This is the JLPT N3 kanji list, which includes 370 characters specific to the N3 level.
You must know about 650 kanji in total in order to pass the JLPT N3, including kanji from N4 & N5, so make sure to review those lists as well.
Click on any of the kanji below to go to the lesson for that kanji. There you can get more detailed information, including common vocabulary words and example sentences using that kanji.
For more JLPT N3 info, see our JLPT N3 study guide.
See all kanji lessons ordered my most commonly used.

Download complete printable PDF N3 Kanji List (for Patreon supporters).
# | Kanji | Onyomi | Kunyomi | Kanji Meaning |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 政 | sei セイ | matsurigoto まつりごと | politics, government |
2 | 議 | gi ギ | deliberation, consultation, debate | |
3 | 民 | min ミン | tami たみ | people, nation, subjects |
4 | 連 | ren レン | tsura(naru), tsu(reru) つら(なる)、つ(れる) | take along, lead, join, connect |
5 | 対 | tai, tsui タイ、 ツイ | opposite, even, equal, versus, anti-, compare | |
6 | 部 | bu ブ | section, bureau, dept, class, copy, part, portion | |
7 | 合 | gou, ga, ka ゴウ、 ガッ、 カッ | a(u) あ(う)、あい | fit, suit, join, 0.1 |
8 | 市 | shi シ | ichi いち | market, city, town |
9 | 内 | nai ナイ | uchi うち | inside, within, between, among, house, home |
10 | 相 | sou, shou ソウ、 ショウ | ai あい | inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state |
11 | 定 | tei, jou テイ、 ジョウ | sada(meru) さだ(める) | determine, fix, establish, decide |
12 | 回 | kai カイ | mawa(su) まわ(す) | -times, round, revolve, counter |
13 | 選 | sen セン | era(bu) えら(ぶ) | elect, select, choose, prefer |
14 | 米 | bei, mai, meetoru ベイ、 マイ、 メエトル | kome こめ | rice, USA, meter |
15 | 実 | jitsu ジツ | mi, mino(ru), makoto み、みの(る)、 まこと | reality, truth |
16 | 関 | kan カン | seki, kaka(waru) せき、 かか(わる) | connection, barrier, gateway, involve, concerning |
17 | 決 | ketsu ケツ | ki(meru) き(める) | decide, fix, agree upon, appoint |
18 | 全 | zen ゼン | matta(ku), sube(te) まった(く)、 すべ(て) | whole, entire, all, complete, fulfill |
19 | 表 | hyou ヒョウ | omote, arawa(su) おもて、 あらわ(す) | surface, table, chart, diagram |
20 | 戦 | sen セン | ikusa, tataka(u) いくさ、 たたか(う) | war, battle, match |
21 | 経 | kei ケイ | he(ru), ta(tsu) へ(る)、 た(つ) | longitude, pass thru, expire, warp |
22 | 最 | sai サイ | motto(mo) もっと(も) | utmost, most, extreme |
23 | 現 | gen ゲン | arawa(reru), utsu(tsu) あらわ(れる)、 うつ(つ) | present, existing, actual |
24 | 調 | chou チョウ | shira(beru), tono(u) しら(べる)、ととの(う) | tune, tone, meter, prepare, investigate |
25 | 化 | ka, ke カ、 ケ | ba(keru), fu(keru) ば(ける)、 ふ(ける) | change, take the form of, influence, enchant, delude, -ization |
26 | 当 | tou トウ | a(taru) あ(たる) | hit, right, appropriate |
27 | 約 | yaku ヤク | tsuzu(maru) つづ(まる) | promise, approximately, shrink |
28 | 首 | shu シュ | kubi くび | neck |
29 | 法 | hou ホウ | nori のり | method, law, rule, principle, model, system |
30 | 性 | sei, shou セイ、 ショウ | sex, gender, nature | |
31 | 的 | teki テキ | mark, target, object, adjective ending | |
32 | 要 | you ヨウ | i(ru), kaname い(る)、 かなめ | need, main point, essence, pivot |
