JLPT N4 and N3 kanji: how many there are and how to study them
· Avinash Kumar
Kanji Mnemonics runs on iPhone and iPad. The app is available in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
Since there are no official lists, the numbers below are the common estimates used by textbooks:
| Level | New kanji (approx.) | Total (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| N5 | 100 | 100 |
| N4 | 200 | 300 |
| N3 | 350 | 650 |
| N2 | 350 | 1000 |
| N1 | 1000+ | 2000+ |
What changes at N4
N4 brings everyday verbs and adjectives (動, 働, 思, 起, 寝), family and work words, and more kanji that combine parts you already know. Mnemonics start to pay off here, because you can build stories out of familiar pieces.
What changes at N3
N3 is where look-alikes multiply: 待 and 持, 未 and 末, 険 and 検. Two habits help:
- Learn look-alikes side by side, and make the difference the centre of the story.
- Learn the components so a new kanji looks like a combination, not a new shape.
Pace
Ten new kanji a day gets you from N5 to N3 in about two months on paper. Real life has bad weeks, so four to six months is a realistic target alongside grammar and vocabulary.
Using the app
Kanji Mnemonics is organised by JLPT level. Use the two-way quiz: keyword to kanji is harder than kanji to keyword, and it is the one that exposes the look-alikes.
Questions people ask
- How many kanji for N3?
- Unofficial lists put N3 at about 650 kanji in total, including N5 and N4.
- Is N3 a big jump from N4?
- Yes, for kanji it's the largest jump in the lower levels. Plan for several months.
Kanji Mnemonics
Picture-book mnemonics for every JLPT kanji, N5 to N1, with a Today's Kanji widget.
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