In this article, we will see a complete list of ideograms or Kanji from N4 used in the JLPT, the Japanese language proficiency test. A total of 167 Kanji organized by the number of strokes and with their kun and on readings.
We didn't include the romanized readings, especially since it doesn't make much sense to do that. If you are already studying N4, your minimum obligation is to know the readings of hiragana and katakana. Fortunately, we will also leave a simplified list with romaji.

Table of Contents
Does Kanji N4 have meanings?
First of all, we don't want you to get caught up in the idea that Japanese characters have meanings of their own. Most of the time they just convey a certain idea or concept according to the words in which they compose.
An ideogram alone will not convey the idea of absolutely anything, the meanings that you will see in this article are just some of the words and similar in which they compose. Get out of your head that ideograms have meanings!
There are exceptions where isolated ideograms are used literally as words such as in the case of kuchi [口] which means mouth, chikara [力] which means strength, inu [犬] which means dog and many other exceptions.
After all, most ideograms cannot have a single meaning, or they only convey the idea of the combination of other words. Most of the meanings you will see in this article are just the meaning of a common word composed with such an ideogram.
List ideograms and Kanji N4
The translation is done from English to Japanese and has several meanings in a single ideogram. This doesn't necessarily mean that this kanji means that, but that perhaps a compound word with that kanji has that meaning.
Japanese ideograms usually convey the idea of something, and it might not make sense to think of this idea in isolation. The translations may not be 100% accurate, and if you want to dig deeper, we recommend jisho.
Traits | Kanji | Meaning | Kun | On |
2 | Strength | power, strength, strong, tension, endure, exert | power | リョク、 リキ、 リイ |
3 | Mouth | mouth | mouth | コウ、 ク |
3 | The string "工" translates to "work" or "craft" in English. | craftsmanship, construction, katakana and radical (n. 48) | コウ、 ク、 グ | |
3 | Evening | afternoon | Yū | セキ |
4 | Cow | cow | cow | Gyu |
4 | Dog | dog | dog, dog- | ケン |
4 | Yuan | beginning, formerly, origin | もと | ゲン、 ガン |
4 | Official | public, prince, official, governmental | public | コウ、 ク |
4 | Stop | stop, stop | と.まる、 -ど.まり、 と.める、 -と.める、 -ど.め、 とど.める、 とど.め、とど.まる、 や.める、 や.む、 -や.む、 よ.す、 -さ.す、 -さ.し | シ |
4 | hand | hand | The provided text appears to consist of Japanese characters and does not contain any translatable content from Portuguese to English. Therefore, it remains unchanged: て、 て-、 -て、た- | シュ、 ズ |
4 | small | few, little | すく.ない、 すこ.し | ショウ |
4 | Heart | heart, mind, spirit, radical heart (n. 61) | こころ、 -ごころ | シン |
4 | cut | cut, cut, be sharp | き.る、 -き.る、き.り、 -き.り、 -ぎ.り、 き.れる、 -き.れる、 き.れ、 -き.れ、 -ぎ.れ | セツ、 サイ |
4 | No | negative, not-, bad, ugly, clumsy | フ、 ブ | |
4 | Sentence | sentence, literature, style, art, decoration, figures, plan, literary radical (nº 67) | ふみ、 あや | ブン、 モン |
4 | 方 | direction, person, alternative | かた、 -かた、 -がた | ホウ |
