漢字: Japanese General Use Characters

This list contains about 2000 Kanji characters specified as "General Use Characters" by the educator in Japan, and is assigned to students from 1st to 6th grade and beyond. See "A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters" by Kenneth G. Henshall.

Help If you need help or information contact me at info@漢字.com (actually just info@xn--p8s937b.com for now)

76 First Grade Characters

NameMeaningPronStrokes
oneichi,itsu|hito-1
rightu,yuu|migi5
rainu|ame,ama-8
round,yenen|marui4
king,rulerō|4
soundon,in|oto,ne9
base,under,lowerka,ge|shita,shimo,moto,kudasaru/ru,sagaru,oriru3
fireka|hi4
flower,blossomka|hana7
learninggaku|manabu8
spiritki,ke|6
ninekyuu,ku|kokono-2
restkyuu|yasumu6
gold,money,metalkin,kon|kane,kana-8
sky,emptykuu|sora,kara,aku8
moon,monthgetsu,gatsu|tsuki4
dogken|inu4
look,see,showken|miru/seru/eru7
fivego|itsu-4
mouth,openingkō,ku|kuchi3
school,checkkō|10
leftsa|kidari5
threesan|mi-3
mountainsan|yama3
childshi,su|ko3
fourshi|yon,yo-5
threadshi|ito6
letter,symbolji|6
earji|mimi6
sevenshichi|nana-2
vehicle,chariotsha|kuruma7
handshu|te4
tenjuu|tō2
emerge,put outshutsu|deru,dasu5
womanjo,nyō,nyo|onna,me3
smallshō|ko-,o-,chiisai3
up,top,over,go upjō|ue,kami,uwa-,noboru,agaru/geru3
woodsshin|mori12
person,peoplejin,nin|hito2
watersui|mizu4
correct,propersei,shō|masa,tadashii/su5
life,birth,growsei,shō,nama|ikiru,umu/mareru,heeru5
blue,green,youngsei,shō|aoi8
eveningseki|yuu3
stone,rockseki,shaku|ishi5
redseki,shaku|akai7
thousandsen|chi3
riversen|kawa3
previous,precede,tipsen|saki6
early,prompt,fastsō|hayai6
leg,foot,sufficientsoku|ashi,tariru7
villageson|mura7
bigtai,dai|ōkii3
man,maledan,nan|otoko7
middle,inside,Chinachuu|naka4
insect,wormchuu|mushi6
town,blockchō|machi7
heaven,skyten|ama-4
rice fieldden|ta5
earth,soil,grounddo,to|tsuchi5
twoni|futa-2
sun,daynichi,jitsu|hi,-ka4
enter,put innyuu|hairu,ireru/ru2
yearnen|toshi6
whitehaku|shiroi5
eighthachi|ya-2
hundredhyaku|6
writing,textbun,mon|fumi4
tree,woodboku,moku|ki,ko-4
root,true,book,this,cylinder-counterhon|moto5
name,famemei,myō|na6
eye,ordinal suffixmoku,boku|me,ma-5
stand,rise,leaveritsu,ryuu|tatsu/teru5
strength,effortryoku,riki|chikara2
forestrin|hayashi8
sixroku|mu-4


