Kanji Look and Learn

Kanji Look and Learn teaches 512 essential Kanji through visual illustrations and mnemonic techniques. It is widely used by Japanese learners and JLPT N5–N3 students.

JLPT levels: N5, N4, N3

Who this course is for

This course is designed for self-learners preparing JLPT N5, N4, N3 with structured lessons and guided practice. Study at your own pace with free previews and interactive quizzes on Minna Nihongo.

What you will learn

Work through 32 published lessons covering vocabulary, kanji recognition, reading practice, and exam-style review for JLPT N5, N4, N3. Each lesson links to focused exercises so you can reinforce what you study immediately.

Lessons

  1. 一・二・三 — Numbers and counting — Practice 16 kanji characters on numbers and counting with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  2. 日・月・火 — Time and calendar — Practice 16 kanji characters on time and calendar with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  3. 上・下・中 — Directions and positions — Practice 16 kanji characters on directions and positions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  4. 田・力・男 — School and learning — Practice 16 kanji characters on school and learning with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  5. 見・行・米 — Family and relationships — Practice 16 kanji characters on family and relationships with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  6. 大・小・高 — Transportation and travel — Practice 16 kanji characters on transportation and travel with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  7. 入・出・市 — Nature and weather — Practice 16 kanji characters on nature and weather with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  8. 休・走・起 — Daily activities — Practice 16 kanji characters on daily activities with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  9. 春・夏・秋 — Seasons, Time and Body — Practice 16 kanji characters on Seasons, Time and Body with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  10. 山・川・林 — Nature, Colors and Animals — Practice 16 kanji characters on Nature, Colors and Animals with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  11. 料・理・飯 — Food and Cooking — Practice 16 kanji characters on Food and Cooking with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  12. 音・楽・歌 — Music, Entertainment and Clothing — Practice 16 kanji characters on Music, Entertainment and Clothing with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  13. 家・族・親 — Family and Home — Practice 16 kanji characters on Family and Home with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  14. 教・室・習 — Study and practice — Practice 16 kanji characters on study and practice with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  15. 遠・近・暑 — Distance, Weather & Descriptions — Practice 16 kanji characters on Distance, Weather & Descriptions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  16. 運・動・歩 — Movement and Actions — Practice 16 kanji characters on Movement and Actions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  17. 医・始・終 — Work and Study — Practice 16 kanji characters on Work and Study with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  18. 図・管・館 — Daily Life and Society — Practice 16 kanji characters on Daily Life and Society with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  19. 頭・顔・声 — Hobbies and entertainment — Practice 16 kanji characters on hobbies and entertainment with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  20. 場・戸・所 — Travel and directions — Practice 16 kanji characters on travel and directions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  21. 丸・熱・冷 — Temperature and conditions — Practice 16 kanji characters on temperature and conditions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  22. 笑・泣・怒 — Social interactions — Practice 16 kanji characters on social interactions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  23. 覚・忘・決 — Memory and decisions — Practice 16 kanji characters on memory and decisions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  24. 全・部・必 — Tools and technology — Practice 16 kanji characters on tools and technology with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  25. 平・和・戦 — Thinking and knowledge — Practice 16 kanji characters on thinking and knowledge with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  26. 遊・泳・疲 — Conditions and changes — Practice 16 kanji characters on conditions and changes with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  27. 吉・結・婚 — Results and experiences — Practice 16 kanji characters on results and experiences with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  28. 取・最・初 — Society and rules — Practice 16 kanji characters on society and rules with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  29. 勝・負・成 — Opinions and decisions — Practice 16 kanji characters on opinions and decisions with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  30. 飛・機・鉄 — Advanced daily vocabulary — Practice 16 kanji characters on advanced daily vocabulary with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  31. 申・神・信 — Advanced communication — Practice 16 kanji characters on advanced communication with readings, examples, and vocabulary.
  32. 危・険・拾 — Abstract and complex kanji — Practice 16 kanji characters on abstract and complex kanji with readings, examples, and vocabulary.

