Japanese Kanji Meaning List: 140+ Commonly Used Chart

Japanese Kanji meaning list of 140+ most commonly used characters to boost your reading and writing skills fast. This complete chart from Mizii includes meanings, readings, and example words, making it perfect for JLPT preparation and everyday Japanese learning.

Japanese Kanji Meaning List: 140+ Commonly Used Chart

What Is Kanji?

Kanji (漢字) are logographic characters used in the Japanese writing system, originally borrowed from Chinese. Each Kanji has its own meaning and can represent an entire word or part of a word.

Modern Japanese writing combines Kanji with Hiragana and Katakana:

• Kanji: Represents meaning, often nouns, verbs, adjectives.
• Hiragana: Used for grammar endings and native Japanese words.
• Katakana: Used for foreign words and emphasis.

Kanji are essential for reading newspapers, novels, websites, and even street signs in Japan.

Why Learn Common Kanji First?

Japanese has over 50,000 Kanji, but most are rare. By focusing on the most common Kanji, you’ll:

• Understand up to 80% of everyday written Japanese.
• Pass beginner to intermediate JLPT levels faster.
• Build confidence for reading menus, signs, and basic texts.

The Kanji in this list are frequently used in textbooks, JLPT N5–N3 exams, and daily life, making them the perfect starting point.

To really understand Kanji, you need to know:

• On-yomi (音読み): The Chinese-based reading, often used in compound words.
• Kun-yomi (訓読み): The native Japanese reading, often used when the Kanji stands alone.
• Radicals: The smaller components that make up Kanji and hint at meaning or pronunciation.
• Stroke order: The correct sequence to write each character for better recall and legibility.

Example: 日

• On-yomi: ニチ (nichi), ジツ (jitsu)
• Kun-yomi: ひ (hi), か (ka)
• Meaning: Sun, day
• Example: 日本 (にほん / Nihon) – Japan

140+ Japanese Kanji Meaning List

Mazii_150 COMMONLY USED KANJI (PART 1).pdf

Mazii_150 COMMONLY USED KANJI (PART 2).pdf

Tips for Memorizing Kanji Meanings

Learning Kanji can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right approach and the right learning tools, you can make consistent, enjoyable progress. Below are proven strategies for remembering Kanji meanings more effectively, with practical ways to apply them using the Mazii app.

Use Mnemonics and Visual Stories

• Why it works: The brain stores visual and narrative information more easily than abstract symbols. By attaching a story or mental picture to a Kanji, you make it harder to forget.
• Example: For 木 (tree), imagine the long vertical stroke as the trunk and the shorter strokes as spreading branches.
• Mazii tip: When you look up a Kanji in Mazii, you can add your own personal mnemonic in the notes section or check if other learners have shared one. This way, your memory aid is always saved and easy to review.

Tips for Memorizing Kanji Meanings with Mazii

Practice Writing by Hand

• Why it works: Writing reinforces Kanji recognition through muscle memory. Even if you mostly type, physically writing Kanji helps solidify their shapes in your mind.
• Example routine: Write 日 (sun) 10 times while saying “hi, sun” aloud to connect meaning, reading, and form.
• Mazii tip: Each Kanji entry in Mazii shows a clear stroke order animation, so you can copy the correct sequence every time and avoid bad writing habits.

Learn Kanji in Context

• Why it works: Memorizing Kanji in isolation can make them hard to recall in real-life situations. Seeing them in words and sentences helps you understand how meanings shift.
• Example: Instead of just studying 食 (“eat”), learn 食べる (to eat), 食事 (meal), and 食堂 (cafeteria).
• Mazii tip: Mazii provides dozens of real example words and sentences for every Kanji, so you can instantly see how it’s used in different contexts.

Group Kanji by Theme or Radical

• Why it works: Studying related Kanji together makes it easier to see patterns and remember meanings.
• Example: Group 水 (water), 海 (sea), 泳 (swim), and 河 (river), all contain the water radical 氵.
• Mazii tip: In Mazii, you can search Kanji lists by radical or JLPT level. This makes it easy to create themed study sets like “nature,” “numbers,” or “time.”

Use Spaced Repetition Systems (SRS)

• Why it works: SRS shows you a Kanji right before you’re about to forget it, strengthening long-term memory while saving time.
• Example: Review new Kanji the next day, then after 3 days, then after a week, and so on.
• Mazii tip: Mazii’s built-in flashcard system uses SRS automatically, so you review harder Kanji more often and easy ones less frequently.

Link Kanji to Personal Experiences

• Why it works: Personal connections give Kanji stronger meaning and make them easier to recall.
• Example: 山 (mountain) could remind you of a hiking trip in Japan or a picture you saw of Mount Fuji.
• Mazii tip: Use the bookmark feature in Mazii to create your own “My Kanji” list with characters that have personal importance or appear in your hobbies.

Read a Little Every Day

• Why it works: Daily exposure trains your brain to recognize Kanji naturally over time.
• Example: Even 5 minutes of reading a manga chapter, a news headline, or a children’s story can reinforce Kanji recognition.
• Mazii tip: Mazii’s reading section lets you browse news articles and instantly tap any unfamiliar Kanji to see its meaning, reading, and example sentences.

Pro Tip: Don’t try to memorize all Kanji at once. Focus on 5–10 new Kanji a day, review them regularly, and celebrate small milestones to keep motivation high.

Mastering Kanji takes time, but the right tool makes it much easier. The Mazii app combines stroke order guides, example sentences, radicals, SRS flashcards, and even reading practice, all in one place. Whether you’re preparing for the JLPT or just learning for fun, Mazii gives you a complete Kanji study experience.

=> Visit the Mizii website or download the Mizii app from the App Store or Google Play today and start mastering Kanji the smart way!

>> Read more:

• 5 Best Japanese Vocab Apps for All Learners 2025
• 5 Best Japanese Vocabulary Books from Beginner to JLPT
• Japanese Vocabulary Games 2025: Best Ways to Learn

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many Kanji do I need to be fluent in Japanese?

Fluency typically requires knowing around 2,000–3,000 Kanji (the Jōyō Kanji list). However, with the most common 1,000, you can read most everyday materials.

2. What is the fastest way to memorize Kanji meanings?

Combine mnemonics, daily handwriting practice, and spaced repetition apps for the best retention.

3. Do I need to learn all the readings for each Kanji?

No. Start with the most common reading(s) you encounter in your study materials. You can learn rare readings later.

4. Which JLPT level covers the 140 Kanji in this list?

Most Kanji here are from JLPT N5 and N4, with a few from N3. They’re ideal for beginners and lower-intermediate learners.

5. Can I learn Kanji without learning Hiragana and Katakana first?

It’s possible, but not recommended. Hiragana and Katakana are the foundation of Japanese reading, and knowing them will make learning Kanji much easier.

Conclusion

Mastering Kanji is one of the most rewarding steps in learning Japanese, and starting with the most frequent characters will give you a strong foundation. This Japanese Kanji meaning list of 140+ essential characters is your ready-made roadmap to understanding signs, books, and conversations in Japanese.

By studying them regularly, especially with the help of tools like the Mazii app, you can move from recognition to confident reading much faster. Consistency is key, so review often, use them in context, and watch your Japanese skills grow day by day.