5 | This string translates to "to" or "for" in English depending on context, but as it's a single character, it remains "以". | through, because, in light of, compared to | motte | イ |
5 | Go | was, past, leave, leave, take place, eliminate, divorce | さ.る、 -さ.る | キョ、 コ |
5 | Brother | older brother | ani | ケイ、 キョウ |
5 | Old | old | ふる.い、 ふる-、 -ふる.す | コ |
5 | Wide | wide, spacious, spacious | ひろ.い、 ひろ.まる、 ひろ.める、 ひろ.がる、 ひろ.げる | コウ |
5 | The string provided consists of a single Japanese character, which does not translate into English. It is usually associated with meanings related to "to serve" or "work." If you have additional context or other strings that need translation, please provide them! | participate, make, official, serve | use.ble | シ、 ジ |
5 | Write | copy, be photographed, describe | うつ.す、 うつ.る、 うつ-、 うつ.し | シャ、 ジャ |
5 | Master | lord, chief, master, main thing, main | ぬし、 おも、 あるじ | シュ、 ス、 シュウ |
5 | Correct | correct, justice, fair, 10 ** 40 | ただ.しい、 ただ.す、 まさ、 まさ.に | セイ、 ショウ |
5 | world | generation, world, society, audience | yo | セイ、 セ、 ソウ |
5 | Generation | replace, change, convert, substitute, period, age, counter for decades, eras, etc., generation, charge, fee, rate | か.わる、 かわ.る、 かわ.り、 か.わり、 -がわ.り、 -が.わり、 か.える、よ、 しろ | ダイ、 タイ |
5 | Platform | pedestal, , counter for machines and vehicles | うてな、 われ、 つかさ | ダイ、 タイ |
5 | Field | rice field, paddy rice | ta | デン |
5 | Winter | winter | winter | トウ |
5 | eye | eye, class, gaze, insight, experience, care, please | The input appears to consist of Japanese kana characters, which do not require translation as they are already in their intended form. Therefore, the translation remains: め、 -め、 ま- | モク、 ボク |
5 | Use | utilize, business, service, use, employ | mochi. iru | ヨウ |
5 | Stand | lift, lift, mount, lift | た.つ、 -た.つ、た.ち-、 た.てる、 -た.てる、 た.て-、たて-、 -た.て、 -だ.て、 -だ.てる | リツ、 リュウ、リットル |
6 | Peace | relax, cheap, low, calm, rested, content, peaceful | やす.い、 やす.まる、 やす、 やす.らか | アン |
6 | Meeting | meeting, know, party, association, interview, participate | あ.う、 あ.わせる、 あつ.まる | カイ、 エ |
6 | Thought | consider, think about | かんが.える、 かんが.え | コウ |
6 | Death | death die | し.ぬ、 し.に- | シ |
6 | Character | character, letter, word, village section | あざ、 あざな、 -な | ジ |
6 | self | yourself | みずか.ら、 おの.ずから、 おの.ずと | ジ、 シ |
6 | Color | cor | color | ショク、 シキ |
6 | Fast | early, fast | hayai, haya, haya-, hayamaru, hayameru, sa- | ソウ、 サッ |
6 | Many | many, frequent, very | おお.い、 まさ.に、 まさ.る | タ |
6 | Earth | earth, earth | チ、 ジ | |
6 | Same | same, agree, same | the same | ドウ |
6 | meat | meat | shishi | Meat |
6 | have | to possess, to have, to exist, to happen, to occur, approximately | あ.る | ユウ、 ウ |
7 | Medicine | doctor, medicine | い.やす、 い.する、 くすし | イ |
7 | flower | flower | flower | カ、 ケ |
7 | "究" translates to "Research" in English. However, since it is a single Japanese character, it can also represent concepts such as "study," "investigation," or "inquiry" depending on context. If you need it in a specific context, please provide more details. | research | to refine | キュウ、 ク |
7 | Close | close, early, similar, equivalent | Chikai. | キン、 コン |
7 | word | say word | い.う、 こと | ゲン、 ゴン |