Sample kanji from this course

  • 田 デン た: Rice field 田んぼの形です This is the shape of a rice field. • 田中さん : Mr./Ms. Tanaka • 山田さん : Mr./Ms. Yamada • 田舎 : countryside • 田んぼ : rice field • 田植え : rice planting • 水田 : paddy field • 田園 : rural area / farmland Illustration: /api/assets/8accee33-0ab6-4697-b109-c0e33b5bb9ad.jpg
  • 日 ニチ, ジツ ひ: Day / Sun お日様の形です This is the shape of the sun. • 日曜日 : Sunday • 日本 : Japan • 日本 : Japan • 今日 : today • 三日 : three days / the third day (of the month) • 毎日 : every day • 日記 : diary • 母の日 : Mother’s Day • 休日 : holiday Illustration: /api/assets/9c17dca3-ba23-4295-bdd5-63211bf6bf3a.jpg
  • 見 ケン み-る: See いろいろな物を見るには目と足が必要です To see many things, you need eyes and feet. • 見る : see • 見せる : show • 見える : be visible • 花見 : flower viewing (cherry-blossom viewing) • 意見 : opinion • 見物 : sightseeing • 見本 : sample • 見学 : study tour Illustration: /api/assets/f66cbec6-d2b1-4282-b5c0-8654c74162c3.jpg
  • 上 ジョウ, ショウ あおい,うえ, -うえ, うわ-, かみ, あ-げる, -あ-げる, あ-がる, -あ-がる, あ-がり, -あ-がり, のぼ-る, のぼ-り, のぼ-せる, のぼ-す, よ-す, あげ, い, か,: Up ここが線より上です Here is above the line. • 上 : up / above • 上げる : raise / lift • 上手 : skillful / good at • 上着 : jacket; outerwear • 川上 : upstream • 屋上 : rooftop • 上る : go up / climb Illustration: /api/assets/0ccce3d4-ad93-416f-9480-020f52528585.jpg
  • 一 イチ, イツ ひと-つ: One 一本の指で示したのが「一」です Showing one finger means “one.” • 一 : one • 一つ : one (thing) • 一時 : one o’clock / one hour (context) • 一分 : one minute • 一月 : January • 一日 : the first day (of the month) • 一日 : the first day (of the month) • 一人 : one person • 一番 : number one Illustration: /api/assets/4a79fdf3-b482-4700-a7d0-81db41546626.jpg
  • 下 カ, ゲ した、さ-げる、くだ-る、もと: Down ここが線より下です Here is below the line. • 下 : down / below • 下げる : lower / hang down • 下さい : please (give me) • 地下鉄 : subway • 下手な : unskilled; poor at • 上下 : up and down • 下ろす : lower / unload • 川下 : downstream Illustration: /api/assets/ee3ff79e-28cb-4681-bc3c-b51e93db74ad.jpg
  • 二 ニ ふた-つ: Two 二本の指で示したのが「二」です Showing two fingers means “two.” • 二 : two • 二つ : two (things) • 二時 : two o’clock • 二月 : February • 二人 : two people • 二日 : the second day (of the month) • 二十日 : twentieth day (of the month) / 20 days • 二十歳 : twenty years old • 二十歳 : twenty years old Illustration: /api/assets/a5e33c06-64fd-45e5-819f-9367670b72d1.jpg
  • 行 コウ, ギョウ, アン い-く、ゆ-く、おこな-う: Go この角でどこに行くか決めてください Decide where to go at this corner. • 行く : go • 行く : go • 行う : carry out / conduct • 銀行 : bank • 旅行 : travel / trip • 行動 : action / behavior • 行事 : event • 一行目 : first line Illustration: /api/assets/b36146b0-da8c-4b95-8e0b-589b20056ef9.jpg
  • 月 ゲツ, ガツ つき: Month / Moon 三日月の形です This is the shape of a crescent moon. • 一月 : January • 月曜日 : Monday • 今月 : this month • 月 : moon • 一か月 : one month • 毎月 : every month • 来月 : next month • お正月 : New Year Illustration: /api/assets/6aaa4809-35ec-45cf-a196-6f9e590d8a97.jpg
  • 力 リョク, リキ ちから: Power 筋肉失の男の人は力持ちです A muscular man is strong. • 力 : power / strength • 学力 : academic ability • 電力 : electric power • 重力 : gravity • 協力する : cooperate • 努力 : effort • 力学 : mechanics • 視力 : eyesight Illustration: /api/assets/543ebf26-19fa-4226-b6b4-6048ee5dd051.jpg
  • 米 ベイ, マイ こめ: Rice 稲の形です This is the shape of a rice plant. • お米 : rice • 米屋 : rice shop • 米国 : United States (America) • 欧米 : Europe and America / the West • 南米 : South America • 北米 : North America • 新米 : new rice / newcomer Illustration: /api/assets/3e3ff436-1e7e-4b19-b7e3-9335b58ff37c.jpg
  • 男 ダン, ナン おとこ: Man 男の人が力を出して、田んぼで働いています A man uses his strength to work in the rice field. • 男の子 : boy • 男の人 : man • 男性 : male • 男子学生 : male student • 長男 : eldest son Illustration: /api/assets/ff8d1609-1fcb-4ec3-b2d4-25e37de5cf68.jpg
