Foundation 1
What Is Kanji?
See how kanji carry meaning and work beside hiragana and katakana.
Beginner kanji path
Learn Kanji for Beginners
Build recognition through useful words. Begin with core meanings, meet important readings in context, and review a structured set of 120 beginner characters.
Start here
Understand the system before memorizing lists
Three short foundation lessons explain what kanji do, why readings change, and how writing order supports recognition.
Foundation 2
On'yomi and Kun'yomi
Understand reading labels without trying to memorize a whole dictionary.
Foundation 3
Kanji Stroke Order
Learn practical writing principles and when to check a character-specific model.
What kanji add to Japanese
Kanji are meaning-bearing characters used throughout written Japanese. They appear with kana rather than replacing them. In 食べます,食 carries the idea of eating, while the hiragana supplies the rest of the word and its polite ending.
One character can have several readings. You do not need to learn them all at once. Vocabulary gives each useful reading a place to live.
Read the complete beginner explanationThe Japan Alphabet method
Learn a little, use it, then return
A card should help you recognize a character and read useful words—not overwhelm you with every rare meaning or reading.
- 1
Recognize the core idea
Connect the large character with one clear beginner meaning.
- 2
Learn useful words
Meet the important readings in vocabulary you can actually reuse.
- 3
Notice the writing
Use stroke count and trustworthy order guidance to inspect the shape.
- 4
Recall in mixed review
Mix old and new characters, then revisit the words you missed.
Structured beginner curriculum
120 Kanji for JLPT N5 Study
Study all 120 characters in topic groups while keeping the original curriculum order visible. Start with numbers, then use those characters in time and date expressions.
The JLPT does not publish a fixed official kanji list for N5. This is Japan Alphabet's structured beginner study set for N5 preparation.
Open the complete 120-kanji hub- 120
- kanji
- 11
- topic modules
- 2
- study lessons ready
Topic map
The 11 learning modules
Topic groups make review manageable. Each character keeps its place in the 120-kanji study sequence, even when you review it by theme.
16 kanji
Numbers & Money
Count, tell quantities, and understand basic prices and parts.
一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十 百 千 万 円 分 半
15 kanji
Time & Calendar
Talk about days, months, years, weeks, and parts of the day.
日 月 年 週 時 間 今 毎 午 前 後 朝 昼 夕 夜
11 kanji
Directions & Position
Describe where things are and which way to go.
上 下 中 右 左 外 東 西 南 北 近
8 kanji
Nature & Weather
Recognize common kanji for landscapes, weather, and living things.
山 川 天 気 雨 空 花 魚
9 kanji
Elements, Materials & Colors
Build useful words from natural elements, materials, and colors.
火 水 木 土 金 銀 白 赤 紙
9 kanji
People & Family
Read basic words for people, family, friends, and home.
人 男 女 子 父 母 友 私 家
14 kanji
School & Language
Recognize kanji used in study, school, reading, writing, and speech.
先 生 学 校 語 話 聞 書 読 言 知 何 名 本
12 kanji
Movement & Location
Read common actions and words used while moving through places.
行 来 休 見 入 出 立 歩 走 住 道 駅
11 kanji
Places, Society & Daily Life
Meet kanji used for everyday places, food, transport, and society.
国 食 飲 買 有 会 社 店 車 電 思
10 kanji
Description & Quantity
Describe size, amount, age, width, price, and safety.
大 小 多 少 長 高 広 安 古 新
5 kanji
Body
Learn five high-frequency kanji for parts of the body.
口 目 手 足 耳
Readings in context
Begin with one high-value word, notice its reading, and add another only when it becomes useful. This keeps on'yomi and kun'yomi connected to real Japanese.
Understand kanji readingsStroke-order basics
Common patterns such as top-to-bottom and left-to-right make handwriting more consistent. Character-specific verified guidance still matters when the structure is less simple.
Learn the beginner principlesRecognition and review
Read, cover, recall, and check. Mix a few older cards into every session instead of waiting until a whole module feels finished.
Take the first numbers lessonWhat comes after the first 120?
Keep expanding through useful words, short readings, and grammar you can understand. Review familiar characters in new contexts, then add new ones in manageable groups.
Finishing a first pass is not the same as permanently memorizing every character. Regular encounters in vocabulary and sentences turn recognition into durable reading skill.
First study set
Begin with Japanese number kanji
Learn one through ten in two small groups, then use them in people, dates, and time expressions.