How these lists work
Each list holds the kanji normally studied at that level, ordered roughly by how common the character is. The five levels are mutually exclusive: a kanji appears on exactly one list — the level where it is usually first learned — so you can work through them from N5 to N1 without repeats. Meanings and stroke counts come from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary, and every kanji links to a full animated stroke-order guide.
Open a level to see the whole list, print an A4 checklist to track your progress, or send a level to the practice-sheet maker or flashcard maker to study it by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Does the JLPT have an official kanji list?
No. The Japan Foundation and JEES stopped publishing official vocabulary and kanji lists after the test was revised in 2010. The lists here are widely used, community-standard study lists — treat them as a very good guide to what each level expects, not an official syllabus.
How many kanji are in each JLPT level?
On these lists there are N5 80, N4 167, N3 367, N2 367, N1 985 kanji, 1,966 in total. The levels are made mutually exclusive, so each kanji appears on exactly one list — the level at which it is normally first studied.
Why does N1 have fewer kanji than some other lists show?
This N1 list only includes jōyō ("regular-use") kanji — the 2,136 characters taught in Japanese schools. Some N1 word lists also count jinmeiyō (name) kanji and other non-jōyō characters; those are left out here so every entry links to a full stroke-order guide.
How should I use these lists?
Open a level to see the whole list with meanings and stroke counts. Tap any kanji for an animated stroke-order guide, print an A4 checklist to track what you know, or send N5/N4 straight to the practice-sheet maker to write them by hand.
Related tools
- Kanji Stroke Order — animated writing guides for all 2,136 jōyō kanji and every kana.
- Kanji Practice Sheets — printable tracing worksheets, with built-in N5 and N4 pickers.
- Flashcard Maker — print two-sided study cards; load any JLPT level in one click.