7 | Create | make, produce, prepare, build | つく.る、 つく.り、 -づく.り | サク、 サ |
7 | I | private me | わたくし、 わたし | シ |
7 | 社 | company, enterprise, office, association, sanctuary | yashiro | シャ |
7 | Live | inhabit, reside, live, inhabit | す.む、 す.まう、 -ず.まい | ジュウ、 ヂュウ、チュウ |
7 | Figure | map, design, plan, extraordinary, audacious | え、 はか.る | ズ、 ト |
7 | red | red | あか、 あか-、 あか.い、 あか.らむ、あか.らめる | セキ、 シャク |
7 | Run | run | run | ソウ |
7 | Foot | leg, foot, to be enough, counter for pairs of shoes | あし、 た.りる、た.る、 た.す | ソク |
7 | body | body, substance, object, reality, image counter | からだ、 かたち | タイ、 テイ |
7 | town | city, village, block, street | town | チョウ |
7 | Younger brother | younger brother, faithful service to the elders | younger brother | テイ、 ダイ、 デ |
7 | sell | to sell | う.る、 う.れる | Bye |
7 | Separate | separate, branch out, diverge, fork, other, extra, especially | わか.れる、 わ.ける | Betsu |
8 | English | England, English, Hero, Excellent, Chalice | hanabusa | エイ |
8 | Drawing | brushstroke photo | えが.く、 かく.する、 かぎ.る、 はかりごと、 はか.る | ガ、 カク、 エ、カイ |
8 | Kyoto | capital, 10 ** 16 | みやこ | キョウ、 ケイ、 キン |
8 | sky | void, sky, void, vacant, void | そら、 あ.く、 あ.き、 あ.ける、 から、 す.く、 す.かす、 むな.しい | Ku |
8 | 始 | start, start | はじ.める、 -はじ.める、 はじ.まる | シ |
8 | 使 | use, send on a mission, order, messenger, envoy, ambassador, cause | つか.う、 つか.い、 -つか.い、 -づか.い | シ |
8 | sister | older sister | あね、 はは | シ |
8 | This input does not contain text that can be translated from Portuguese to English. However, "事" translates to "matter" or "thing" in English. If you have any further text requiring translation, feel free to share! | subject, thing, fact, business, reason, possibly | こと、 つか.う、つか.える | ジ、 ズ |
8 | person | someone person | thing | シャ |
8 | Blue | blue green | あお、 あお-、 あお.い | セイ、 ショウ |
8 | Know | you know wisdom | し.る、 し.らせる | チ |
8 | note | spill, irrigate, shed (tears), flow in, concentrate, notes, comment, jot down | そそ.ぐ、 さ.す、つ.ぐ | チュウ |
8 | store | shop, shop | みせ、 たな | テン |
8 | Clothes | clothing, it, obey, high | フク | |
8 | thing | thing, object, subject | thing, things- | ブツ、 モツ |
8 | Step | floor, stairway | ある.く、 あゆ.む | ホ、 ブ、 フ |
8 | Younger sister | younger sister | younger sister | マイ |
8 | taste | flavor, flavor | あじ、 あじ.わう | Mi |
8 | Bright | shinning light | あ.かり、 あか.るい、 あか.るむ、 あか.らむ、 あき.らか、 あ.ける、 -あ.け、 あ.く、 あ.くる、 あ.かす | メイ、 ミョウ、 ミン |
8 | Night | night night | よ、 よる | ヤ |
9 | Reflection | reflect, reflection, projection | うつ.る、 うつ.す、 は.える、 -ば.え | エイ |
9 | House | roof, house, store, dealer, seller | ya | Ok |
9 | Sound | sound, noise | おと、 ね | オン、 イン、 -ノン |
9 | Sea | Sea ocean | sea | カイ |
9 | World | world, limit | カイ | |
9 | Urgent | hurry, emergency, sudden, steep | いそ.ぐ、 いそ.ぎ、 せ.く | キュウ |
9 | The string "計" translates to "plan" or "scheme" in English. | plot, plan, scheme, measure | はか.る、 はか.らう | ケイ |
9 | 研 (this is a Japanese character that means "to sharpen" or "to study" and should remain unchanged.) | polish, study, sharpen | to.go | ケン |
9 | Build | Build | た.てる、 た.て、 -だ.て、 た.つ | ケン、 コン |
9 | The Japanese kanji "思" translates to "thought" or "think" in English. | to think | おも.う、 おもえら.く、 おぼ.す | シ |
9 | Hold | hold, have | も.つ、 -も.ち、も.てる | ジ |
