JLPT N3 kanji

Bridge study materials and everyday written Japanese with broader vocabulary and context.

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Choose your next lesson.

Prioritize common compounds, sentence context, and repeated exposure over memorizing every possible reading.

A transparent note: the JLPT does not publish an official kanji list. This is Kanji Academy's curated study sequence by estimated level. Read the official JLPT FAQ.

Complete Curated JLPT N3 Kanji List

Browse all 370 unique characters in this study collection, grouped by lesson with a primary reading and English meaning. Repeated characters appear once at their first lesson.

The JLPT does not publish an official kanji list. This is Kanji Academy's curated study sequence, not an official test specification. See the official JLPT FAQ.

JLPT N3 Lesson 131 unique characters

合あいfit; suit; join
部ぶsection; bureau; dept; class
彼かれhe; that; the
内ないinside; within; between; among
実じつreality; truth; seed; fruit
当とうhit; right; appropriate; himself
戦せんwar; battle; match
性せいsex; gender; nature
対たいvis-a-vis; opposite; even; equal
関かんconnection; barrier; gateway; involve
感かんemotion; feeling; sensation
定ていdetermine; fix; establish; decide
政せいpolitics; government
取とるtake; fetch; take up
所しょplace; extent
現げんpresent; existing; actual
最さいutmost; most; extreme
化かchange; take the form of; influence; enchant
民みんpeople; nation; subjects
相そうinter-; mutual; together; each other
法ほうmethod; law; rule; principle
全すべてwhole; entire; all; complete
情じょうfeelings; emotion; passion; sympathy
向むこうyonder; facing; beyond; confront
平へいeven; flat; peace
成せいturn into; become; get; grow
経けいsutra; longitude; pass thru; expire
信しんfaith; truth; fidelity; trust
面めんmask; face; features; surface
連れんtake along; lead; join; connect
原げんmeadow; original; primitive; field

JLPT N3 Lesson 231 unique characters

顔かおface; expression
身しんsomebody; person; one's station in life
機きloom; mechanism; machine; airplane
次じnext; order; sequence
数すうnumber; strength; fate; law
美うつくしいbeauty; beautiful
回かい-times; round; game; revolve
表ひょうsurface; table; chart; diagram
声こえvoice
報ほうreport; news; reward; retribution
要ようneed; main point; essence; pivot
変かわるunusual; change; strange
神じんgods; mind; soul
記きscribe; account; narrative
和わharmony; Japanese style; peace; soften
引ひくpull; tug; jerk; admit
治なおるreign; be at peace; calm down; subdue
決きめるdecide; fix; agree upon; appoint
太たいplump; thick; big around
込こむcrowded; mixture; in bulk; included
受うけるaccept; undergo; answer (phone); take
解かいunravel; notes; key; explanation
市しmarket; city; town
期きperiod; time; date; term
様ようEsq.; way; manner; situation
活かつlively; resuscitation; being helped; living
頭ずhead; counter for large animals
組くみassociation; braid; plait; construct
指しfinger; point to; indicate; put into
説せつopinion; theory; explanation; rumor
能のうability; talent; skill; capacity

JLPT N3 Lesson 331 unique characters

葉はleaf; plane; lobe; needle
流りゅうcurrent; a sink; flow; forfeit
然ぜんsort of thing; so; if so; in that case
初はじめてfirst time; beginning
在ざいexist; outskirts; suburbs; located in
調ちょうtune; tone; meter; key (music)
笑わらうlaugh
議ぎdeliberation; consultation; debate; consideration
直なおすstraightaway; honesty; frankness; fix
夫おっとhusband; man
選えらぶelect; select; choose; prefer
権けんauthority; power; rights
利りprofit; advantage; benefit
制せいsystem; law; rule
続つづけるcontinue; series; sequel
石いしstone
進すすむadvance; proceed; progress; promote
伝つたえるtransmit; go along; walk along; follow
加かadd; addition; increase; join
助たすけるhelp; rescue; assist
点てんspot; point; mark; speck
産さんproducts; bear; give birth; yield
務むtask; duties
件けんaffair; case; matter; item
命いのちfate; command; decree; destiny
番ばんturn; number in a series
落おちるfall; drop; come down; village
付つけadhere; attach; refer to; append
得とくgain; get; find; earn
好すfond; pleasing; like something
違ちがいdifference; differ

