JLPT N3 Kanji List (380 Essential Characters) – Master the Key Kanji for N3 Success

If you’re preparing for the JLPT N3 exam, mastering kanji is a crucial step toward improving your reading comprehension and overall Japanese proficiency. This curated JLPT N3 Kanji List features 380 commonly referenced characters that appear around the N3 level. While the JLPT organization does not publish an official kanji list, these characters are frequently included in study materials and past exam analyses.

Below, you’ll find each kanji with On’yomi, Kun’yomi, and English meanings, making it easier to integrate them into your daily study routine. By focusing on these kanji, you can strengthen your vocabulary, recognize important radicals, and ultimately boost your confidence when tackling N3 reading passages.

For official updates on exam dates and registration, check the JLPT Official Website. Additionally, if you need more resources on grammar and vocabulary.

Pro Tip: Combine kanji study with spaced repetition tools (e.g., Anki, Memrise) and real-life reading practice (e.g., NHK Easy News). Regularly testing yourself on stroke order and writing out example sentences can help reinforce retention and improve recall under test conditions.

Now, let’s dive into the 380 essential N3 kanji you’ll want to know for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Feel free to bookmark this page, download it, or print it out for quick reference!

#KanjiOn’yomiKun’yomiMeaning
1アイいと.しいlove, affection
2アンつくえplan, proposal, idea
3もっ.てby means of, compared with
4ころもgarment, clothes
5くらいrank, position, about
6かこ.むsurround, encircle
7stomach
8インしるしmark, seal, stamp
9エイEngland, English, hero
10エイさか.えるflourish, prosperity
11エンしおsalt
12オクhundred million
13くわ.えるadd, addition, increase
14は.たすfruit, result, carry out
15currency, goods, freight
16chapter, lesson, section
17bud, sprout
18カイあらた.めるrenew, reform, change
19カイmachine, mechanism
20ガイharm, injury, damage
21ガイまちtown, city, quarter
22カクおのおのeach, every
23カクおぼ.えるmemorize, awake, sense
24カンcomplete, perfect
25カンgovernment, official
26カンくだpipe, control, management
27カンせきconnection, gate, concern
28カンみ.るobserve, appearance, outlook
29ガンねが.うwish, request
30まれhope, rare
31seasons
32はたflag
33うつわcontainer, vessel, ability
34はたmachine, opportunity
35discussion, deliberation
36キュウもと.めるrequest, demand, want
37キュウな.くcry, weep
38キュウすく.うsave, rescue
39キュウたま.うsalary, wage, grant
40キョあ.げるraise, plan, behavior
41ギョさかな, うおfishing, fish
42キョウそな.えるoffer, submit, accompany
43キョウともtogether, both
44キョウcooperate, unite
45キョウかがみmirror
46キョウきそ.うcompete, bid, contest
47キョクきわ.めるpoles, extreme, very
48クンおし.えるinstruction, kun’yomi reading
49グンarmy, military, troops
50グンこおりcounty, district
51ケイかか.るperson in charge, connection
52ケイかたmodel, type, mold
53ケイscenery, view
54ゲイart, craft, performance
55ケツか.けるlack, gap, fail
56ケツむす.ぶtie, bind, conclude