9 | Room | room, apartment, chamber, greenhouse, cellar | muro | シツ |
9 | 秋 | autumn | あき、 とき | シュウ |
9 | Heavy | heavy, important, esteem, respect, to pile up, to pile up, nest of boxes | え、 おも.い、 おも.り、 おも.なう、かさ.ねる、 かさ.なる、 おも | ジュウ、 チョウ |
9 | Spring | spring, spring (season) | spring | Shun |
9 | Send | escort, send | to send | ソウ |
9 | Wait | wait, it depends | ま.つ、 -ま.ち | タイ |
9 | Tea | tea | チャ、 サ | |
9 | No translation needed as "昼" means "daytime" in English. | day, noon | noon | チュウ |
9 | Degree | degrees, occurrence, time, occurrence counter, consider, attitude | たび、 -た.い | ド、 ト、 タク |
9 | 発 | match, , publication, release, game, dissemination, shot counter | た.つ、 あば.く、おこ.る、 つか.わす、 はな.つ | ハツ、 ホツ |
9 | Product | benches, refinement, dignity, article, dining counter | shina | ヒン、 ホン |
9 | wind | wind, air, style, way | wind, breeze | フウ、 フ |
9 | 洋 | ocean, sea, aliens, western style | ヨウ | |
10 | Borrow | borrow, rent | ka.riru | Shaku |
10 | Member | employee, member, number, responsible | イン | |
10 | Institute | Inst., Institution, Temple, Mansion, School | イン | |
10 | summer | summer | natsu | カ、 ガ、 ゲ |
10 | House | house, home, family, professional, specialist, artist | いえ、 や、 うち | カ、 ケ |
10 | The translation of "帰" is "return." | return home, arrive, take to, result in | かえ.る、 かえ.す、 おく.る、 とつ.ぐ | キ |
10 | Start | wake up, wake up, get up | お.きる、 お.こる、 お.こす、 おこ.す、 た.つ | キ |
10 | Paper | paper | かみ | シ |
10 | true | true, reality, buddhist sect | ま、 ま-、 まこと | シン |
10 | The translation for "通" is "" or "through". However, please provide context if you're looking for a specific meaning or usage. | traffic, age, avenue, displacement, card counter, notes, documents, etc. | とお.る、 とお.り、 -とお.り、 -どお.り、 とお.す、とお.し、 -どお.し、 かよ.う | ツウ、 ツ |
10 | Special | special | トク | |
10 | disease | sick | や.む、 -や.み、 やまい | ビョウ、 ヘイ |
10 | This string is a Japanese kanji that means "diligence" or "effort." It does not require translation to English as it remains as is. | effort, effort, encourage, strive, make an effort, diligent | つと.める | Ben |
10 | Journey | trip | trip | Ryo |
10 | Material | fee, materials | リョウ | |
11 | evil | bad, vice, scoundrel, false, evil, wrong | わる.い、 わる-、あ.し、 にく.い、 -にく.い、 ああ、 いずくに、 いずくんぞ、 にく.む | アク、 オ |
11 | fish | fish | うお、 さかな、 -ざかな | Gyo |
11 | teach | teach faith doctrine | おし.える、 おそ.わる | キョウ |
11 | strong | Strong | つよ.い、 つよ.まる、 つよ.める、し.いる、 こわ.い | キョウ、 ゴウ |
11 | black | Black | くろ、 くろ.ずむ、くろ.い | コク |
11 | end | end, end | お.わる、 -お.わる、 おわ.る、 お.える、 つい、 つい.に | シュウ |
11 | week | week | シュウ | |
11 | 習 | learn | なら.う、 なら.い | シュウ、 ジュ |
11 | tribe | tribe family | Zoku | |
11 | bird | bird, chicken | bird | チョウ |
11 | Turn | turn, change | ころ.がる、 ころ.げる、 ころ.がす、ころ.ぶ、 まろ.ぶ、うたた、 うつ.る、くる.めく | テン |
11 | move | move, movement, change, confusion, change, shake | うご.く、 うご.かす | ドウ |
11 | Hall | public chamber hall | ドウ | |
11 | Question | question ask problem | と.う、 と.い、 とん | Mon |
11 | Field | plains, countryside, rustic, civilian life | の、 の- | ヤ、 ショ |
11 | Reason | logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth | explanation | リ |
12 | drink | drink, smoke, take | の.む、 -の.み | イン、 オン |
12 | Luck | take, luck, destiny, fate, lot, transport, progress, advance | Carry. | ウン |
