How Many Kanji Do Japanese Learn? What is Jōyō Kanji?

Do you know how many Kanji do Japanese learn in primary and secondary school?

Even for us, Japanese, we probably cannot answer to this question easily.

Why? Because there are TOO MANY!!

 

The list of Kanji we need to learn in primary school and secondary school in Japan is called Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字) – literally means “commonly used Kanji”.

At each grade, we have the specific number of Kanji we learn.

 

What is Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字)?

Jōyō Kanji is the guide to Kanji characters and their readings, announced officially by the Japanese Ministry of Education.

Current Jōyō Kanji are those on a list of 2,136 characters.

Jōyō Kanji is a slightly modified version of Tōyō Kanji *.

The list is intended as a literacy baseline for those who have completed compulsory education.

 

In short, Jōyō Kanji is a list of characters that every Japanese must learn in primary and secondary school.

 

What is Tōyō Kanji (当用漢字)?

Before Jōyō Kanji was announced, there was Tōyō Kanji.

Tōyō Kanji was the initial list of secondary school-level kanji standardized after World War II, and used until 1981.

There are some stories behind it, but most Japanese even do not know about it, so we can just skip about Tōyō Kanji here.

If you really wanna know about it, here’s a wiki page: wikipedia – Toyo kanji

 

So how many Kanji do Japanese learn at school?

In elementary schools, we learn 1,026 Kanji (the number was 1,006 before 2017).

And in junior high schools, we learn 1,110 Kanji (the number was 1,130 before 2017).

So, during an elementary school and a junior high school (during the compulsory education in Japan), we learn 2,136 Kanji in total.

 

The complete list of 2136 Jōyō Kanji

1^st grade in primary school (80 Kanji)

一　右　雨　円　王　音　下　火　花　貝　学　気　九　休　玉　金　空　月　犬　見　五　口　校　左　三　山　子　四　糸　字　耳　七　車　手　十　出　女　小　上　森　人　水　正　生　青　夕　石　赤　千　川　先　早　草　足　村　大　男　竹　中　虫　町　天　田　土　二　日　入　年　白　八　百　文　木　本　名　目　立　力　林　六

 

2^nd grade in primary school (160 Kanji)

引　羽　雲　園　遠　何　科　夏　家　歌　画　回　会　海　絵　外　角　楽　活　間　丸　岩　顔　汽　記　帰　弓　牛　魚　京　強　教　近　兄　形　計　元　言　原　戸　古　午　後　語　工　公　広　交　光　考　行　高　黄　合　谷　国　黒　今　才　細　作　算　止　市　矢　姉　思　紙　寺　自　時　室　社　弱　首　秋　週　春　書　少　場　色　食　心　新　親　図　数　西　声　星　晴　切　雪　船　線　前　組　走　多　太　体　台　地　池　知　茶　昼　長　鳥　朝　直　通　弟　店　点　電　刀　冬　当　東　答　頭　同　道　読　内　南　肉　馬　売　買　麦　半　番　父　風　分　聞　米　歩　母　方　北　毎　妹　万　明　鳴　毛　門　夜　野　友　用　曜　来　里　理　話

 

3^rd grade in primary school (200 Kanji)

悪　安　暗　医　委　意　育　員　院　飲　運　泳　駅　央　横　屋　温　化　荷　界　開　階　寒　感　漢　館　岸　起　期　客　究　急　級　宮　球　去　橋　業　曲　局　銀　区　苦　具　君　係　軽　血　決　研　県　庫　湖　向　幸　港　号　根　祭　皿　仕　死　使　始　指　歯　詩　次　事　持　式　実　写　者　主　守　取　酒　受　州　拾　終　習　集　住　重　宿　所　暑　助　昭　消　商　章　勝　乗　植　申　身　神　真　深　進　世　整　昔　全　相　送　想　息　速　族　他　打　対　待　代　第　題　炭　短　談　着　注　柱　丁　帳　調　追　定　庭　笛　鉄　転　都　度　投　豆　島　湯　登　等　動　童　農　波　配　倍　箱　畑　発　反　坂　板　皮　悲　美　鼻　筆　氷　表　秒　病　品　負　部　服　福　物　平　返　勉　放　味　命　面　問　役　薬　由　油　有　遊　予　羊　洋　葉　陽　様　落　流　旅　両　緑　礼　列　練　路　和

