Complete Beginner Guide to Kanji (Explained for Non-Japanese Learners)
Clear, practical, and focused — everything a beginner needs to start learning kanji effectively.
What is Kanji?
Kanji are logographic characters originally borrowed from Chinese. Each kanji typically represents an idea or thing (meaning) and can have one or more pronunciations. Modern Japanese uses kanji alongside the two phonetic scripts: hiragana and katakana.
Key point: kanji = meaning + reading(s). You need to learn both the meaning and at least how it is read in common words.
Readings: Onyomi (音読み) & Kunyomi (訓読み)
Most kanji have two main reading types:
- Onyomi (音読み) — the "sound reading" derived from Chinese pronunciation. Used often in compound words (e.g., 学校 gakkou).
- Kunyomi (訓読み) — the native Japanese reading used for standalone words or when kanji are combined with okurigana (hiragana endings), e.g., 食べる taberu.
There are exceptions: some kanji have multiple onyomi/kunyomi, and some have special readings for names (人名用読み).
Radicals (部首) — the building blocks of kanji
Radicals are smaller components that appear inside kanji. Learning common radicals helps you guess meanings and find kanji in dictionaries.
Example: the radical 氵(three-drops) often relates to water or liquid — e.g., 海 (sea), 泳 (swim), 洗 (wash).
How radicals help:
- They give semantic clues (meaning-related).
- They help when looking up kanji in a physical dictionary.
- They make visual memorization easier.
Stroke Order & Why It Matters
Stroke order is the conventional sequence for drawing kanji strokes. Correct stroke order:
- Improves handwriting and speed
- Makes characters easier to memorize
- Helps with recognizing characters in different fonts
Simple rule-of-thumb: top to bottom, left to right, outside to inside. But always check for exceptions (e.g., certain enclosing radicals).
How to Learn Kanji — Practical Strategies (Short & Effective)
1. Learn meaning + at least one common reading
For each kanji, record: character, meaning, common onyomi/kunyomi, and one or two example words.
2. Use Spaced Repetition (SRS)
SRS (Anki, WaniKani, Memrise) schedules reviews for optimal memory retention. Start with small daily goals (10–20 new kanji/day max for beginners).
3. Learn by frequency and utility
Start with JLPT N5/N4 kanji or elementary school (常用漢字's first 300) — these appear most often in daily life.
4. Use mnemonics
Create short stories linking shape → meaning → reading. Many learners use Heisig-style mnemonics or the built-in mnemonics in WaniKani.
5. Read and write (both are important)
Passive recognition (reading) comes faster; productive ability (writing) requires repetition. Handwrite when learning stroke order; type to practice recall with vocabulary.
6. Learn common compounds and example words
Kanji often appear in compounds (熟語). Knowing compound readings helps you use kanji in context.
7. Use multiple exposures and contexts
Encounter each kanji in sentences, signs, menus, and short articles. Combine SRS with real-world reading practice.
Tools & Apps (Free & Paid)
- Anki — powerful SRS flashcards (free on desktop). Use pre-made JLPT N5 decks or create your own.
- WaniKani — structured kanji learning with mnemonics (paid; limited free levels).
- Kanji Study (Android) — handwriting practice, quizzes, stroke order diagrams.
- Jisho.org — indispensable online dictionary: search by radical, reading, or English meaning.
- NHK Easy — easy Japanese reading (context for kanji in sentences).
Tip: combine a dictionary (Jisho) + SRS (Anki) + a structured system (WaniKani or textbooks) for best results.
30-Day Study Plan for Absolute Beginners
Goal: Learn 100 kanji in 30 days (realistic if you already study some hiragana/katakana). Focus: recognition + common readings + 1 example word each.
Weekly Breakdown
- Week 1: 25 kanji (5/day). Focus: numbers, days, basic nouns (日, 人, 月, 火, 水, 木).
- Week 2: 25 kanji. Add verbs and direction words (行, 来, 食, 見).
- Week 3: 25 kanji. Focus on family, school, and time (学, 校, 先, 年, 時).
- Week 4: 25 kanji. Review; make compound lists and practice reading short sentences.