JLPT N3 Lesson 431 unique characters

殺ころすkill; murder; butcher; slice off
置おくplacement; put; set; deposit
返へんreturn; answer; fade; repay
論ろんargument; discourse
際さいoccasion; side; edge; verge
歳さいyear-end; age; occasion; opportunity
反はんanti-
形かたちshape; form; style
光ひかりray; light
首しゅneck; counter for songs and poems
勝かつvictory; win; prevail; excel
必かならずinvariably; certain; inevitable
係かかりperson in charge; connection; duty; concern oneself
由ゆうwherefore; a reason
愛あいlove; affection; favourite
都とmetropolis; capital; all; everything
阪さかheights; slope
放ほうset free; release; fire; shoot
確かくassurance; firm; tight; hard
過すぎるoverdo; exceed; go beyond; error
約やくpromise; approximately; shrink
馬うまhorse
状じょうstatus quo; conditions; circumstances; form
想そうidea; thought; conception; think
官かんbureaucrat; the government; organ
交こうmingle; mixing; association; coming & going
米こめrice; USA; metre
配はいdistribute; spouse; exile; rationing
若わかいyoung; if; perhaps; possibly
資しassets; resources; capital; funds
常じょうusual; ordinary; normal; common

JLPT N3 Lesson 531 unique characters

果かfruit; reward; carry out; achieve
呼よぶcall; call out to; invite
共きょうtogether; both; neither; all
残ざんremainder; leftover; balance
判はんjudgement; judgment; signature; stamp
役やくduty; war; campaign; drafted labor
他ほかother; another; the others
術じゅつart; technique; skill; means
支ささえるbranch; support; sustain; branch radical (no. 65)
両りょうboth; old Japanese coin; counter for carriages (e.g., in a train); two
乗のるride; power; multiplication; record
済さいsettle (debt, etc.); relieve (burden); finish; come to an end
供ともsubmit; offer; present; serve (meal)
格かくstatus; rank; capacity; character
打うつstrike; hit; knock; pound
御ごhonorable; manipulate; govern
断ことわるseverance; decline; refuse; apologize
式しきstyle; ceremony; rite; function
師しexpert; teacher; master; model
告こくrevelation; tell; inform; announce
深ふかいdeep; heighten; intensify; strengthen
存そんexist; suppose; be aware of; believe
争あらそうcontend; dispute; argue
覚おぼえるmemorize; learn; remember; awake
側かわside; lean; oppose; regret
飛とぶfly; skip (pages); scatter
参さんnonplussed; three (in documents); going; coming
突とつstab; protruding; thrust; pierce
容ようcontain; form; looks
育そだてるbring up; grow up; raise; rear
構かまうposture; stance; appearance; build

JLPT N3 Lesson 631 unique characters

認みとめるacknowledge; witness; discern; recognize
位いrank; grade; throne; crown
達たちaccomplished; reach; arrive; attain
守まもるguard; protect; defend; obey
満まんfull; fullness; enough; satisfy
消けすextinguish; blow out; turn off; neutralize
任にんresponsibility; duty; term; entrust to
居いるreside; to be; exist; live with
予よbeforehand; previous; myself; I
路ろpath; route; road; distance
座すわるsquat; seat; cushion; gathering
客きゃくguest; visitor; customer; client
船ふねship; boat
追おうchase; drive away; follow; pursue
背せstature; height; back; behind
観かんoutlook; look; appearance; condition
誰だれwho; someone; somebody
息むすbreath; respiration; son; interest (on money)
失しつlose; error; fault; disadvantage
老ろうold man; old age; grow old
良よいgood; pleasing; skilled
示しめすshow; indicate; point out; express
号ごうnickname; number; item; title
職しょくpost; employment; work
王おうking; rule; magnate
識しきdiscriminating; know; write
警けいadmonish; commandment
優やさしいtenderness; excel; surpass; actor
投なげるthrow; discard; abandon; launch into
局きょくbureau; board; office; affair
難むずかしいdifficult; impossible; trouble; accident