57ケンた.てるbuild
58ケンすこ.やかhealthy, health
59ケンtest, effect, verification
60かた.いhard, solid, firm
61コウachievement, merit, success
62コウこの.む, す.くlike, fond
63コウそうろうclimate, season, weather
64コウnavigate, sail
65コウhealth, ease
66コウみなとharbor
67ゴウnumber, nickname, title
68コンroot, base
69サイまつ.るfestival, enshrine, celebrate
70サツguess, presume, judge
71サンまい.るparticipate, visit shrine, go
72サンう.む, う.まれるgive birth, produce, property
73サンち.る, ち.らすscatter, disperse
74ザンのこ.るremain, leftover
75gentleman, samurai
76history
77director, official, administer
78こころ.みる, ため.すtest, try, attempt
79child, newborn
80ジ, チおさ.める, なお.るgovern, cure, heal, rule
81や.めるword, resign, term, expression
82シツうしな.うlose, error, fault
83シャクか.りるborrow
84シュたねseed, species, kind
85シュウおさ.めるobtain, collect, pay (tax)
86シュウまわ.りcircumference, around
87シュクいわ.うcelebrate, congratulate
88ジュンorder, turn
89ショはじ.め, はつfirst, beginning
90ショところ, -ところplace
91ショsignature, government office
92ショあつ.いhot (weather)
93ジョたす.けるhelp, rescue, assist
94ショウshining, bright era (Showa)
95ショウき.える, け.すextinguish, consume, vanish
96ショウあきな.うcommerce, trade
97ショウbadge, chapter, composition
98ショウか.つ, まさ.るwin, victory, excel
99ジョウの.る, の.せるride, board, get on
100ショクう.えるplant
101シンもう.すhave the honor to, say (humble)
102シンbody, oneself, person
103シン, ジンかみ, かん, こうgod, mind, soul
104シンtrust, believe, message
105シンふか.いdeep, profound
106シンすす.むadvance, proceed, progress
107セ, セイworld, society, generation
108セイととの.えるorganize, arrange, adjust
109セキむかしold times, long ago
110ゼンまった.く, すべ.てwhole, entire, all
111ソウ, ショウあいinter-, mutual, together, aspect
112ソウおく.るsend, escort
113ソウconcept, think, idea
114ソウあらそ.うconflict, dispute, argue
115ソウくらwarehouse, storehouse
116ソクかわside, lean, oppose
117ソクはや.いquick, fast
118ゾクつづ.く, つづ.けるcontinue, go on
119ソツgraduate, soldier, private
120ソンまごgrandchild
121タイお.びるsash, belt, zone
122タイregiment, party, team
123タツreach, arrive, accomplished
124タンsimple, single, merely
125お.くput, place, set
126チュウなかrelationship, go-between
127チョた.めるsavings, store, accumulate
128チョウきざ.すtrillion, sign, omen
129チョウは.るpaste, stick, affix
130チョウいただ.くplace on the head, receive (humble)
131調チョウしら.べる, ととの.うinvestigate, tone, prepare
132ツイお.うchase, pursue
133テイさだ.めるdetermine, fix, establish
134テイそこbottom, sole, depth
135テイと.めるhalt, stop
136テキまとtarget, adjective ending (“-like”)
137テンcode, ceremony, law book
138デンつた.えるtransmit, go along, report, legend
139on foot, junior, emptiness
140つと.めるtoil, diligent, as much as possible
141トウlamp, light
142ドウpublic chamber, hall
143ドウはたら.くwork, labor
144トクspecial
145トクえ.るacquire, obtain, gain
146ドクpoison, virus, harm
147ネツあつ.いheat, fever, passion
148ネンwish, sense, thought, idea
149ハイやぶ.れるfailure, defeat, reversal
150バイうめplum
151ハク, バクDr., command, esteem, exhibition
152ハンめしmeal, cooked rice
153ハンmarketing, sell, trade
154と.ぶ, と.ばすfly, skip (pages), scatter
155つい.やす, つい.えるexpense, cost, spend