145 Second Grade Characters

NameMeaningPronStrokes
pull,drawin|hiku4
cloudun|kumo12
distanten|tōi13
what?, how many?ka|nani,nan7
course,sectionka|9
summerka,ge|natsu10
house,specialistka,ke|ie,ya10
song,singka|uta,utau14
picture,strokega,kaku|8
turn,rotatekai|mawaru/su6
meetkai,e|au6
seakai|umi9
picturekai,e|12
shell,shellfish|kai7
outside,other,undogai,ge|soto,hoka,hasusu5
space,gapkan,ken|aida,ma12
facegan|kao18
steam,vaporki|7
account,chronicleki|10
returnki|kaeru10
cow,bullgyuu|ushi4
fishgyo|uo,sakana11
capitalkyō,kei|8
strongkyō,gō|tsuyoi11
teachkyō|oshieru11
jewel,ballgyoku|tama5
nearkin|chikai7
shape,patternkei,gyō|kata,katachi7
measurekei|hakaru9
origin,sourcegen,gan|moto4
plain,origingen|hara10
doorko|to4
oldko|furui5
noongo|4
behind,after,delaygo,kō|ushiro,ato,nochi,okuretu9
tell,speak,talkgo|kataru14
workkō,ku|3
wide,spaciouskō|hiroi/geru5
mix,exchangekō|majiru,kawasu6
light,shinekō|hikaru,hikari6
considerkō|kangaeru6
go,conduct,columnkō,gyō,an|iku,yuku6
tall,high,sumkō|taka,takai10
yellowkō,ō|kiiro11
meet,join,fitgō,katsu|au/waseru6
valley,gorgekoku|tani,ya7
country,regionkoku|kuni8
blackkoku|kuroi11
nowkon,kin|ima4
talent,year of agesai|3
makesaku,sa|tsukuru3
reckon,countsan|14
stopshi|tomeru/maru14
city,marketshi|ichi5
thinkshi|omou9
papershi|kami10
templeji|tera6
selfji,shi|misukara6
time,hourji|toki10
room,houseshitsu|muro9
shrinesha|yashiro7
weakjaku|yowai10
head,neck,chiefshu|kubi9
autumnshuu|aki9
springshun|haru9
writesho|kaku10
few,a littleshō|sukoshi,sukunai4
placejō|ba12
color,sensualityshoku,shiki|iro6
food,eatshoku|taberu,kuu9
heart,feelingsshin|kokoro4
newshin|atarashii,arata13
intimate,parentshin|shitashii,oya16
plan,diagramzu,to|hakaru7
number,countsuu,su|kazu,kazoreu13
西westsei,sai|nishi6
voicesei,shō|koe7
starsei,shō|hoshi9
clear,brightsei|hareru12
cutsetsu,sai|kiru4
snowsetsu|yuki11
boat,shipsen|fune,funa-11
before,frontzen|mae9
group,assembleso|kumi,kumu11
runsō|hashiru7
grass,plantsō|kusa9
manyta|ōi6
fat,bigtai,ta|futoi/ru4
bodytai,tei|karada7
stand,platformdai,tai|5
ground,landchi,ji|6
pond,lakechi|ike6
knowchi|shiru8
bamboochiku|take6
tea,annoycha,sa|9
noon,daytimechuu|hiru9
long,seniorchō|nagai8
birdchō|tori11
morning,courtchō|asa12
pass,way,commutetsuu|tōru/su,kayou10
younger brothertei,dai,de|otōto7
store,premisesten|mise,tana8
point,markten|9
electricityden|13
swordtō|katana2
wintertō|fuyu5
apply,hit mark,appropriate,thistō|ataru/teru6
easttō|higashi8
answertō|kotaeru12
head,top,starttō,zu|atama,kashira16
samedō|onaji6
way,roaddō,tō|michi12
readdoku,toku|yomu14
southnan|minami9
horseba|uma,ma10
sellbai|uru/reru7
buybai|kau12
barley,wheatbaku|mugi7
half,middlehan|nakaba5
turn,number,guardban|12
fatherfu,chichi|4
wind,stylefuu,kaze|9
divide,minute,understandbun,fun,bu|wakaru/keru4
hear,ask,listenbun,mon|kiku/koeru14
rice,Americabei,mai|kome6
walkho|aruku,ayumu8
motherbo|haha5
side way,square,direction,personhō|kata4
north,fleehoku,boku|kita5
each,everymai|-goto6
younger sistermai|imōto8
clear,open,brightmei,myō|akarui,akeru8
non-human crymei|naku/ru14
hairmō|ke4
gate,doormō|kado8
nightya|yo,yoru8
moor,wildya|no11
friendyuu|tomo4
useyō|mochiiru5
day of weekyō|18
comerai|kuru7
pleasure,musicraku,gaku|tanoshii/shimu13
village,leagueri|sato7
reason,rationalri|11
speech,talkwa|hanashi,hanasu13