JLPT N3 Lesson 731 unique characters

種たねspecies; kind; class; variety
念ねんwish; sense; idea; thought
寄よるdraw near; stop in; bring near; gather
商しょうmake a deal; selling; dealing in; merchant
害がいharm; injury
頼たのむtrust; request
横よこsideways; side; horizontal; width
増ふえるincrease; add; augment; gain
差さdistinction; difference; variation; discrepancy
苦にがいsuffering; trial; worry; hardship
収しゅうincome; obtain; reap; pay
段だんgrade; steps; stairs
渡わたるtransit; ford; ferry; cross
与あたえるbestow; participate in; give; award
演えんperformance; act; play; render
備びequip; provision; preparation
申もうすhave the honor to; sign of the monkey; 3-5PM; ninth sign of Chinese zodiac
例たとえばexample; custom; usage; precedent
働はたらくwork; (kokuji)
景けいscenery; view
抜ぬくslip out; extract; pull out; pilfer
遠とおいdistant; far
絶ぜつdiscontinue; sever; cut off; abstain
負まけるdefeat; negative; -; minus
福ふくblessing; fortune; luck; wealth
球きゅうball; sphere
酒さけsake; alcohol
君きみmister; you; ruler; male name suffix
察さつguess; presume; surmise; judge
望ぼうambition; full moon; hope; desire
婚こんmarriage

JLPT N3 Lesson 831 unique characters

単たんsimple; one; single; merely
押おすpush; stop; check; subdue
割わりproportion; comparatively; divide; cut
限げんlimit; restrict; to best of ability
戻もどるre-; return; revert; resume
科かdepartment; course; section
求もとめるrequest; want; wish for; require
談だんdiscuss; talk
降おりるdescend; precipitate; fall; surrender
妻つまwife; spouse
熱ねつheat; temperature; fever; mania
浮うかぶfloating; float; rise to surface
等とうetc.; and so forth; class (first); quality
末まつend; close; tip; powder
幸しあわせhappiness; blessing; fortune
草くさgrass; weeds; herbs; pasture
越こすsurpass; cross over; move to; exceed
登のぼるascend; climb up
類るいsort; kind; variety; class
未みun-; not yet; hitherto; still
規きstandard; measure
精せいrefined; ghost; fairy; energy
抱かかえるembrace; hug; hold in arms
労ろうlabor; thank for; reward for; toil
処しょdispose; manage; deal with; sentence
退たいretreat; withdraw; retire; resign
費ひexpense; cost; spend; consume
非ひun-; mistake; negative; injustice
喜よろこぶrejoice; take pleasure in
娘むすめdaughter; girl
逃にげるescape; flee; shirk; evade

JLPT N3 Lesson 931 unique characters

探さがすgrope; search; look for
犯はんcrime; sin; offense
薬くすりmedicine; chemical; enamel; gunpowder
園えんpark; garden; yard; farm
疑うたがうdoubt; distrust; be suspicious; question
緒しょthong; beginning; inception; end
静しずかquiet
具ぐtool; utensil; means; possess
席せきseat; mat; occasion; place
速はやいquick; fast
舞ぶdance; flit; circle; wheel
宿しゅくinn; lodging; relay station; dwell
程ていextent; degree; law; formula
倒たおれるoverthrow; fall; collapse; drop
寝ねるlie down; sleep; rest; bed
宅たくhome; house; residence; our house
絵えpicture; drawing; painting; sketch
破やぶるrend; rip; tear; break
庭にわcourtyard; garden; yard
婦ふlady; woman; wife; bride
余あまるtoo much; myself; surplus; other
訪ほうcall on; visit; look up; offer sympathy
冷つめたいcool; cold (beer, person); chill
暮くらすevening; twilight; season's end; livelihood
腹はらabdomen; belly; stomach
危あぶないdangerous; fear; uneasy
許ゆるすpermit; approve
似にるbecoming; resemble; counterfeit; imitate
険けんprecipitous; inaccessible place; impregnable position; steep place
財さいproperty; money; wealth; assets
遊あそぶplay

JLPT N3 Lesson 1031 unique characters

雑ざつmiscellaneous
恐おそろしいfear; dread; awe
値ねprice; cost; value
暗くらいdarkness; disappear; shade; informal
積つもるvolume; product (x*y); acreage; contents
夢ゆめdream; vision; illusion
痛いたいpain; hurt; damage; bruise
富ふwealth; enrich; abundant
刻こくengrave; cut fine; chop; hash
鳴なるchirp; cry; bark; sound
欲ほしいlonging; covetousness; greed; passion
途とroute; way; road
曲きょくbend; music; melody; composition
耳みみear
完かんperfect; completion; end
願ねがうpetition; request; vow; wish
罪つみguilt; sin; crime; fault
陽ようsunshine; yang principle; positive; male
亡なくなるdeceased; the late; dying; perish
散さんscatter; disperse; spend; squander
掛かけるhang; suspend; depend; arrive at
昨さくyesterday; previous
怒おこるangry; be offended
留りゅうdetain; fasten; halt; stop
礼れいsalute; bow; ceremony; thanks
列れつfile; row; rank; tier
雪ゆきsnow
払はらうpay; clear out; prune; banish
給きゅうsalary; wage; gift; allow
敗やぶれるfailure; defeat; reversal
捕つかまえるcatch; capture