156ヒツかなら.ずcertain, inevitable, sure
157ヒョウballot, label, ticket
158ヒョウしるべsignpost, mark, seal
159negative, non-, bad, ugly
160フウ, フおっとhusband, man
161つ.ける, つ.くattach, adhere, append
162prefecture, government office
163フクvice-, duplicate, copy
164フンこ, こなflour, powder
165ヘイsoldier, army, warfare
166ベツわか.れるseparate, another
167ヘンか.わる, か.えるchange, strange
168ヘンかえ.すreturn, answer (e.g., mail)
169ベンexertion, endeavor
170ホウはな.す, はな.れるrelease, let go, set free
171ホウmethod, law, rule, principle
172ボウのぞ.むhope, wish, desire
173ボクまきbreed, care for, shepherd
174マツ, バツすえend, close, tip
175マンみ.ちる, み.たすfull, enough, satisfy
176いま.だ, ま.だnot yet, still, un-
177ミャクvein, pulse, hope
178ミンたみpeople, nation, subjects
179ム, ブな.いnothing, none, without
180ヤクpromise, approximately, shrink
181ユウいさ.むcourage, cheer up, bravery
182ヨウい.るneed, main point, essence
183ヨウやしな.うfoster, bring up, support
184ヨクほっ.する, ほ.しいlonging, greed, desire
185ヨクあ.びるbathe, bask in
186き.くprofit, advantage, benefit
187リクland, shore
188リョウよ.いgood, pleasing, skilled
189リョウfee, materials
190リョウはか.るquantity, measure, amount
191リョウterritory, jurisdiction, reign
192リャクほぼ, はぶ.くabbreviation, omission, outline
193リュウ, ルと.めるdetain, fasten, stop
194レイたと.えるexample, custom, usage
195レイつめ.たい, ひ.えるcool, cold (to the touch), chill
196レキcurriculum, continuation, passage of time
197レンつら.なる, つ.れるtake along, group, connect
198ロウお.いる, ふ.けるold man, old age, grow old
199ロウlabor, thank for, toil
200じ, みちpath, route, road
201ワ, オやわ.らぐ, なご.むharmony, peace, sum, Japan
202カツい.きるlively, resuscitation, living
203ガンきしshore, bank
204つくえdesk
205まれhope, rare of #30; often included in both lists)
206キュウもと.めるrequest, want, demand #36)
207キュウすく.うsave, rescue #38)
208キュウたまball, sphere
209ギョウわざbusiness, vocation, arts
210キョクま.がる, ま.げるbend, music, melody
211キョクきわ.めるpoles, extreme #47)
212くる.しい, にが.いsuffering, trial, bitter
213そな.えるtool, utensil, means
214ケイかる.いlight (weight), unimportant
215ケツblood
216ケツき.める, き.まるdecide, fix, agree upon
217ケンた.つ, た.てるbuild #57)
218ケンすこ.やかhealthy #58)
219ケンtest, effect #59)
220ケンaffair, case, matter
221ケンけわ.しいsteep, inaccessible place, sharp eyes
222ゲン, ガンもとorigin, source, base
223ゲンへ.る, へ.らすdwindle, decrease, reduce
224ゆえhappenstance, especially, cause
225individual, counter for articles
226safeguard, protect
227コウき.くeffect, efficacy, be effective
228コウあつ.いthick, heavy, kind
229コウむ.く, む.けるyonder, facing, beyond, approach
230コウfilial piety
231コウそうろうclimate, season #63)
232コウ, キョウおこ.るentertain, interest, rise, prosper
233コウmineral, ore
234コウかま.えるposture, build, pretend
235コウたがや.すtill, plow, cultivate
236ゼツしたtongue
237コウさいわ.い, しあわ.せhappiness, blessing, fortune
238コウひろ.いwide, broad
239コウさら, ふ.けるfurthermore, change, grow late
240コウき.くeffect #227)
241コウお.りる, ふ.るdescend, precipitate, fall
242ゴウ, ガッあ.う, あ.わせるfit, suit, join
243コクくにcountry
244コンこま.るbecome distressed, annoyed
245サ, シャすなsand
246すわ.るsit, seat
247サイもっと.もutmost, most, extreme
