JLPT N3 Kanji List with Readings — 98 Cards
N3 is the bridge between basic and advanced Japanese. It covers a wider range of vocabulary, kanji and grammar so you can follow everyday situations at close to natural speed. This kanji list is made for intermediate learners moving from textbook Japanese toward real-world Japanese.
Below are 98 JLPT N3 kanji study entries, including 急ぐ, 急行, 始まる, 始める. 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 N3 kanji — full list
| Kanji / word | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| 急ぐ | いそぐ — to hurry |
| 急行 | きゅうこう — express train |
| 始まる | はじまる — it begins (intransitive) |
| 始める | はじめる — to start it (transitive) |
| 続く | つづく — to continue |
| 終わる | おわる — to end |
| 終電 | しゅうでん — last train of the night |
| 変わる | かわる — to change |
| 変な | へんな — strange / weird |
| 試す | ためす — to try / test |
| 会社 | かいしゃ — company |
| 会議 | かいぎ — meeting |
| 社会 | しゃかい — society |
| 世界 | せかい — world |
| 世話 | せわ — care / looking after |
| 医者 | いしゃ — doctor |
| 社員 | しゃいん — company employee |
| 経験 | けいけん — experience |
| 経済 | けいざい — economy |
| 政府 | せいふ — government |
| 空 | そら — sky / empty |
| 海 | うみ — sea / ocean |
| 海外 | かいがい — overseas |
| 島 | しま — island |
| 森 | もり — forest (large) |
| 林 | はやし — woods (small) |
| 風 | かぜ — wind |
| 雪 | ゆき — snow |
| 動物 | どうぶつ — animal |
| 森林浴 | しんりんよく — forest bathing |
| 今朝 | けさ — this morning |
| 今年 | ことし — this year |
| 週末 | weekend |
| 平日 | weekday |
| 当時 | at that time / back then |
| 夕焼け | sunset |
| 未来 | future (abstract) |
| 将来 | future (personal/career) |
| いつか | someday |
| 一日中 | all day |
| 時代 | era / period |
| 現代 | modern times |
| 期限 | deadline |
| 過去 | past |
| 現在 | present / now |
| 心 | こころ/シン — heart / mind / soul |
| 感謝 | かんしゃ — gratitude |
| 感動 | かんどう — deeply moved / touched |
| 笑顔 | えがお — smiling face |
| 好奇心 | こうきしん — curiosity |
| 恋愛 | れんあい — romantic love |
| 大好き | だいすき — love / really like |
| 悲しい | かなしい — sad |
| 怒る | おこる — to get angry |
| 愛情 | あいじょう — love / affection |
| 安心 | あんしん — peace of mind / relieved |
| 心理 | しんり — psychology |
| 感情 | かんじょう — emotion / feelings |
| 苦笑い | くわらい — wry smile / bitter laugh |
| 心強い | こころづよい — reassured / encouraged |
| 体 | からだ/タイ — body (体調, 体温) |
| 頭 | あたま/トウ — head (頭痛 = headache) |
| 顔 | かお — face (顔色 = complexion) |
| 病気 | びょうき — illness |
| 医者 | いしゃ — doctor (歯医者 = dentist) |
| 薬 | くすり — medicine (目薬 = eye drops) |
| 痛い | いたい — painful / it hurts |
| 熱 | ねつ — fever / heat |
| 元気 | げんき — healthy / energetic |
| 体調 | たいちょう — physical condition |
| 務める/勤める/努める | all つとめる: serve a role / be employed at / make an effort |
| 残業 / 営業 | ざんぎょう (overtime) / えいぎょう (sales, open for business) |
| 経営 / 経済 / 経験 | けいえい (management) / けいざい (economy) / けいけん (experience) |
| 担当者 | たんとうしゃ — the person in charge |
| 〜長 (ちょう) | head of: 社長, 部長, 課長, 校長, 駅長 |
| 報連相 | ほうれんそう — report/contact/consult (a pun on spinach) |
| 考える vs 思う | deliberate reasoning vs intuitive opinion |
| 判断 / 決定 / 決心 | judgement / settled outcome / personal resolve |
| 断る (ことわる) | to refuse, decline. お断りいたします |
| 選択 vs 洗濯 | both せんたく: choice (選) vs laundry (洗) |
| 予 (ヨ) | "beforehand": 予定, 予約, 予想, 予習, 予報 |
| ことにする/ことになる | I decided / it has been decided (the modest way to announce news) |
| 費 (ヒ) | cost/expense — 費用, 食費, 交通費, 学費 |
| 払う / 支払う | はらう — to pay. 前払い / 後払い = pay in advance / afterward |
| 得 vs 損 | gain/advantageous vs loss. お得 = a good deal; 損する = to lose out |
| 割引 vs 割合 | わりびき (discount) vs わりあい (ratio/proportion) — both from 割 |
| 料 vs 代 | 料 = a set service fee (料金, 手数料); 代 = a usage-based cost (電気代, 食事代) |
| 金額 | きんがく — a sum of money, an amount |
| 礼 (レイ) | courtesy, thanks — お礼, 失礼, 礼儀 |
| 祝 (シュク／いわ-う) | celebrate — 祝う, お祝い, 祝日 (national holiday) |
| 招 (ショウ／まね-く) | invite — 招待, 招待状. 招く also = to cause (誤解を招く) |
| 誘 (ユウ／さそ-う) | invite casually — 誘う, お誘い. vs 招待 (formal) |
| 約 (ヤク) | promise / about — 約束, 予約, 約三十分, 節約 |
| 束 (ソク／たば) | bundle — 約束, 花束, 束ねる |
| 頼 (ライ／たの-む) | rely / request — 頼む (ask), 頼る (rely on), 信頼, 依頼 |
| 仲 (チュウ／なか) | relationship — 仲間, 仲がいい, 仲直り (not 中 = inside) |
| 互 (ゴ／たが-い) | mutual — お互い, 互いに, 相互, 交互 |
| 許 (キョ／ゆる-す) | permit / forgive — 許す, 許可, 免許 (licence) |
Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N3 kanji quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 始まる vs 始める — which is "to start [something]"?
- 始まる
- Neither
- Both
- 始める
Show answer
Answer: 始める
始める (transitive) = someone starts it. 始まる (intransitive) = it begins on its own.
2. 急行 means?
- Emergency exit
- Hurried walk
- Express train
- First time
Show answer
Answer: Express train
急 (hurry) + 行 (go) = express train. Faster than local but slower than 新幹線.
3. How many trees make a 森?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Show answer
Answer: 3
Three trees 木 stacked = 森 (vast forest). 木 < 林 < 森.
4. 会社 means?
- Company
- Shrine meeting
- Society event
- Class trip
Show answer
Answer: Company
会 (meeting) + 社 (company) = the company. 社会 (reversed) = society.
5. 世話になりました means?
- Talk to me anytime
- I'm sorry
- Tell me about life
- Thank you for taking care of me
Show answer
Answer: Thank you for taking care of me
Essential phrase — said at end of jobs, internships, or anytime someone helped you.
6. 変だね！means?
- That's good!
- That's strange / weird!
- That's changed!
- That's big!
Show answer
Answer: That's strange / weird!
変だ = strange/weird. 変 has two meanings: change and strange. Both come from one root kanji!
Study JLPT N3 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 N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N3 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 N3 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N3 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 N3 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.