Japanese Kanji by School Grade: Complete Kyouiku Kanji Guide
Japanese children learn 1,026 kanji across six elementary school grades, the 教育漢字 (kyouiku kanji). This guide organizes essential kanji by grade level with readings, meanings, and examples to help you learn them in the same order as native speakers.
Understanding Japan's Kanji Grade System
What Are Kyouiku Kanji?
教育漢字 (kyouiku kanji) are the 1,026 kanji designated by Japan's Ministry of Education for elementary school students. They form the foundation of Japanese literacy and are taught systematically from grade 1 through grade 6.
Grade-by-Grade Progression
Grade 1 starts with 80 simple, high-frequency kanji like numbers and nature words. Each subsequent grade adds more complex characters, building on radicals and patterns from earlier grades.
JLPT Connection
Grade 1-3 kanji roughly cover JLPT N5-N4. Grades 4-6 overlap with N3-N2. Studying kanji by school grade is an effective alternative to JLPT-based study, especially for beginners.
Kanji Count by Grade Level
Here's how the 1,026 kyouiku kanji are distributed across six elementary school grades.
| Grade | Kanji Count | Age | JLPT Approx. | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 80 | 6-7 years | N5 | Numbers, nature, body, basic actions |
| Grade 2 | 160 | 7-8 years | N5-N4 | Time, directions, animals, daily life |
| Grade 3 | 200 | 8-9 years | N4-N3 | Society, places, feelings, science |
| Grade 4 | 202 | 9-10 years | N3 | Abstract concepts, government, industry |
| Grade 5 | 193 | 10-11 years | N3-N2 | Economics, politics, complex actions |
| Grade 6 | 191 | 11-12 years | N2 | Literature, philosophy, advanced topics |
| Total | 1,026 | |||
Grade 1 Kanji (一年生)
80 kanji · Simple, high-frequency kanji: numbers, nature, body parts, and basic verbs
Grade 1: Key Kanji in Detail
Example:
富士山は日本で一番高い山です。
Fujisan wa Nihon de ichiban takai yama desu.
Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan.
Example:
日曜日は休みです。
Nichiyoubi wa yasumi desu.
Sunday is a day off.
Example:
あの人は日本人です。
Ano hito wa Nihonjin desu.
That person is Japanese.
Example:
大学で日本語を学びます。
Daigaku de Nihongo o manabimasu.
I study Japanese at university.
Grade 2 Kanji (二年生)
160 kanji · Time, directions, family, animals, daily activities
Grade 2: Key Kanji in Detail
Example:
毎日三食食べます。
Mainichi sanshoku tabemasu.
I eat three meals every day.
Example:
今何時ですか？
Ima nanji desu ka?
What time is it now?
Example:
心を込めて作りました。
Kokoro o komete tsukurimashita.
I made it with all my heart.
Example:
この道をまっすぐ行ってください。
Kono michi o massugu itte kudasai.
Please go straight down this road.
Grade 3 Kanji (三年生)
200 kanji · Society, geography, emotions, science concepts
Grade 3: Key Kanji in Detail
Example:
世界にはたくさんの国があります。
Sekai ni wa takusan no kuni ga arimasu.
There are many countries in the world.
Example:
感動的な映画でした。
Kandouteki na eiga deshita.
It was a moving movie.
Example:
今日は温かい日ですね。
Kyou wa atatakai hi desu ne.
It's a warm day today, isn't it?
Example:
日本は島国です。
Nihon wa shimaguni desu.
Japan is an island country.
Grade 4 Kanji (四年生)
202 kanji · Government, law, abstract concepts, industry
Grade 4: Key Kanji in Detail
Example:
友達を信じています。
Tomodachi o shinjite imasu.
I trust my friend.
Example:
新しい法律ができました。
Atarashii houritsu ga dekimashita.
A new law was created.
Example:
毎日努力しています。
Mainichi doryoku shite imasu.
I make an effort every day.
Example:
天気が急に変わりました。
Tenki ga kyuu ni kawarimashita.
The weather changed suddenly.
Grade 5 Kanji (五年生)
193 kanji · Economics, politics, complex verbs, formal expressions
Grade 5: Key Kanji in Detail
Example:
経済の勉強をしています。
Keizai no benkyou o shite imasu.
I am studying economics.
Example:
確認してください。
Kakunin shite kudasai.
Please confirm.
Example:
情報をありがとうございます。
Jouhou o arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for the information.
Example:
消費税は十パーセントです。
Shouhizei wa juu paasento desu.
The consumption tax is ten percent.