Daily Routine (30–45 minutes)
- 10–15 min: Learn 5–10 new kanji (meanings + readings + stroke order)
- 10–15 min: SRS review (Anki/WaniKani)
- 10–15 min: Reading practice (NHK Easy headlines, manga, signs)
40 Essential Beginner Kanji (Meanings, Readings & Example Words)
Below is a compact list you can start with. For each kanji we show: kanji — meaning — onyomi / kunyomi — example word(s).
| Kanji | Meaning | Onyomi / Kunyomi | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 日 | day, sun | にち / ひ | 日本 (にほん) — Sunday: 日曜日 (にちようび) |
| 人 | person | じん / ひと | 日本人 (にほんじん) — 人 (ひと) |
| 口 | mouth, entrance | こう / くち | 入口 (いりぐち) — 口 (くち) |
| 目 | eye | もく / め | 目的 (もくてき) — 目 (め) |
| 耳 | ear | じ / みみ | 耳 (みみ) |
| 手 | hand | しゅ / て | 上手 (じょうず) — 手 (て) |
| 足 | foot, leg | そく / あし | 足 (あし) — 下足 (げそく) |
| 火 | fire | か / ひ | 火曜日 (かようび) |
| 水 | water | すい / みず | 水 (みず) — 水曜日 (すいようび) |
| 木 | tree | もく / き | 木曜日 (もくようび) |
| 金 | gold, money | きん / かね | お金 (おかね) — 金曜日 (きんようび) |
| 土 | earth | ど / つち | 土曜日 (どようび) |
| 本 | book, origin | ほん / もと | 本 (ほん) — 日本 (にほん) |
| 学 | study, learning | がく / まな | 学校 (がっこう) — 学生 (がくせい) |
| 校 | school | こう | 学校 (がっこう) |
| 先 | before, prior | せん | 先生 (せんせい) |
| 生 | life, birth | せい / い | 先生 (せんせい) — 学生 (がくせい) |
| 子 | child | し / こ | 子供 (こども) |
| 女 | woman | じょ / おんあ | 女性 (じょせい) |
| 男 | man | だん / おとこ | 男性 (だんせい) |
| 大 | big | だい / おお | 大学 (だいがく) — 大きい (おおきい) |
| 小 | small | しょう / ちい | 小さい (ちいさい) |
| 中 | middle, inside | ちゅう / なか | 中国 (ちゅうごく) — 中 (なか) |
| 上 | up, above | じょう / うえ | 上 (うえ) — 上手 (じょうず) |
| 下 | down, below | か / した | 下 (した) |
| 山 | mountain | さん / やま | 山 (やま) |
| 川 | river | せん / かわ | 川 (かわ) |
| 車 | car, vehicle | しゃ / くるま | 車 (くるま) |
| 年 | year | ねん / とし | 今年 (ことし) — 年 (とし) |
| 時 | time, hour | じ / とき | 一時 (いちじ) |
| 会 | meet, meeting | かい / あ | 会社 (かいしゃ) — 会う (あう) |
| 食 | eat, food | しょく / た | 食べる (たべる) — 食事 (しょくじ) |
| 飲 | drink | いん / の | 飲む (のむ) |
| 行 | go | こう / い | 行く (いく) |
| 来 | come | らい / く | 来る (くる) — 来年 (らいねん) |
| 見 | see | けん / み | 見る (みる) |
| 話 | talk, speak | わ / はな | 話す (はなす) — 会話 (かいわ) |
| 語 | word, language | ご | 日本語 (にほんご) |
| 読 | read | どく / よ | 読む (よむ) |
| 書 | write | しょ / か | 書く (かく) |
Note: Some kunyomi spellings include okurigana; examples above show common usages but are not exhaustive.
Practice Exercises & Quick Tests
Exercise 1 — Match the meaning
Write the English meaning next to each kanji: 日, 水, 人, 学, 車.
Exercise 2 — Read the word
What is the reading of 日本? What about 学校?
Exercise 3 — Fill the blank
Complete common phrases: ＿＿曜日 (fill with 火／水／金 etc.)
Self-test tips
- Make flashcards that include the kanji, one side meaning+reading, the other side example vocabulary.
- Record yourself reading example words and replay to practice pronunciation.
FAQ — Quick Answers
How many kanji should I learn to be fluent?
Fluency is a spectrum. For conversational fluency, knowing 1000–2000 kanji helps a lot. For reading newspapers and books, 2000+ (the 常用漢字 list) is standard.
Should I learn stroke order or just recognition?
Both are useful. Stroke order builds muscle memory and makes handwriting readable. If your priority is reading only, recognition + typing may be enough initially.
Is it okay to learn kanji using only English mnemonics?
Yes — mnemonics are an effective bridge. But always review kanji in real Japanese context (words & sentences) to avoid false friends.
Further Resources & Next Steps
- Jisho.org — dictionary for meanings, readings, example compounds.
- Anki — spaced repetition flashcards.
- WaniKani — structured kanji learning (mnemonics + SRS).
- Kanji Study (app) — handwriting practice and stroke order.
- NHK Web Easy — short news articles for reading practice.
If you want, I can create an Anki deck or a printable PDF of the 40 kanji above — tell me and I will prepare it next.
Conclusion — Final Tips
Start small, be consistent, and combine SRS with meaningful context (words & reading). Focus on the kanji that appear in everyday life and JLPT N5/N4 lists. With a 20–30 minute daily habit, you will see steady progress in weeks.