12 | Open | open, unfold, not seal | ひら.く、 ひら.き、 -びら.き、 ひら.ける、 あ.く、あ.ける | カイ |
12 | Collective | gather, gather, gather, swarm, herd | あつ.まる、 あつ.める、 つど.う | シュウ |
12 | Place | location | ba | ジョウ、 チョウ |
12 | Lend | to lend | か.す, か.し-、かし- | タイ |
12 | The translation of "着" is "arrival" or "wear" depending on the context. However, if it is used as a standalone character, it may not have a direct English equivalent. Please provide more context if possible. | No, arrive, use, make a clothes counter | き.る、 -ぎ、 き.せる、 -き.せ、 つ.く、 つ.ける | チャク、 ジャク |
12 | Morning | morning, dynasty, regime, era, period, North Korea | morning | チョウ |
12 | Answer | solution, answer | こた.える、 こた.え | トウ |
12 | road | road, street, district, journey, course, moral, teachings | みち、 いう | ドウ、 トウ |
12 | Buy | Buy | ka.u | Bye |
12 | 飯 | meal cooked rice | meal | ハン |
13 | Meaning | idea, mind, heart, taste, thought, desire, care, liking | イ | |
13 | Enjoyment | music, comfort, ease | たの.しい、 たの.しむ、 この.む | ガク、 ラク、 ゴウ |
13 | 漢 | Sino-, China | カン | |
13 | Business | business, vocation, arts, performance | Technique | ギョウ、 ゴウ |
13 | Attempt | test, attempt, attempt, experiment, ordeal | こころ.みる、 ため.す | シ |
13 | New | New | new | シン |
14 | station | station | Eki | |
14 | song | song, sing | うた、 うた.う | カ |
14 | silver | silver | shirogane | Gin |
15 | Quality | substance, quality, matter, temperament | たち、 ただ.す、もと、 わりふ | シツ、 シチ、 チ |
16 | mansion | building, mansion, grand building, palace | やかた、 たて | カン |
16 | Parent | father, intimacy, relative, familiarity, card dealer (cards) | おや、 おや-、 した.しい、 した.しむ | シン |
18 | The translation of "験" is "test" or "experience" depending on the context. | verification, effect, test | あかし、 しるし、ため.す、 ためし | ケン、 ゲン |
18 | Title | topic, subject | Dai | |
18 | Day | day of the week | ヨウ |
Simplified and romanized n4 kanji list
Below is a list of the same simplified N4 ideograms with just a common meaning and a standard romanization as reading. You might want to start with this list, although we recommend the previous one.
Kanji | Romaji | Meaning |
開 | kai | open |
明 | mei | shine |
引 | hiki | arguments |
田 | ta | rice field |
通 | tsū | through |
低 | tei | down |
好 | kō | good |
頭 | head | head |
犬 | dog | dog |
暑 | shokuryō | heat |
界 | sakai | field |
野 | no | field |
都 | to | capital |
持 | mochi | equity |
肉 | meat | meat |
家 | ie | house |
起 | ki | cause |
早 | haya | I give up |
画 | The string "ga" does not have a specific meaning in Portuguese and remains as is in English. If you meant something else or need a translation for a different context, please provide more details. | scenario |
茶 | tea | tea |
町 | town | city |
市 | Shikoku-ben: | city |
事 | koto | thing |
集 | shū | collection |
飯 | rice | food |
方 | hō | how |
知 | chi | knowledge |
色 | color | cor |
心 | heart | heart |
体 | body | body |
走 | sō | run |
短 | so much | short |
急 | nine | suddenly |
歩 | fu | step |
図 | zu | drawing |
別 | separate | different |
遠 | en | distant |
病 | yamai | disease |
曜 | hello | Sunday |
堂 | dō | "how" |
合 | awase | what if |
貸 | kashi | loan |
借 | kari | loans |
区 | ku | infirmary |
工 | kō | engineering |
