はなす・っぱなし・はなつset free, release, fire
せい・しょう・まつりごと・まんpolitics, government
はい・やぶれるfailure, defeat, reversal
さん・ちる・ちらす・ちらかすscatter, disperse, spend
すう・す・さく・そくnumber, strength, fate
だん・たつ・ことわる・さだめるseverance, decline, refuse
えき・い・やさしい・やすいeasy, ready to, simple
せき・しゃく・むかしonce upon a time, antiquity, old times
さくyesterday, previous
ばんnightfall, night
けいscenery, view
せい・はれる・はれ・ばれclear up
ボ・く.らす・く.れるevening, livelihood, make a living
きょく・まがる・まげる・くまbend, music, melody
こう・さら・さらに・ふけるgrow late, night watch, sit up late
さい・しゅ・もっとも・つまutmost, most, extreme
ぼう・もう・のぞむ・もちambition, full moon, hope
き・ごperiod, time, date
み・び・いまだ・まだun-, not yet, hitherto
まつ・ばつ・すえend, close, tip
そく・たば・たばねる・つかbundle, sheaf, ream
はい・さかずきcounter for cupfuls, wine glass, glass
か・はたす・はてる・はてfruit, reward, carry out
かく・こう・きゃく・ごうstatus, rank, capacity
こう・かまえる・かまうposture, build, pretend
よう・しょう・さま・さんesq., way, manner
けん・ごん・おもり・かりauthority, power, rights
おう・よこsideways, side, horizontal
き・はたloom, mechanism, machine
けつ・けん・かける・かくlack, gap, fail
じ・し・つぐ・つぎnext, order, sequence
よく・ほっする・ほしいlonging, covetousness, greed
し・よわい・は・よわいするtooth, cog
さい・せい・とし・とせyear-end, age, occasion
ざん・さん・のこる・のこすremainder, leftover, balance
だん・たんgrade, steps, stairs
さつ・さい・せつ・ころすkill, murder, butcher
きゅう・ぐ・もとめるrequest, want, wish for
けつ・きめる・ぎめ・きまるdecide, fix, agree upon
じ・ち・おさめる・おさまるreign, be at peace, calm down
ほう・はっ・ほっ・ふらんmethod, law, rule
えい・およぐswim
かつ・いきる・いかす・いけるlively, resuscitation, being helped
りゅう・る・ながれる・ながれcurrent, a sink, flow
ふ・うく・うかれる・うかぶfloating, float, rise to surface
しょう・きえる・けすextinguish, blow out, turn off
しん・ふかい・ぶかい・ふかまるdeep, heighten, intensify
さい・せい・すむ・ずみsettle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish
と・わたる・わたすtransit, ford, ferry
Kanji 201–300
KanjiReadingsMeaning
こう・みなとharbor
まん・ばん・みちる・みつfull, fullness, enough
えんperformance, act, play
てん・つける・つく・たてるspot, point, mark
ぜん・ねん・しか・しかりsort of thing, so, if so
えん・けむる・けむり・けむいsmoke
ねつ・あついheat, temperature, fever
はん・ぼん・おかすcrime, sin, offense
じょうstatus quo, conditions, circumstances
びょう・ねこcat
おう・-のうking, rule, magnate
げん・あらわれる・あらわす・うつつpresent, existing, actual
きゅう・たまball, sphere
ゆ・ゆう・ゆい・よしwherefore, a reason
しん・もうす・もうし・さるhave the honor to, sign of the monkey, 3-5pm
りゅう・る・とめる・とまるdetain, fasten, halt
ばん・つがいturn, number in a series
ぎ・うたがうdoubt, distrust, be suspicious
ひ・つかれる・づかれ・つからすexhausted, tire, weary
つう・いたい・いたむ・いたましいpain, hurt, damage
とう・と・どう・しょうascend, climb up
かい・みな・みんなall, everything
とう・ぬすむ・ぬすみsteal, rob, pilfer
ちょく・じき・じか・ただちにstraightaway, honesty, frankness
そう・しょう・あいinter-, mutual, together
みん・ねむる・ねむいsleep, die, sleepy
せき・しゃく・こく・いしstone
は・やぶる・やぶれる・われるrend, rip, tear
かく・こう・たしか・たしかめるassurance, firm, tight
じ・し・しめすshow, indicate, point out
れい・らいsalute, bow, ceremony
ancestor, pioneer, founder
しん・じん・かみ・かんgods, mind, soul
ふくblessing, fortune, luck
department, course, section
てい・ほどextent, degree, law
しゅ・たね・ぐさspecies, kind, class
せき・つむ・づみ・つもるvolume, product (x*y), acreage
とつ・か・つくstab, protruding, thrust
そう・す・まど・てんまどwindow, pane
しょう・わらう・えむlaugh
とう・ひとしい・など・らetc., and so forth, class (first)
そう・はこbox, chest, case
べい・まい・めえとる・こめrice, usa, metre
せい・しょう・しらげる・くわしいrefined, ghost, fairy