Grade 6 Kanji (六年生)
191 kanji · Literature, philosophy, science, advanced abstract concepts
Grade 6: Key Kanji in Detail
Example:
彼女はとても優しい人です。
Kanojo wa totemo yasashii hito desu.
She is a very kind person.
Example:
新しい物語を創りました。
Atarashii monogatari o tsukurimashita.
I created a new story.
Example:
宇宙飛行士になりたいです。
Uchuu hikoushi ni naritai desu.
I want to become an astronaut.
Example:
彼の論文はとても面白いです。
Kare no ronbun wa totemo omoshiroi desu.
His thesis is very interesting.
How to Study Kanji by Grade Level
Follow the Natural Order
Japanese schools teach kanji in this order for a reason: each grade builds on radicals and patterns from previous grades. Start with grade 1 even if you're an adult learner. The 80 grade-1 kanji give you a foundation for everything that follows.
Learn Readings in Context
Each kanji has on'yomi (Chinese reading) and kun'yomi (Japanese reading). Don't memorize both in isolation. Learn them through words. For example, learn 山 as やま (yama/mountain) first, then サン (san) through 富士山 (Fujisan).
Build Compound Words
As you learn more kanji, combine them into compound words (熟語 jukugo). Grade 1 kanji like 山 + 川 = 山川 (yamakawa/mountain and river). This multiplies your vocabulary and reinforces readings.
Use Spaced Repetition
Review kanji at increasing intervals to move them from short-term to long-term memory. Our card collection system uses spaced repetition automatically: collect kanji cards and review them to build lasting knowledge.
Cross-Grade Compound Words (Jukugo)
These compound words combine kanji from different school grades, showing how earlier kanji connect to form more advanced vocabulary.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning | Grades |
|---|---|---|---|
| 小学校 | しょうがっこう (shougakkou) | Elementary school | G1+G1+G1 |
| 中学校 | ちゅうがっこう (chuugakkou) | Middle school | G1+G1+G1 |
| 大学生 | だいがくせい (daigakusei) | University student | G1+G1+G1 |
| 日本語 | にほんご (nihongo) | Japanese language | G1+G1+G2 |
| 天気予報 | てんきよほう (tenki yohou) | Weather forecast | G1+G1+G3+G5 |
| 世界中 | せかいじゅう (sekaijuu) | All over the world | G3+G3+G1 |
| 図書館 | としょかん (toshokan) | Library | G2+G2+G3 |
| 動物園 | どうぶつえん (doubutsuen) | Zoo | G3+G3+G2 |
| 社会科 | しゃかいか (shakaika) | Social studies | G2+G2+G2 |
| 経済学 | けいざいがく (keizaigaku) | Economics | G5+G5+G1 |
| 自然環境 | しぜんかんきょう (shizen kankyou) | Natural environment | G2+G2+G4+G4 |
| 宇宙飛行 | うちゅうひこう (uchuu hikou) | Space flight | G6+G6+G2+G2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are kyouiku kanji (教育漢字)?
Kyouiku kanji are the 1,026 kanji that Japan's Ministry of Education designates for teaching in elementary school (grades 1-6). They form the foundation of Japanese literacy. All Japanese children learn these kanji between ages 6-12.
How many kanji do Japanese students learn in each grade?
Grade 1: 80 kanji, Grade 2: 160 kanji, Grade 3: 200 kanji, Grade 4: 202 kanji, Grade 5: 193 kanji, Grade 6: 191 kanji. The total is 1,026 kanji across all six elementary school grades.
Should I learn kanji in school grade order?
Learning by school grade is an excellent strategy, especially for beginners. The grades are designed so simpler kanji and common radicals come first, building a foundation for more complex characters later. It's how native Japanese speakers learn, and it works well for foreign learners too.
What is the difference between kyouiku kanji and jouyou kanji?
Kyouiku kanji (1,026) are the subset taught in elementary school. Jouyou kanji (2,136) are all the kanji designated for daily use by the Japanese government. After mastering the kyouiku kanji, you would continue with the remaining ~1,110 jouyou kanji typically learned in middle and high school.
How do school grade kanji relate to JLPT levels?
Roughly: Grade 1-2 kanji cover most of JLPT N5. Grades 2-3 cover N4. Grades 3-4 align with N3. Grades 5-6 overlap with N2. However, the overlap is not exact: JLPT focuses on frequency in adult life while school grades focus on pedagogical progression.
Start Learning School Grade Kanji Today
Collect kanji cards grade by grade, the same way Japanese children learn. Free to start, no signup needed.
Start Collecting for Free