仕 | Shikoku-ben: | specifications |
待 | town | wait |
私 | watakushi | I |
験 | gen | experience |
顔 | face | face |
楽 | raku | easy |
映 | hey | movie |
終 | end | final |
林 | hayashi | forest |
切 | setsu | forum |
強 | today | strength |
弱 | jaku | weak |
寒 | kan | cold |
代 | dai | generation |
理 | ri | management |
味 | aji | like |
太 | futoshi | big |
族 | zoku | group |
始 | Shikoku-ben: | hajime |
漢 | kan | han |
洋 | hello | hiroshi |
院 | in | hospital |
英 | hey | English |
意 | i | intention |
冬 | tō | winter |
妹 | little sister | sister |
姉 | sister | sister |
兄 | ani | brother |
弟 | younger brother | younger brother |
研 | ken | ken |
建 | ken | ken |
池 | "I'm sorry, but I don't have enough context to provide a translation for 'ike.' Could you please provide more details or a complete sentence?" | lagoon |
広 | hiro | wide |
洗 | arai | to wash |
場 | ba | place, put |
所 | tokoro | place, put |
軽 | kei | light |
光 | hikari | light |
森 | forest | wood |
以 | i | more than |
悪 | "aku" | bad |
朝 | super | morning |
館 | inn | mansion |
海 | sea | sea |
医 | i | doctor |
昼 | lunch | noon |
員 | -in | member |
品 | hin | merchandise |
台 | dai | table |
同 | dō | even |
死 | Shikoku-ben: | death |
動 | dō | movement |
乗 | jō | multiply |
世 | Hello! How can I assist you today? | world |
歌 | song | music |
不 | fu | no |
夜 | night | night |
注 | chū | note |
物 | mono | object |
考 | thought | observations |
元 | moto | origin |
秋 | shū | autumn |
親 | oya | father |
紙 | kami | paper |
用 | hello | for |
止 | tome | stop |
鳥 | tori | bird |
思 | I think | to think |
問 | mon | asking |
字 | ji | character |
近 | kin | close |
首 | neck | neck |
重 | jū | weight |
究 | kiwamu | research |
者 | mono | person |
民 | min | people |
力 | chikara | power |
門 | mon | gate |
銀 | gin | silver |
県 | ken | city hall |
黒 | black | black |
春 | shun | spring |
主 | sono | principal |
産 | san | production |
教 | today | professor |
自 | ji | own |
質 | shitsu | quality |
室 | shitsu | quarter |
京 | today | Kyoto |
特 | toku | resources |
正 | sei | regular |
薬 | medicine | medicine |
去 | sa | removed by |
答 | answer | respond |
転 | ten | rolando |
服 | fuku | clothes |
発 | hatsu | exit |
文 | bun | sentence |
有 | yū | yes |
音 | on | soul |
暗 | an | dark |
運 | one | luck |
進 | susumu | susumu |
夕 | yū | afternoon |
料 | -ryō | rate |
試 | me | attempts |
説 | setsu | theory |
地 | chi | earth |
写 | utsushi | shooting |
題 | dai | title |
度 | do | every time |
計 | kei | total |
働 | hatarake | work |
作 | saku | jobs |
業 | gō | jobs |
勉 | tsutomu | tsutomu |
使 | Shikoku-ben: | to use |
牛 | ushi | cow |
売 | uri | sales |
風 | kaze | wind |
夏 | natsu | summer |
真 | shin | truth |
青 | to | green |
菜 | na | greens |
赤 | aka | red |
着 | ki | dressing |
回 | kai | times |
旅 | tabi | trip |
村 | mura | village |
住 | jū | live |
便 | bin | fly |
声 | voice | voice |
屋 | yes | store |
送 | oku | send |
帰 | ki | return |
習 | jyu | learning |
N4 kanji videos
To end the article, I will leave some videos explaining the ideograms studied in the N4 of the JLPT. Some videos are in English or Japanese, but they are easy to understand. I hope you enjoyed the article, if you liked it share and leave your comments. Thank you and see you next time!