 

4^th grade in primary school (202 Kanji)

愛　案　以　衣　位　茨　印　英　栄　媛　塩　岡　億　加　果　貨　課　芽　賀　改　械　害　街　各　覚　潟　完　官　管　関　観　願　岐　希　季　旗　器　機　議　求　泣　給　挙　漁　共　協　鏡　競　極　熊　訓　軍　郡　群　径　景　芸　欠　結　建　健　験　固　功　好　香　候　康　佐　差　菜　最　埼　材　崎　昨　札　刷　察　参　産　散　残　氏　司　試　児　治　滋　辞　鹿　失　借　種　周　祝　順　初　松　笑　唱　焼　照　城　縄　臣　信　井　成　省　清　静　席　積　折　節　説　浅　戦　選　然　争　倉　巣　束　側　続　卒　孫　帯　隊　達　単　置　仲　沖　兆　低　底　的　典　伝　徒　努　灯　働　特　徳　栃　奈　梨　熱　念　敗　梅　博　阪　飯　飛　必　票　標　不　夫　付　府　阜　富　副　兵　別　辺　変　便　包　法　望　牧　末　満　未　民　無　約　勇　要　養　浴　利　陸　良　料　量　輪　類　令　冷　例　連　老　労　録

 

5^th grade in primary school (193 Kanji)

圧　囲　移　因　永　営　衛　易　益　液　演　応　往　桜　可　仮　価　河　過　快　解　格　確　額　刊　幹　慣　眼　紀　基　寄　規　喜　技　義　逆　久　旧　救　居　許　境　均　禁　句　型　経　潔　件　険　検　限　現　減　故　個　護　効　厚　耕　航　鉱　構　興　講　告　混　査　再　災　妻　採　際　在　財　罪　殺　雑　酸　賛　士　支　史　志　枝　師　資　飼　示　似　識　質　舎　謝　授　修　述　術　準　序　招　証　象　賞　条　状　常　情　織　職　制　性　政　勢　精　製　税　責　績　接　設　絶　祖　素　総　造　像　増　則　測　属　率　損　貸　態　団　断　築　貯　張　停　提　程　適　統　堂　銅　導　得　毒　独　任　燃　能　破　犯　判　版　比　肥　非　費　備　評　貧　布　婦　武　復　複　仏　粉　編　弁　保　墓　報　豊　防　貿　暴　脈　務　夢　迷　綿　輸　余　容　略　留　領　歴

 

6^th grade in primary school (191 Kanji)

胃　異　遺　域　宇　映　延　沿　恩　我　灰　拡　革　閣　割　株　干　巻　看　簡　危　机　揮　貴　疑　吸　供　胸　郷　勤　筋　系　敬　警　劇　激　穴　券　絹　権　憲　源　厳　己　呼　誤　后　孝　皇　紅　降　鋼　刻　穀　骨　困　砂　座　済　裁　策　冊　蚕　至　私　姿　視　詞　誌　磁　射　捨　尺　若　樹　収　宗　就　衆　従　縦　縮　熟　純　処　署　諸　除　承　将　傷　障　蒸　針　仁　垂　推　寸　盛　聖　誠　舌　宣　専　泉　洗　染　銭　善　奏　窓　創　装　層　操　蔵　臓　存　尊　退　宅　担　探　誕　段　暖　値　宙　忠　著　庁　頂　腸　潮　賃　痛　敵　展　討　党　糖　届　難　乳　認　納　脳　派　拝　背　肺　俳　班　晩　否　批　秘　俵　腹　奮　並　陛　閉　片　補　暮　宝　訪　亡　忘　棒　枚　幕　密　盟　模　訳　郵　優　預　幼　欲　翌　乱　卵　覧　裏　律　臨　朗　論

 

In secondary school (1,110 Kanji)