やく・つづまる・つづめる・つづまやかpromise, approximately, shrink
そ・くむ・くみ・ぐみassociation, braid, plait
けい・きょう・きん・へるsutra, longitude, pass thru
きゅう・たまう・たもう・たまえsalary, wage, gift
かい・えpicture, drawing, painting
ぜつ・たえる・たやす・たつdiscontinue, sever, cut off
ぞく・しょく・こう・きょうcontinue, series, sequel
しょ・ちょ・お・いとぐちthong, beginning, inception
ざい・つみguilt, sin, crime
ち・おく・おきplacement, put, set
び・み・うつくしいbeauty, beautiful
ろう・おいる・ふけるold man, old age, grow old
しょく・そくpost, employment, work
いく・そだつ・そだち・そだてるbring up, grow up, raise
はい・せ・せい・そむくstature, height, back
のう・よくability, talent, skill
ふく・はらabdomen, belly, stomach
ぶ・まう・まいdance, flit, circle
せん・ふね・ふなship, boat
りょう・よい・いいgood, pleasing, skilled
じゃく・にゃく・にゃ・わかいyoung, if, perhaps
く・くるしい・ぐるしい・くるしむsuffering, trial, worry
そう・くさ・ぐさgrass, weeds, herbs
らく・おちる・おち・おとすfall, drop, come down
よう・はleaf, plane, lobe
じゅつ・すべart, technique, skill
ひょう・おもて・あらわす・あらわれるsurface, table, chart
よう・いる・かなめneed, main point, essence
standard, measure
かく・おぼえる・さます・さめるmemorize, learn, remember
かん・みる・しめすoutlook, look, appearance
かい・げ・とく・とかすunravel, notes, key
き・しるすscribe, account, narrative
ほう・おとずれる・たずねる・とうcall on, visit, look up
きょ・ゆるす・もとpermit, approve
にん・みとめる・したためるacknowledge, witness, discern
ご・あやまるmistake, err, do wrong
調ちょう・しらべる・しらべ・ととのうtune, tone, meter
だんdiscuss, talk
ろんargument, discourse
しき・しる・しるすdiscriminating, know, write
けい・いましめるadmonish, commandment
deliberation, consultation, debate
ふ・まける・まかす・おうdefeat, negative, -
ざい・さい・ぞく・たからproperty, money, wealth
ひん・びん・まずしいpoverty, poor
せき・せめるblame, condemn, censure
ひ・ついやす・ついえるexpense, cost, spend
assets, resources, capital
さん・たすける・たたえるapprove, praise, title or inscription on picture
えつ・おつ・こす・ごしsurpass, cross over, move to
ろ・る・じ・みちpath, route, road
じ・やめる・いなむresign, word, term
こむ・こみ・こめるcrowded, mixture, in bulk
げい・むかえるwelcome, meet, greet
Kanji 301–341
KanjiReadingsMeaning
へん・かえす・かえるreturn, answer, fade
めい・まようastray, be perplexed, in doubt
つい・おうchase, drive away, follow
退たい・しりぞく・しりぞける・ひくretreat, withdraw, retire
とう・にげる・にがす・のがすescape, flee, shirk
と・みちroute, way, road
そく・はやい・はや・はやめるquick, fast
れん・つらなる・つらねる・つれるtake along, lead, join
ち・おくれる・おくらす・おそいslow, late, back
ゆう・ゆ・あそぶ・あそばすplay
か・すぎる・すぎ・すごすoverdo, exceed, go beyond
たつ・だ・たちaccomplished, reach, arrive
い・ちがう・ちがい・ちがえるdifference, differ
てき・かなうsuitable, occasional, rare
せん・えらぶelect, select, choose
ぶ・べsection, bureau, dept
はい・くばるdistribute, spouse, exile
しゅ・さけ・さかsake, alcohol
へい・とじる・とざす・しめるclosed, shut
かん・せき・ぜき・かかわるconnection, barrier, gateway
こう・ご・おりる・おろすdescend, precipitate, fall
げん・かぎる・かぎりlimit, restrict, to best of ability
じょ・じ・のぞく・よけexclude, division (x/3), remove
けん・けわしいprecipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position
よう・ひsunshine, yang principle, positive
さい・きわ・ぎわoccasion, side, edge
ざつ・ぞう・まじえる・まじるmiscellaneous
なん・かたい・がたい・むずかしいdifficult, impossible, trouble
せつ・ゆきsnow
せい・じょう・しず・しずかquiet
ひ・あらずun-, mistake, negative
めん・べん・おも・おもてmask, face, features
か・くつshoes
ちょう・いただく・いただきplace on the head, receive, top of head
らい・たのむ・たのもしい・たよるtrust, request
がん・ねがう・ねがいpetition, request, vow
るい・たぐいsort, kind, variety
ひ・とぶ・とばすfly, skip (pages), scatter
ば・うま・まhorse
はつ・かみhair of the head
めい・なく・なる・ならすchirp, cry, bark