N4 kanji are where your reading starts to grow legs. You’re not just spotting exit signs and menu items anymore-you’re decoding short articles, simple instructions, and messages from friends without dropping into a panic. This list packs roughly 180 characters that sit right in that sweet spot between beginner and intermediate, the kind you’ll meet on the JLPT and in everyday life. Pair these characters with JLPT N4 vocabulary to meet them inside complete words.
For every kanji, we’ve stripped away the fluff and given you a straightforward meaning plus a natural example sentence. No dusty textbook relics, just characters that show up in real signs, chats, and stories. If you’re tired of staring at a wall of squiggles, this reference is built to give you context-not just a lonely translation.
Ready to give your kanji a friendly workout? Scroll to the bottom of the article to find the free printable JLPT N4 Kanji vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable JLPT N4 Kanji flashcards — perfect for quick review, tiny study wins, and fewer “wait, I knew this one!” moments.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Japanese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve already got a few of these kanji locked into memory? The quick quiz below will show you which ones are solid and which could use a second look-no pressure, just a friendly nudge.
Keep building your Japanese
Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | Example Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 始 | はじ | begin; start | はじめる | to begin; to start |
| 子 | こ | child | こども | child; children |
| 字 | じ | character; letter | もじ | character; letter |
| 安 | やす-い / あん | cheap; safe; calm | やすい | cheap |
| 客 | きゃく | guest; visitor | おきゃく | guest; customer |
| 室 | しつ | room | きょうしつ | classroom |
| 家 | いえ / か | house; home | いえ | house |
| 少 | しょう | few; little | すくない | few; little |
| 屋 | や | house; shop | や | house; shop |
| 島 | しま | island | しま | island |
| 工 | こう | craft; work | こうじ | construction work |
| 帰 | かえ | return; go home | かえる | to return; to go home |
| 広 | こう | wide; broad | ひろい | wide; spacious |
| 店 | てん | shop; store | みせ | shop |
| 度 | ど | degree; time | いちど | once |
| 建 | けん | build; construct | たてもの | building |
| 弟 | おとうと | younger brother | おとうと | younger brother |
| 強 | きょう | strong | つよい | strong |
| 待 | たい | wait | まつ | to wait |
| 心 | こころ / シン | heart; mind | こころ | heart |
| 思 | おもう / シ | think; feel | おもう | to think |
| 急 | きゅう | urgent; hurry | いそぐ | to hurry |
| 悪 | わるい | bad | わるい | bad |
| 意 | い | idea; meaning | いみ | meaning |
| 手 | て / しゅ | hand | てがみ | letter |
