JLPT N2 Kanji List with Readings — 64 Cards
N2 covers the Japanese used in newspapers, workplaces and a wide range of everyday settings. It is the level many companies and universities in Japan ask for. This kanji list is made for upper-intermediate learners aiming to study or work in Japanese.
Below are 64 JLPT N2 kanji study entries, including 認（ニン／みと-める）, 識（シキ）, 念（ネン）, 象（ショウ／ゾウ）. Kanji with their readings, meanings and the common words that use them.
How to use this list
- Learn each kanji together with the words it appears in, not as an isolated character.
- Note both the on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese) readings, and which one a compound uses.
- Practise writing the strokes in the correct order — it helps you recognise and remember the shape.
JLPT N2 kanji — full list
| Kanji / word | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| 認（ニン／みと-める） | recognise, acknowledge — 確認, 認める |
| 識（シキ） | discern, awareness — 知識, 意識, 常識 |
| 念（ネン） | thought, attention — 残念, 記念 |
| 象（ショウ／ゾウ） | phenomenon (elephant) — 現象, 印象, 対象 |
| 観（カン） | view, outlook — 観察, 観光, 価値観 |
| 論（ロン） | argument, theory — 理論, 議論, 結論 |
| 想（ソウ） | idea, imagine — 想像, 予想, 感想 |
| 性（セイ／ショウ） | nature, quality (-ity) — 性格, 可能性 |
| 態（タイ） | condition, state — 態度, 状態, 事態 |
| 概（ガイ） | general, outline — 概念, 概要 |
| 政（セイ） | government, politics — 政治, 政府 |
| 済（サイ／す-む） | finish, settle — 経済, 返済, 済む |
| 権（ケン） | authority, right — 権利, 人権, 政権 |
| 制（セイ） | system, control — 制度, 制限, 規制 |
| 律（リツ） | law, rhythm — 法律, 規律 |
| 税（ゼイ） | tax — 税金, 消費税 |
| 輸（ユ） | transport — 輸出, 輸入, 輸送 |
| 費（ヒ／つい-やす） | expense — 費用, 消費, 交通費 |
| 財（ザイ／サイ） | wealth, property — 財産, 財政, 財布 |
| 貿（ボウ） | trade — 貿易 |
| 環（カン） | ring, loop — 環境, 循環 |
| 境（キョウ／さかい） | boundary — 環境, 国境, 境界 |
| 源（ゲン／みなもと） | source — 資源, 起源 |
| 素（ソ／ス） | element, raw — 要素, 素材, 水素 |
| 技（ギ／わざ） | skill — 技術, 演技 |
| 術（ジュツ） | technique, art — 技術, 手術, 芸術 |
| 機（キ） | machine, opportunity — 機械, 機会, 危機 |
| 械（カイ） | machine — 機械 |
| 検（ケン） | examine — 検査, 点検, 検討 |
| 験（ケン／ゲン） | test, effect — 実験, 経験, 試験 |
| 責（セキ／せ-める） | responsibility, blame — 責任, 責める |
| 任（ニン／まか-せる） | duty, entrust — 責任, 任せる, 就任 |
| 務（ム／つと-める） | duty, serve — 義務, 勤務, 事務 |
| 判（ハン／バン） | judge — 判断, 裁判, 評判 |
| 断（ダン／こと-わる） | decide, refuse — 判断, 決断, 断る |
| 導（ドウ／みちび-く） | guide, lead — 指導, 導入, 導く |
| 営（エイ／いとな-む） | manage, operate — 経営, 営業, 運営 |
| 較（カク） | compare — 比較 |
| 供（キョウ／そな-える） | offer, provide — 提供, 供給, 子供 |
| 効（コウ／き-く） | effect — 効果, 有効, 効く |
| 言 (ごんべん) | speech radical: 語・述・訳・詳・誌・説・議・論 |
| 翻訳 vs 通訳 | ほんやく (written translation) vs つうやく (spoken interpretation) |
| 誌 vs 紙 | both シ: 雑誌 (magazine, 言) vs 新聞紙 (newsprint, 糸) |
| 複 vs 復 | both フク: 複数 (multiple, 衣) vs 復習 (review, 彳) |
| 前述のとおり | as stated above — pure written register |
| 〜を示している | indicates that ~ — a workhorse of N2 reading |
| 省略 (しょうりゃく) | omission / abbreviation. 以下省略 = the rest is omitted |
| 増加 / 減少 | ぞうか / げんしょう — the two most common verbs in N2 data passages |
| 〜傾向にある | is trending toward: 減少傾向にある |
| 以上 vs 未満 | 18歳以上 includes 18 / 18歳未満 excludes it |
| 過程 vs 課程 | both かてい: process (成長過程) vs curriculum (博士課程) |
| 保障/保証/補償 | all ほしょう: safeguarding / guarantee / compensation |
| 悩む / 悩み | なやむ (to worry, agonise) / なやみ (a worry, noun). 苦悩 = anguish. |
| 慎重 / 誇り | しんちょう (careful, cautious) / ほこり (pride). 誇 shares the 言 radical. |