亜　哀　挨　曖　握　扱　宛　嵐　依　威　為　畏　尉　萎　偉　椅　彙　違　維　慰　緯　壱　逸　芋　咽　姻　淫　陰　隠　韻　唄　鬱　畝　浦　詠　影　鋭　悦　越　謁　閲　炎　怨　宴　援　煙　猿　鉛　縁　艶　汚　凹　押　旺　欧　殴　翁　奥　憶　臆　虞　乙　俺　卸　穏　佳　苛　架　華　菓　渦　嫁　暇　禍　寡　箇　稼　蚊　牙　瓦　雅　餓　介　戒　怪　拐　悔　皆　塊　楷　潰　壊　懐　諧　劾　崖　涯　慨　蓋　該　概　骸　垣　柿　核　殻　郭　較　隔　獲　嚇　穫　岳　顎　掛　括　喝　渇　葛　滑　褐　轄　且　釜　鎌　刈　甘　汗　缶　肝　冠　陥　乾　勘　患　貫　喚　堪　換　敢　棺　款　閑　勧　寛　歓　監　緩　還　環　韓　艦　鑑　含　玩　頑　企　伎　忌　奇　祈　軌　既　飢　鬼　亀　幾　棋　棄　毀　畿　輝　騎　宜　偽　欺　儀　戯　擬　犠　菊　吉　喫　詰　却　脚　虐　及　丘　朽　臼　糾　嗅　窮　巨　拒　拠　虚　距　御　凶　叫　狂　享　況　峡　挟　狭　恐　恭　脅　矯　響　驚　仰　暁　凝　巾　斤　菌　琴　僅　錦　謹　襟　吟　駆　惧　愚　偶　遇　隅　串　屈　掘　窟　繰　勲　薫　刑　茎　契　恵　啓　掲　渓　蛍　傾　携　継　詣　慶　憬　稽　憩　鶏　迎　鯨　隙　撃　桁　傑　肩　倹　兼　剣　拳　軒　圏　堅　嫌　献　遣　賢　謙　鍵　繭　顕　懸　幻　玄　弦　舷　股　虎　孤　弧　枯　雇　誇　鼓　錮　顧　互　呉　娯　碁　勾　孔　巧　甲　江　坑　抗　攻　更　拘　肯　侯　恒　洪　荒　郊　貢　控　梗　喉　慌　硬　絞　項　溝　綱　酵　稿　衡　購　乞　拷　剛　傲　豪　克　酷　獄　駒　込　頃　昆　恨　婚　痕　紺　魂　墾　懇　沙　唆　詐　鎖　挫　采　砕　宰　栽　彩　斎　債　催　塞　歳　載　剤　削　柵　索　酢　搾　錯　咲　拶　撮　擦　桟　惨　傘　斬　暫　旨　伺　刺　祉　肢　施　恣　脂　紫　嗣　雌　摯　賜　諮　侍　慈　餌　璽　軸　𠮟　疾　執　湿　嫉　漆　芝　赦　斜　煮　遮　邪　蛇　酌　釈　爵　寂　朱　狩　殊　珠　腫　趣　寿　呪　需　儒　囚　舟　秀　臭　袖　羞　愁　酬　醜　蹴　襲　汁　充　柔　渋　銃　獣　叔　淑　粛　俊　瞬　旬　巡　盾　准　殉　循　潤　遵　庶　緒　如　叙　徐　升　召　匠　床　抄　肖　尚　昇　沼　宵　症　祥　称　渉　紹　訟　掌　晶　焦　硝　粧　詔　奨　詳　彰　憧　衝　償　礁　鐘　丈　冗　浄　剰　畳　壌　嬢　錠　譲　醸　拭　殖　飾　触　嘱　辱　尻　伸　芯　辛　侵　津　唇　娠　振　浸　紳　診　寝　審　震　薪　刃　尽　迅　甚　陣　尋　腎　須　吹　炊　帥　粋　衰　酔　遂　睡　穂　随　髄　枢　崇　据　杉　裾　瀬　是　姓　征　斉　牲　凄　逝　婿　誓　請　醒　斥　析　脊　隻　惜　戚　跡　籍　拙　窃　摂　仙　占　扇　栓　旋　煎　羨　腺　詮　践　箋　潜　遷　薦　繊　鮮　禅　漸　膳　繕　狙　阻　租　措　粗　疎　訴　塑　遡　礎　双　壮　荘　捜　挿　