JLPT N3 Lesson 1130 unique characters

忘わすれるforget
晴はれるclear up
因いんcause; factor; be associated with; depend on
折おるfold; break; fracture; bend
迎むかえるwelcome; meet; greet
悲かなしいgrieve; sad; deplore; regret
港こうharbor
責せめるblame; condemn; censure
除のぞくexclude; division (x/3); remove; abolish
困こまるquandary; become distressed; annoyed
閉しめるclosed; shut
吸すうsuck; imbibe; inhale; sip
髪かみhair of the head
束そくbundle; sheaf; ream; tie in bundles
眠ねむいsleep; die; sleepy
易やさしいeasy; ready to; simple; fortune-telling
窓まどwindow; pane
祖そancestor; pioneer; founder
勤つとめるdiligence; become employed; serve
昔むかしonce upon a time; antiquity; old times
便べんconvenience; facility; excrement; feces
適てきsuitable; occasional; rare; qualified
吹ふくblow; breathe; puff; emit
候こうclimate; season; weather; wait for
怖こわいdreadful; be frightened; fearful
辞じresign; word; term; expression
否ひnegate; no; noes; refuse
遅おくれるslow; late; back; later
煙けむりsmoke
徒とon foot; junior; emptiness; vanity

JLPT N3 Lesson 1230 unique characters

欠けつlack; gap; fail; yawning radical (no. 76)
迷まようastray; be perplexed; in doubt; lost
洗あらうwash; inquire into; probe
互たがいmutually; reciprocally; together
才さいgenius; years old; cubic shaku
更こうgrow late; night watch; sit up late; of course
歯はtooth; cog
盗ぬすむsteal; rob; pilfer
慣なれるaccustomed; get used to; become experienced
晩ばんnightfall; night
箱はこbox; chest; case; bin
到とうarrival; proceed; reach; attain
頂いただくplace on the head; receive; top of head; top
杯はいcounter for cupfuls; wine glass; glass; toast
皆みなall; everything
招しょうbeckon; invite; summon; engage
寒さむいcold
恥はずかしいshame; dishonor
疲つかれるexhausted; tire; weary
貧まずしいpoverty; poor
猫ねこcat
誤ごmistake; err; do wrong; mislead
努どtoil; diligent; as much as possible
幾いくつhow many; how much; how far; how long
賛さんapprove; praise; title or inscription on picture; assist
偶ぐうaccidentally; even number; couple; man & wife
忙いそがしいbusy; occupied; restless
泳およぐswim
靴くつshoes
偉えらいadmirable; greatness; remarkable; conceited

JLPT N3 study guide

How to study this JLPT N3 kanji list

Bridge basic study materials and everyday written Japanese. N3 introduces a wider range of compounds and context-dependent readings, so prioritize vocabulary, sentence context, and repeated exposure over trying to memorize every possible reading at once.

Reading target

Build a intermediate bridge

Identify key information in everyday articles, notices, explanations, and headlines while keeping the overall meaning of the text in view.

Reading strategy

Learn readings through words

Learn common compounds, verb and adjective forms, and the reading that appears in each example. Revisit difficult items with active recall.

Progress check

Know when to progress

Begin N2 study when everyday texts feel manageable and unknown kanji no longer prevent you from following the main argument.

Common JLPT N3 kanji questions

How many kanji are in this JLPT N3 collection?

This curated collection contains 370 unique characters across 12 lessons, supported by 614 vocabulary entries. Counts refer to Kanji Academy's study collection, not an official JLPT requirement.

Is there an official JLPT N3 kanji list?

No. The JLPT does not publish a definitive vocabulary, kanji, or grammar list. This page is a transparent, curated study sequence aligned with the reading ability described for JLPT N3; it should be used alongside grammar, vocabulary, listening, and full reading practice.

Should I memorize every reading for each kanji?

Usually not at once. Learn the reading used in a common word, connect it to a meaning and example sentence, and add another reading when you meet it in useful vocabulary. This makes recall more practical and reduces confusion between isolated readings.