| 怒・喜・驚・恐 | the four "big reaction" kanji: anger, joy, surprise, fear |
| 怒る vs 起こる | both おこる: 怒る = to get angry; 起こる = to occur/happen. Classic confusion pair. |
| 忄 / 心 (heart radical) | left-side 忄 (悩,慎,快,忙,情) or bottom 心 (怒,恐,忘,思,念,愛) — marks emotion kanji |
| 恐れる vs 恐ろしい | おそれる (verb, to fear — who feels it) vs おそろしい (adjective, frightening — what causes it) |
| 汚染 (おせん) | pollution — 大気汚染, 水質汚染. 汚 (dirty, 氵+于) + 染 (be tainted, 氵). 汚職 = corruption |
| 廃棄 (はいき) / 廃棄物 | disposal / waste matter. 廃 = fall into disuse (广), 棄 = throw away. 産業廃棄物, 廃止 = abolition, 放棄 = abandonment |
| 排出 vs 廃棄 | はいしゅつ = emit (排, 扌 hand — push out) vs はいき = discard (廃, 广 roof). Different words, but 排/廃 share the on-reading ハイ — and watch out, 排気(はいき, exhaust) and 廃棄(はいき, disposal) really are homophones |
| 絶滅 (ぜつめつ) | extinction. 絶滅危惧種 = endangered species. 滅びる = to perish. 滅 (total loss) vs 減 (ゲン, partial decrease) |
| 保護 / 保存 / 維持 | ほご (protect) / ほぞん (preserve) / いじ (maintain) — the three "keep it going" verbs. 護 also: 弁護, 看護 |
| 感染 vs 伝染 | かんせん = getting infected (you receive it) vs でんせん = contagion (spreads one to another). 伝染病 = a contagious disease |
Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N2 kanji quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 知識 means?
- Consciousness
- Knowledge
- Common sense
- Awareness
Show answer
Answer: Knowledge
知識（ちしき）= knowledge. 識 = discern/awareness. 意識 = consciousness; 常識 = common sense.
2. 印象 means?
- Impression
- Phenomenon
- Target
- Elephant
Show answer
Answer: Impression
印象（いんしょう）= impression. 象 = phenomenon (ショウ). 現象 = phenomenon; 対象 = target.
3. 可能性 means?
- Personality
- Possibility
- Property
- Ability
Show answer
Answer: Possibility
可能性（かのうせい）= possibility. The 性 suffix makes abstract nouns (like "-ity"). 性格 = personality.
4. How do you read 経済?
- けいえい (keiei)
- けいざい (keizai)
- けいけん (keiken)
- けいさつ (keisatsu)
Show answer
Answer: けいざい (keizai)
経済（けいざい）= economy. 済 = サイ/す-む (settle/finish).
5. 人権 means?
- Population
- Human rights
- Administration
- Personnel
Show answer
Answer: Human rights
人権（じんけん）= human rights. 権 = authority/right. 権利 = right(s); 政権 = administration.
6. 輸出 means?
- Import
- Transport
- Export
- Trade
Show answer
Answer: Export
輸出（ゆしゅつ）= export (輸 transport + 出 out). 輸入 = import (入 in).
Study JLPT N2 kanji in the free app
A Star Japanese turns this list into lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes and listening practice with real Japanese voices — plus timed JLPT N2 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N2 kanji list?
There is no single official kanji list for the JLPT, so this is a study list built from the A Star Japanese JLPT N2 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N2 kanji?
Learn each kanji together with the words it appears in, not as an isolated character. Note both the on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese) readings, and which one a compound uses. Practise writing the strokes in the correct order — it helps you recognise and remember the shape.
How can I practise JLPT N2 kanji for free?
Download A Star Japanese for free on iPhone or Android. It has lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes, listening practice with real Japanese voices and timed JLPT mock exams — with no ads.