195 Third Grade Characters

NameMeaningPronStrokes
bad,hateaku,o|warui11
restful,ease,cheapan|yasui/maru6
dark,gloomyan|kurai13
heal,medicali|iyasu7
mind,thought,willi|13
raise,educateiku|sodatsu/teru8
member,officialin|10
institutein|10
drink,swallowin|nomu12
transport,luck,moveun|hakobu12
swimei|oyogu8
stationeki|14
garden,parken|sono13
side,crosswaysō|yoko15
store,buildingoku|ya9
warmon|atatakai/meru12
change,bewitchka,ke|bakeru4
load,burdenka|ni10
area,boundarykai|9
openkai|hiraku,akeru12
story,grade,stepkai|12
horn,angle,cornerkaku|tsuno,kado7
activity,lifekatsu|9
coldkan|samui12
feelingkan|13
large,building,hallkan|16
bank,shoregan|kishi8
rock,craggan|iwa8
arise,causeki|okiru/koru/kosu10
period,expectki,go|12
guest,visitorkyaku,kaku|9
investigate,extremekyuu|kiwameru7
hurry,suddenkyuu|isogu9
rank,gradekyuu|9
palace,shrine,princekyuu,guu,ku|miya10
sphere,ballkyuu|tama11
go,leave,pastkyo,ko|saru5
bridgekyō|hashi16
profession,deed,karmagyō,gō|waza13
bend,melodykyoku|mageru/geru6
office,section,end,circumstanceskyoku|7
silvergin|shirogane14
painful,bitterku|kurushii/shimu,migai8
equip(ment),meansgu|sonaeru8
lord,you,Mrkun|kimi7
elder brotherkei,kyō|ani5
involvementkei|kakari9
light,flippantkei|karui12
bloodketsu|chi6
decide,settle,collapseketsu|kimaru/meru7
hone,refineken|togu9
prefectureken|9
word,say,speakgen,gon|koto,iu7
storehouseko|10
lakeko|mizuumi12
public,fair,lordkō|ōyake4
facetowards,beyondkō|muku/keru/kō/kau6
happiness,luckkō|saiwai,shiawase,sachi8
harbor,portkō|minato12
number,call,signgō|5
root,basekon|ne10
festival,worshipsai|matsuru,matsuri11
slender,finesai|hosoi,komakai11
serve,work,doshi,ji|tsukaeru5
deathshi|shinu6
使use,servantshi|tsukau8
begin,firstshi|hajimeru/maru8
finger,pointshi|yubi,sasu9
toothshi|ha12
poetryshi|13
next,followji,shi|tsugi,tsugu6
thing,matter,actji,zu|koto8
hold,have,maintainji|motsu9
ceremony,formshiki|6
(bear) fruit,truth,realityjitsu|mi,minoru8
copy,transcribesha|utsusu/ru5
personsha|mono8
master,owner,mainshu|nushi,omo5
protect,keepshu,su|memoru6
take,controlshu|toru8
alcohol,sakeshu|sake,saka-10
receiveju|ukeru8
province,sandbankshuu|su6
pick up,gather,tenshuu,juu|hirou9
finishshuu|owaru/eru11
learn,trainshuu|narau11
weekshuu|11
gather,collectshuu|atsumeru/maru12
reside,livejuu|sumu7
heavy,pile,-foldjuu,chō|kasaneru/naru9
place,situationsho|tokoro8
hot (weather)sho|atsui12
assist,helpjo|tasukeru/karu7
bright,lightshō|9
extinguish,vanish,consumeshō|kesu,kieru10
trade,deal,sell,Shang Chineshō|akinau11
