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How Many Kanji Do You Need for the JLPT? N5 to N1 (and the Jōyō List)
Approximate kanji counts for each JLPT level, why they are not official, how they relate to the 2,136 jōyō kanji, and how to study them.
Tap a highlighted Japanese word to see its reading and meaning.
In this article (7)
"How many kanji do I need?" is one of the most common questions from JLPT learners. The honest answer has two parts: there are well-known estimates, but there is no official list.
The short answer
The usual estimates are about 100 kanji for N5, 300 for N4, 650 for N3, 1,000 for N2 and 2,000 for N1. These numbers are cumulative, so N3 includes the kanji from N5 and N4. They come from the old official guidelines and from analysis of past tests.
Are these numbers official?
No. The JLPT has not published official kanji or vocabulary lists since the test was revised in 2010. The counts above are approximations used by textbooks and websites, and different sources may give slightly different numbers.
| Level | Approx. kanji (cumulative) | Approx. vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
| N5 | ~100 | ~800 |
| N4 | ~300 | ~1,500 |
| N3 | ~650 | ~3,750 |
| N2 | ~1,000 | ~6,000 |
| N1 | ~2,000 | ~10,000 |
Treat the table as a planning guide, not a rulebook.
How this relates to the jōyō kanji
The Japanese government's list of everyday kanji, the , has 2,136 characters (issued in 2010). Of those, 1,026 are taught in elementary school, and the rest in junior and senior high school. N1 estimates of around 2,000 are close to that full list.
What the test actually checks
You are not tested on kanji in isolation. You need to:
- read a kanji word and choose its reading,
- choose the right kanji for a word in a sentence,
- understand kanji inside longer reading passages.
So learning kanji inside words matters more than memorizing single characters. 食 alone is less useful than 食べる, 食事 and 食堂.
How to study them
- Learn words, not just characters. Group kanji by words you meet in reading.
- Review on a schedule. Use spaced repetition flashcards for readings and meanings.
- Write the ones you want to produce. See how to practice writing kanji by hand.
- Read a little every day. Simple texts, signs and manga make kanji appear naturally.
- Test your weak spots. Our $1 adaptive test shows which sections cost you the most points.
How long does it take?
Kanji is one part of the full workload. For the total time to pass each level, see how long it takes to pass the JLPT, and for choosing your level, see which JLPT level to take.
Next step
Take the $1 Adaptive Weakness Test to see how your kanji, vocabulary and grammar compare.