33 | 制 | sei セイ | system, law, rule | |
34 | 治 | ji, chi ジ、チ | nasa(meru), nao(ru) おさ(める)、なお(る) | reign, cure, heal |
35 | 務 | mu ム | tsuto(meru) つと(める) | task, duties |
36 | 成 | sei, jou セイ、 ジョウ | na(ru) な(る) | turn into, become, get, grow, elapse |
37 | 期 | ki, go キ、 ゴ | period, time, date, term | |
38 | 取 | shu シュ | to(ru) と(る) | take, fetch |
39 | 都 | to, tsu ト、ツ | miyako みやこ | metropolis, capital |
40 | 和 | wa, o ワ、オ | yawa(ragu), nago(mu) やわ(らぐ)、なご(む) | harmony, Japanese style, peace |
41 | 機 | ki キ | machine, airplane, opportunity | |
42 | 平 | hei, byou ヘイ、ビョウ | tai(ra), hira たい(ら)、ひら | even, flat, peace |
43 | 加 | ka カ | kwa(eru) くわ(える) | add, addition, increase, join |
44 | 受 | ju ジュ | u(keru) う(ける) | accept, undergo, answer (phone), take |
45 | 続 | zoku ゾク | tsuzuku つづ(く) | continue, series, sequel |
46 | 進 | shin シン | susu(mu) すす(む) | advance, proceed |
47 | 数 | suu スウ | kazu, kazo(eru) かず、 かぞ(える) | number, strength, fate, law, figures |
48 | 記 | ki キ | shiru(su) しる(す) | scribe, account, narrative |
49 | 初 | sho ショ | haji(me), hatsu はじ(め)、はつ | first time, beginning |
50 | 指 | shi シ | yubi, sa(su) ゆび、さ(す) | finger, point to, indicate |
51 | 権 | ken ケン | authority, power, rights | |
52 | 支 | shi シ | sasa(eru) ささ(える) | branch, support, sustain |
53 | 産 | san サン | u(mu), mu(su) う(む)、 む(す) | products, bear, give birth |
54 | 点 | ten テン | tsu(keru) つ(ける) | spot, point, mark |
55 | 報 | hou ホウ | mukku(iru) むく(いる) | report, news, reward |
56 | 済 | sai, sei サイ、セイ | su(mu) す(む) | settle, relieve, finish |
57 | 活 | katsu カツ | i(kiru) い(きる) | living |
58 | 原 | gen ゲン | hara はら | original, primitive, field |
59 | 共 | kyou キョウ | tomo とも | together, both, neither |
60 | 得 | toku トク | e(ru) え(る) | gain, get, find, earn, acquire, can, may, able to, profit |
61 | 解 | kai, ge カイ、ゲ | to(ku), hodo(ku) と(く)、ほど(く) | unravel, explanation |
62 | 交 | kou コウ | maji(waru), ma(zeru), ka(wasu) まじ(わる)、 ま(ぜる)、 か(わす) | mingle, mixing, association, coming & going |
63 | 資 | shi シ | assets, resources, capital, funds, data, be conducive to | |
64 | 予 | yo, sha ヨ、 シャ | arakaji(me) あらかじ(め) | beforehand, previous, myself, I |
65 | 向 | kou コウ | mu(ku), muka(i) む(く)、むか(い) | facing, beyond |
66 | 際 | sai サイ | kiwa きわ | occasion, time |
67 | 勝 | shou ショウ | ka(tsu), masa(ru) か(つ)、 まさ(る) | victory, win |
68 | 面 | men メン | omo, omote, tsura おも、おもて、つら | mask, face, features, surface |
69 | 告 | koku コク | tsu(geru) つ(げる) | revelation, inform |
70 | 反 | han, hon, tan, ho ハン、ホン、タン、ホ | so(ru), kae(su) そ(る)、かえ(す) | anti- |
71 | 判 | han ハン | judgement, signature | |
72 | 認 | nin ニン | mito(meru), shitata(meru) みと(める)、したた(める) | acknowledge, witness, recognize |
73 | 参 | san サン | mai(ru) まい(る) | going, coming, participate |
74 | 利 | ri リ | ki(ku) き(く) | profit, advantage, benefit |
75 | 組 | so ソ | ku(mu), kumi く(む)、くみ | association, assemble, unite |
76 | 信 | shin シン | faith, truth, trust | |
77 | 在 | zai ザイ | a(ru) あ(る) | exist, outskirts |
78 | 件 | ken ケン | kudan くだん | affair, case, matter |