badge,chaptershō|11
win,surpassshō|katsu,masaru12
ride,mount,loadjō|noru/seru9
plantshoku|ueru12
say,expoundshin|mōsu5
bodyshin|mi7
god,spiritshin,jin|kami9
deep,deepenshin|fukai/meru11
advanceshin|susumu/meru11
world,generationsei,se|yo5
arrangesei|totonou/eru16
linesen|15
whole,complete(ly)zen|mattaku6
sendsō|okuru9
breath,rest,childsoku|iki10
clan,familyzoku|11
otherta|hoka5
hit,strikeda|utsu5
oppose,against,pairtai,tsui|7
waittai|matsu9
replace,world,generation,feedai,tai|kawaru/eru,yo5
grade,orderdai|11
subject,titledai|18
charcoal,coaltan|sumi9
shorttan|mijikai12
arrive,wearchaku|tsuku,kiru12
pour,notechuu|sosogu8
column,pillarchuu|hashira9
block,exactchō,tei|2
register,drapechō|11
調adjust,investigate,tone,tunechō|shiraberu,totonoeru15
direct,upright,fixchoku,jiki|naoru/su,sugu,tadachi8
chase,pursuetsui|ou9
fix,establishtei,jō|sadameru8
garden,courtyardtei|niwa10
iron,steeltetsu|kurogane13
rotate,roll,tumbleten|torogeru/garu/gasu/bu11
capital,metropolisto,tsu|miyako11
degree,timesdo,taku|tabi9
throw,casttō|negeru7
islandtō|shima10
hot watertō|yu12
climbtō,to|noboru12
class,equal,etceteratō|hitoshii,nado12
movedō|ugoku/kasu11
childdō|warabe12
insidenai,dai|uchi4
meat,fleshniku|6
farmingnō|13
waveha|nami8
distributehai|kubaru10
(dry-)field|hata,hatake9
discharge,start,leavehatsu,hotsu|9
oppose,anti,reverse,bend,cloth,measurehan,tan|soru/rasu4
slopehan|saka7
board,platehan,ban|ita8
skin,leatherhi|kawa5
sadhi|kanashii/shimu12
beautiful,finebi|utsukushii9
nosebi|hana14
icehyō|kōri5
show,surface,listhyō|arawasu,omote8
second (of time)byō|9
illnessbyō,hei|yamu,yamai10
goods,quality,kindhin|shina9
defeat,bearfu|makeru/kasu,ou9
part,section,clanbu,be|11
clothes,yield,servefuku|8
good fortunefuku|13
thingbutsu,motsu|mono8
flat,even,calmhei,byō|taira,hiratai5
returnhen|kaesu/ru7
striveben|10
release,emithō|hanasu/tsu8
ten thousand,myriadman,ban|3
taste,relishmi|aji,ajiwau8
life,ordermei,myō|inochi8
face,aspect,maskmen|omote,omo,tsura9
askmon|tou11
role,service,dutyyaku,eki|7
medicine,drugyaku|kusuri16
reason,means,wayyu,yuu|yoshi5
oilyu|abura8
have,existyuu,u|aru6
play,relaxyuu,yu|asobu12
already,prior,Iyo|kanete4
ocean,westernyō|9
leafyō|ha12
sunny,male,positiveyō|hi12
situation,appearance,way,polite suffixyō|sama,zama14
fall,dropraku|ochiru/tosu12
flow,streamryuu,ru|nagareru/su10
journeyryo|tabi10
both,pair,coinryō|6
greenryoku,roku|midori14
propriety,bowrei|5
row,lineretsu|6
road,routero|ji13
peace,soft,Japanwa,o|yawaragu,nagoyaka8