248サイgenius, years old, cubic volume
249ザイlumber, log, material, ingredients
250ハンさかslope, hill
251ベイ, サラさらplate, dish
252シ, ジつか.えるattend, do, serve
253し.ぬdeath, die
254使つか.うuse, messenger, employ
255はじ.める, はじ.まるbegin, start
256ゆび, さ.すfinger, point to
257tooth
258poem
259ジ, シつ.ぐ, つぎnext, order, sequence
260ジ, ズことmatter, thing, fact
261も.つhold, have
262シキstyle, ceremony, formula, rite
263ジツみ, みの.るreality, truth, bear fruit
264シャうつ.すcopy, be photographed
265シャクか.りるborrow
266ジャクわか.いyoung
267ジュう.ける, う.かるaccept, receive
268ジュさず.けるimpart, instruct, grant
269ゼイtax, duty
270ジュウ, チョウおも.い, かさ.なるheavy, important, pile up
271宿シュクやど, やど.るinn, lodging, relay station
272ショところplace
273ショあつ.いhot
274ジョたす.けるhelp
275ショウあきな.うcommerce
276ショウわら.う, え.むlaugh, smile
277シンtrust #104)
278シンね.る, ね.かすlie down, sleep
279シンtrue, reality, Buddhist sect
280シン, ジンかみ, かんgod
281シンbody
282シンすす.むadvance
283セ, セイworld
284セイととの.えるorganize
285ゼンまった.く, すべ.てwhole
286ソウ, ショウあいmutual
287ソウおく.るsend
288ソウconcept
289ソクはや.いfast
290ゾクつづ.くcontinue
291ソツgraduate
292ダイ, タイか.わる, か.えるsubstitute, generation, fee
293ダイ, タイpedestal, stand, counter for machines
294ダイNo., residence (ordinal)
295ダイtopic, subject
296タンすみcharcoal, coal
297タンみじか.いshort, fault
298お.くput
299チュウなかrelationship
300チョた.めるsave
301チョウ, テイひのとstreet, ward, town, counter for guns
302チョウとばりnotebook, account book, curtain
303調チョウしら.べる, ととの.うinvestigate #131)
304ツイお.うchase #132)
305テイさだ.めるdetermine
306テイそこbottom
307テイと.めるhalt
308テキまとtarget
309テンcode, ceremony
310デンつた.えるtransmit
311on foot
312つと.めるtoil
313トウlamp #141)
314ドウhall
315ドウはたら.くwork
316トクえ.るgain
317ネツあつ.いheat
318ネンwish, sense
319ハイやぶ.れるfailure
320バイうめplum
321ハク, バクDr., esteem
322ハンめしmeal #152)
323ハンmarketing #153)
324と.ぶfly #154)
325つい.やすexpense #155)
326ヒツかなら.ずcertain #156)
327ヒョウballot #157)
328ヒョウしるべsignpost #158)
329not, un- #159)
330フウ, フおっとhusband #160)
331つ.けるattach #161)
332prefecture #162)
333フクvice- #163)
334フンこ, こなflour #164)
335ヘイsoldier #165)
336ベツわか.れるseparate #166)
337ヘンか.わる, か.えるchange #167)
338ヘンかえ.すreturn #168)
339ベンendeavor #169)
340ホウはな.すrelease #170)
341ホウlaw #171)
342ボウのぞ.むhope #172)
343ボクまきbreed #173)
344マツ, バツすえend #174)
345マンみ.ちるfull #175)
346いま.だnot yet #176)
347ミャクvein, pulse #177)
348ミンたみpeople #178)
349ム, ブな.いnothing #179)
350ヤクpromise #180)
351ユウいさ.むcourage #181)
352ヨウい.るneed #182)
353ヨウやしな.うfoster #183)
354ヨクほ.しい, ほっ.するwant, desire
355ヨクあ.びるbathe
356き.くprofit
357リクland
358リョウよ.いgood
359リョウfee
360リョウはか.るquantity
361リョウterritory
362リャクほぼ, はぶ.くabbreviation
363リュウ, ルと.めるdetain
364レイたと.えるexample
365レイつめ.たい, ひ.えるcool
366レキcurriculum, continuation
367レンつら.なるtake along
368ロウお.いる, ふ.けるold
369ロウlabor
370じ, みちpath, route
371ワ, オやわ.らぐharmony
372カツい.きるactive, live
373ガンきしshore
374つくえdesk
375キュウたまball
376ギョウわざbusiness
377キョクま.がる, ま.げるbend
378くる.しい, にが.いsuffering
379そな.えるtool
380ケイかる.いlight (weight)

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