  • 三 サン み、みっ-つ: Three 三本の指で示したのが「三」です Showing three fingers means “three.” • 三 : three • 三つ : three (things) • 三時 : three o’clock • 三月 : March • 三日 : three days / the third day (of the month) • 三人 : three people • 三歳 : three years old • 三日月 : crescent moon Illustration: /api/assets/dd3ff390-2e0a-4147-a14e-b62a8d80b8ad.jpg
  • 中 チュウ なか: Middle / Inside ここが円の真ん中です This is the center of a circle. • 中 : inside / middle • 中国 : China • 一年中 : all year round • 中学校 : junior high school • 世界中 : all over the world • 背中 : back • 中止 : cancellation • 中級 : intermediate level Illustration: /api/assets/b6476d79-fac0-40ff-ae3e-ab7afefe66ec.jpg
  • 火 カ ひ: Fire 火の形です This is the shape of fire. • 火曜日 : Tuesday • 火 : fire • 火事 : fire • 火山 : volcano • 花火 : fireworks • 火星 : Mars • 消火器 : fire extinguisher • 火災 : fire / conflagration Illustration: /api/assets/3bf48695-8cbf-429d-9ee1-9ce72729ae5d.jpg
  • 水 スイ みず、みな: Water 滝が水しぶきをあげています A waterfall is splashing water. • 水曜日 : Wednesday • 水 : water • 水泳 : swimming • 水道 : water supply / waterworks • 海水浴 : sea bathing / swimming at the beach • 水着 : swimsuit • 香水 : perfume • 鼻水 : runny nose / nasal mucus Illustration: /api/assets/6d927afe-d526-405b-8529-4c50166a6231.jpg
  • 来 ライ く-る、きた-る: Come 十月が来ると米が収穫できます When October comes, rice can be harvested. • 来る : come • 来ます : come (polite) • 来ない : do not come • 来年 : next year • 来週 : next week • 将来 : future • 来学期 : next semester • 来る : come Illustration: /api/assets/b1e0b8f3-3947-4e6c-b51e-5bfc967ae282.jpg
  • 外 ガイ, ゲ そと、はず-す、ほか: Outside 煙草は外で吸いましょう Let’s smoke outside. • 外 : outside • 外国 : foreign country • 外国人 : foreigner • 外の : outside (adj.) • 海外 : overseas; abroad • 意外な : unexpected • 外す : remove / take off • 外科 : surgery / surgical department Illustration: /api/assets/23467bce-5775-43a3-92f4-9f0f22744e94.jpg
  • 四 シ よん、よ-つ: Four 四角には四つの角があります A square has four corners. • 四 : four • 四 : four • 四つ : four (things) • 四時 : four o’clock • 四月 : April • 四日 : fourth day (of the month) / 4 days • 四人 : four people • 四年生 : fourth-grade student • 四歳 : four years old Illustration: /api/assets/c0968381-481f-4bad-9da7-40021d6c9c24.jpg
  • 女 ジョ, ニョ, ニョウ おんな、め: Woman 女の人の形です This is the shape of a woman. • 女の子 : girl • 女の人 : woman • 女性 : female • 長女 : eldest daughter • 少女 : girl • 彼女 : she • 女房 : wife • 女神 : goddess Illustration: /api/assets/531ec0ae-b254-47ce-aa56-53caa50146f0.jpg
  • 五 ゴ いつ-つ: Five 五本のマッチで［五」の形が作れますか Can you make the shape of “five” with five matches? • 五 : five • 五つ : five (things) • 五時 : five o’clock • 五月 : May • 五日 : fifth day (of the month) / 5 days • 五年 : five years • 五人 : five people • 五歳 : five years old Illustration: /api/assets/e8938fc8-4157-4ef0-87c6-0a9a72728105.jpg
  • 木 ボク, モク き: Tree 木の形です This is the shape of a tree. • 木曜日 : Thursday • 木 : tree / wood • 木綿 : cotton • 木村さん : Mr./Ms. Kimura • 木星 : Jupiter • 大木 : big tree • 材木 : lumber / timber • 木陰 : shade of a tree Illustration: /api/assets/95a93b41-7a99-4f61-bb0b-5557cdb84820.jpg
  • 右 ウ, ユウ みぎ: Right 右手で食べます Eat with your right hand. • 右 : right • 右手 : right hand • 右足 : right foot • 右側 : right side • 左右 : left and right • 右翼 : right wing (politics) Illustration: /api/assets/d4d3da9f-00cc-4d8f-baf0-d041ea6ba6af.jpg
  • 子 シ, ス こ、ね: Child 子どもの形です This is the shape of a child. • 女の子 : girl • 男の子 : boy • 子供 : child • 電子辞書 : electronic dictionary • 女子学生 : female student • 男子学生 : male student • 様子 : state; appearance Illustration: /api/assets/fdf6fe89-e544-4593-bdab-9858b33e0f9a.jpg

Practice quizzes included

  • Kanji Look and Learn Review 1
  • Kanji Look and Learn Review 2
  • Kanji Look and Learn Review 3
  • Kanji Look and Learn Review 4
  • Kanji Look and Learn Review 5

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