195 Fourth Grade Characters

NameMeaningPronStrokes
loveai|13
plan,concern,tablean|10
starting point,means,use,through,becausei|motte5
clothingi|koromo6
rank,extenti|kurai7
surroundi|kakomu/u7
entrusti|yudaneru8
stomachi|9
seal,sign,symbolin|shirushi6
superior,Englandei|8
glory,flourish,shineei|sakaeru,haeru9
salten|shio13
centerō|5
hundred millionoku|15
add,joinka|kawaeru/waru5
goods,moneyka|11
section,lesson,levyka|15
bud,sprout,shootga|me8
reformkai|aratameru/maru7
devicekai|10
harm,damagegai|10
eachkaku|ono-ono6
remember,wakekaku|oboeru,sameru/masu12
completekan|7
government,officialkan|8
Han China,mankan|13
pipe,controlkan|kuda14
barrier,connectionkan|seki14
watch,observekan|18
request,wishgan|negau19
desire,scanty,rareki,ke|7
season,youngki|8
chronicle,startki|9
rejoice,happyki|yorokobu12
flagki|hata14
vessel,utensil,skillki|utsuwa15
loom,device,occasionki|hata16
discussiongi|20
request,seekkyuu|motomeru7
rescue,redeemkyuu|sukuu11
supply,bestowkyuu|tamau12
offer,raise,act,perform,togetherkyo|ageru,kozotte10
fishinggyo,ryō|14
togetherkyō|tomo6
cooperatekyō|8
mirrorkyō|kagami19
compete,bidkyō,kei|kisou,seru20
extreme,polekyoku,goku|kiwameru12
ward,sectionku|4
army,militarygun|9
county,districtgun|kōri10
type,model,moldkei|kata9
scene,view,brightkei,ke|12
art,skill,plantgei|7
lackketsu|kaku/keru4
bind,join,endketsu|musubu,yuu12
build,erectken,kon|tatsu/teru9
healthyken|sukoyaka11
examineken|18
hard,firm,solidko|katai/meru/maru8
merit,servicekō,ku|5
weather,sign,ask,polite suffix,servekō|sōrō10
sail,voyagekō|10
peace,healthkō|11
proclaim,informkoku|tsugeru7
difference,thrustsa|sasu10
vegetable,rapesai|ne11
most,-estsai|mottomo12
timber,resourcezai|7
yesterday,pastsaku|9
print,rubsatsu|suru8
killsatsu,setsu|korosu10
judge,surmise,realisesatsu|14
attend,go,be in love,be at loss,threesan|mairu8
birth,producesan|umu11
scattersan|chiru/rasu12
leave,cruel,harmzan|nokoru/su10
warrior,scholar,manshi|samurai3
clan,family,Mrshi|uji4
history,chroniclershi|5
administer,officialshi|tsukasadoru5
elder sistershi|ane8
trial,testshi|kokoromiru,tamesu13
word,decline,leaveji|yameru13
loseshitsu|ushinau5
borrow,rentshaku|kariru10
seed,kindshu|tane14
circumference,aroundshuu|mawari8
宿lodge,shelter,houseshuku|yado,yadoru11
sequence,compliancejun|12
beginning,firstsho|hatsu-,hajime7
recite,preachshō|tonaeru11
burn,roastshō|yaku/keru12
illuminate,shineshō|teru/rasu13
prize,praiseshō|15
retainer,subjectshin,jin|7
trust,believeshin|9
true,quintessenceshin|ma10
become,make,consistsei,jō|naru/su6
ministry,omit,examinesei,shō|habuku,kaerimiru9
pure,cleansei,shō|kiyoi/meru11
power,forcesei|ikioi13
quiet,calmsei,jō|shizuka/maru14
seat,placeseki|10
product,pileseki|tsumu/moru16
bend,break,occasionsetsu|ori,oru/reru7
section,joint,period,point,tune,restrainsetsu,sechi|fushi13
preach,explainsetsu|toku14
shallow,lightsen|asai9
fight,warsen|tatakau,ikusa13
choosesen|erabu,yoru15
duly,thus,so,butzen,nen|shikaru/shi12
conflict,viesō|arasou6
mutual,minister,aspectsō,shō|ai-9
warehouse,suddensō|kura10
idea,thoughtsō,so|13
elephant,imagezō,shō|12
speed,fastsoku|hayai,sumiyaka10
sidesoku|kawa,gawa,soba11
continue,serieszoku|tsuzuku/keru13
soldier,endsotsu|8
descendants,grandchildrenson|mago10
belt,obi,wear,zonetai|obi,obiru10
corps,unittai|12
attain,plural suffixtatsu|-tachi12
simple,single,unittan|9
conversation,talkdan|15
govern,rule,curechi,ji|osameru,naosu8
put,placechi|oku13
store,savecho|takuwareu12
intestine(s)chō|harawata13
lowtei|hikui7
bottom,basetei|soko8
stoptei|11
target,-like,adjectival suffixteki|mato8
code,rule,precedentten|nori8
convey,transmitden|tsutaeru/waru6
follower,futilityto|ada,itazura10
endeavor,trydo|tsutomeru7
light,lamptō|hi6
hall,templedō|11
workdō|hataraku13
poisondoku|8
heatnetsu|atsui15
thought,concernnen|8
defeathai|yabureru11
double,-foldbai|10
extensive,spread,gain,gamblehaku,baku|12
cooked rice,foodhan|meshi12
flyhi|tobu9
spendhi|tsuiyasu12
necessarilyhitsu|kanarazu5
writing brushhitsu|fude12
vote,label,signhyō|11
sign(post),markhyō|shirushi15
not,un-,dis-fu,bu|4
husband,manfu,fuu|otto4
attach,applyfu|tsuku/keru5
government center,urban prefecturefu|8
deputy,vice-,sub-fuku|11
powderfun|kona,ko10
soldierhei,hyō|7
diverge,split,differ,specialbetsu|wakareru7
vicinity,boundaryhen|atari,be5
change,strangehen|kaeru/waru9
便convenience,service,mailben,bin|tayori9
wrap,envelophō|tsutsumu5
lawhō,hatsu|8
wish,hope,gazebō,mō|nozomu11
pastureboku|maki8