79 | 側 | soku ソク | gawa, soba がわ、そば | side, lean, oppose |
80 | 任 | nin ニン | maka(seru) まか(せる) | responsibility, duty |
81 | 引 | in イン | hi(ku) ひ(く) | pull, tug, jerk |
82 | 求 | kyuu キュウ | moto(meru) もと(める) | request, want, demand |
83 | 所 | sho ショ | tokoro ところ | place, extent |
84 | 次 | ji, shi ジ、シ | tsu(gu), tsugi つ(ぐ)、つぎ | next, order |
85 | 昨 | saku サク | yesterday, previous | |
86 | 論 | ron ロン | agetsura(u) あげつら(う) | argument, discourse |
87 | 官 | kan カン | bureaucrat, the government, organ | |
88 | 増 | zou ゾウ | ma(su), fu(eru) ま(す)、 ふ(える) | increase, add |
89 | 係 | kei ケイ | kaka(ru), kakari かか(る)、かかり | person in charge, connection |
90 | 感 | kan カン | emotion, feeling, sensation | |
91 | 情 | jou, sei ジョウ、セイ | nasa(ke) なさ(け) | feelings, emotion, passion |
92 | 投 | tou トウ | na(geru) な(げる) | throw, discard |
93 | 示 | ji, shi ジ、シ | shime(su) しめ(す) | show, indicate, display |
94 | 変 | hen ヘン | ka(waru) か(わる) | unusual, change, strange |
95 | 打 | da ダ | u(tsu), bu(tsu) う(つ)、ぶ(つ) | strike, hit, knock |
96 | 直 | choku, jiki チョク、 ジキ | tada(chini), su(gu) ただ(ちに)、 す(ぐ)、 なお(す) | straightaway, honesty, frankness, fix, repair |
97 | 両 | ryou リョウ | futatsu ふたつ | both |
98 | 式 | shiki シキ | style, ceremony | |
99 | 確 | kaku カク | tashi(ka) たし(か) | assurance, firm, confirm |
100 | 果 | ka カ | ha(tasu) は(たす) | fruit, reward, carry out, achieve, complete |
JLPT N3 Kanji List total: (370)
Currently viewing page 1 of 4
Recommended JLPT N3 Books
Nihongo So-matome: JLPT N3 Grammar
In my opinion, this is the best book for studying JLPT N3 grammar. This is the book I used and it helped me pass the JLPT on my first try. It covers all of the JLPT N3 Grammar in 6 weeks, with an easy to follow study schedule. There are translations in English (and other languages), but most of the book and explainations are written in Japanese.
See price on Amazon
Kanzen Master Jlpt N3 Grammar
This is my second recommded JLPT N3 grammar book., which also covers all of the grammar that you need to know to pass the JLPT n3, and includes great practice excercises. One down side though, is it's mostly in Japanese, but that will help you in the long run.
See price on Amazon
Tobira Gateway to Intermediate Japanese
This textbook was designed to help beginner Japanese learners go to the intermediate / advanced level. It's extremely highly rated, well-structured, full of visual aids and tons if information. It's about the same size as the Genki books, but full of more information and entirely in Japanese. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get more serious with their Japanese studies.
See price on Amazon
Jlpt N3 Japanese Lauguage Proficiency Test Official Practice Test
This is the official practice test of the JLPT N3. I highly recommend doing at least 1 practice test before taking the real test.
See price on Amazon
*NOTE* There is no official complete JLPT Kanji List
These lessons are created to the best of my ability based on prior test data, but there is no official JLPT kanji list.