桑　掃　曹　曽　爽　喪　痩　葬　僧　遭　槽　踪　燥　霜　騒　藻　憎　贈　即　促　捉　俗　賊　遜　汰　妥　堕　惰　駄　耐　怠　胎　泰　堆　袋　逮　替　滞　戴　滝　択　沢　卓　拓　託　濯　諾　濁　但　脱　奪　棚　誰　丹　旦　胆　淡　嘆　端　綻　鍛　弾　壇　致　遅　痴　稚　緻　畜　逐　蓄　秩　窒　嫡　抽　衷　酎　鋳　駐　弔　挑　彫　眺　釣　貼　超　跳　徴　嘲　澄　聴　懲　勅　捗　沈　珍　朕　陳　鎮　椎　墜　塚　漬　坪　爪　鶴　呈　廷　抵　邸　亭　貞　帝　訂　逓　偵　堤　艇　締　諦　泥　摘　滴　溺　迭　哲　徹　撤　添　塡　殿　斗　吐　妬　途　渡　塗　奴　怒　到　逃　倒　凍　唐　桃　透　悼　盗　陶　塔　搭　棟　痘　筒　稲　踏　謄　藤　闘　騰　洞　胴　瞳　峠　匿　督　篤　凸　突　屯　豚　頓　貪　鈍　曇　丼　那　謎　鍋　軟　尼　弐　匂　虹　尿　妊　忍　寧　捻　粘　悩　濃　把　覇　婆　罵　杯　排　廃　輩　培　陪　媒　賠　伯　拍　泊　迫　剝　舶　薄　縛　爆　箸　肌　鉢　髪　伐　抜　罰　閥　氾　帆　汎　伴　畔　般　販　斑　搬　煩　頒　範　繁　藩　蛮　盤　妃　彼　披　卑　疲　被　扉　碑　罷　避　眉　微　膝　肘　匹　泌　姫　漂　苗　描　猫　浜　賓　頻　敏　瓶　扶　怖　附　訃　赴　浮　符　普　腐　敷　膚　賦　譜　侮　舞　封　伏　幅　覆　払　沸　紛　雰　噴　墳　憤　丙　併　柄　塀　幣　弊　蔽　餅　壁　璧　癖　蔑　偏　遍　哺　捕　舗　募　慕　簿　芳　邦　奉　抱　泡　胞　俸　倣　峰　砲　崩　蜂　褒　縫　乏　忙　坊　妨　房　肪　某　冒　剖　紡　傍　帽　貌　膨　謀　頰　朴　睦　僕　墨　撲　没　勃　堀　奔　翻　凡　盆　麻　摩　磨　魔　昧　埋　膜　枕　又　抹　慢　漫　魅　岬　蜜　妙　眠　矛　霧　娘　冥　銘　滅　免　麺　茂　妄　盲　耗　猛　網　黙　紋　冶　弥　厄　躍　闇　喩　愉　諭　癒　唯　幽　湧　猶　裕　雄　誘　憂　融　与　誉　妖　庸　揚　揺　溶　腰　瘍　踊　窯　擁　謡　抑　沃　翼　拉　裸　羅　雷　頼　絡　酪　辣　濫　藍　欄　吏　痢　履　璃　離　慄　柳　竜　粒　隆　硫　侶　虜　慮　了　涼　猟　陵　僚　寮　療　瞭　糧　厘　倫　隣　瑠　涙　累　塁　励　戻　鈴　零　霊　隷　齢　麗　暦　劣　烈　裂　恋　廉　錬　呂　炉　賂　露　弄　郎　浪　廊　楼　漏　麓　賄　脇　惑　枠　湾　腕

 

Yes, I know it’s a LOT! But don’t freak out. I will explain each one of these Kanji from the easiest ones, with small tips of memorizing them, in later posts 😉

今日はここまで！

 

Download Jōyō Kanji List for All Grade in PDF