How To Learn Kanji: Beginner’s Guide With 100+ Characters

Kanji is one of the three writing systems you need to master when learning Japanese words. But if you’ve ever checked, you’ll know that there are over 2,000 commonly used Kanji characters that learners are generally expected to recognize. So for a beginner, figuring out how to learn kanji can feel overwhelming.

But the good news is that you don’t have to memorize all the characters at once. What you need is the right approach, and in this guide, we will walk you through how to learn kanji from the basics, including the first 100 kanji characters to start with as a beginner.

I want to learn even more languages with Ling!

Download now!

How To Learn Kanji: What Is The Best Way To Start As A Beginner?

The best way for a beginner to start learning Kanji is to first master Hiragana and Katakana, learn the rules of stroke order,  the radicals, and then the Kanji characters in thematic groups. 

Then build your knowledge through regular practice and review, and rather than trying to memorize hundreds of characters at once, follow a gradual process.

Why Should You Learn Hiragana & Katakana Before Learning Kanji?

You should learn Hiragana and Katakana first because they are the foundational phonetic alphabet of the Japanese writing system. Specifically, Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb endings, while Katakana is primarily used for foreign loanwords, foreign names, and words that need emphasis.

Familiarity with both systems will help you read Japanese words and understand how kanji are used in context. 

What Is Stroke Order In Kanji?

Stroke order is the sequence in which you write the individual strokes that make up a kanji character. Here are the four basic rules of stroke order:

• Top to bottom: Write upper strokes before lower ones.
• Left to right: Write left-side components before right-side components.
• Horizontal before vertical: Horizontal strokes generally come before vertical strokes when they cross.
• Outside before inside: Write the outer enclosure before the inner components in many enclosed characters.

What Are Radicals In Kanji?

Radicals (bushu) are the smaller visual building blocks or sub-components that make up every single Kanji character. There are 214 traditional radicals, and each one usually gives you a hint about kanji meanings or pronunciation.

For example, whenever you see the “water” radical (氵), the character’s meaning will almost always relate to liquid. So you’ll see it in characters such as 海 (sea) and 河 (river).

These are 214 kanji radicals:

How Can You Learn Your First 100 Kanji Characters?

The easiest way to learn your first 100 kanji is to group them by theme, such as numbers, nature, people, and everyday life. This helps you connect characters with familiar ideas instead of memorizing them randomly.

The table below outlines 100 Kanji characters that you can learn:

How Many Kanji Characters Should You Learn Each Day?

Aim to learn three to five new kanji each day as a beginner. This gives you enough time to understand each character, practice writing it, and review previously learned kanji without feeling overwhelmed.

Of course, you might feel tempted to learn 10, 20, or even more kanji in one sitting. And while you might manage to memorize them temporarily, remembering the kanji over the long term can be challenging.

How Do You Write ‘Kanji ’ In Japanese?

The word kanji is written as 漢字 in Japanese. You can also write kanji in hiragana as かんじ, but 漢字 is the standard form used in everyday Japanese writing.

Important Tips On Kanji Learning

Here are a few tips to help you learn faster and remember what you study:

• Follow a structured order: Don’t learn Kanji characters randomly. Start with the common characters and gradually progress. You can use the Japanese Ministry of Education’s Jōyō Kanji list, which contains the 2,136 commonly used characters.
• Study kanji through vocabulary, not in isolation: Learn how characters appear in actual words to understand their different readings. 
• Practice reading kanji in common words and sentences: Read simple Japanese sentences that use familiar vocabulary. This helps you recognize kanji in context and understand how they work alongside hiragana.
• Use spaced repetition: Review previously learned characters at increasing intervals to help reinforce your memory over time. You can use flashcards or any spaced repetition tool. 
• Practice reading and writing: Do not focus only on recognizing characters. Write them from memory, follow the correct stroke order, and practice identifying them when reading.

How To Learn Kanji: Frequently Asked Questions

How To Learn Kanji: Recap

The thought of learning more than 2000 Kanji characters will definitely seem overwhelming. But the key is breaking the process into manageable steps. Start by learning hiragana and katakana, familiarize yourself with stroke order and common radicals, and then gradually build your knowledge with the frequently used kanji.

It’s advisable to learn the characters in thematic groups rather than randomly. Also, aim for three to five new kanji characters daily, and practice reading, writing, and reviewing them regularly. 

Most importantly, learn through actual Japanese words and sentences instead of just memorizing the characters in isolation.

Start Learning The Japanese Language With Ling

Learning Japanese, especially with its different writing systems, will definitely feel overwhelming, especially as a beginner. However, you can actually learn faster when you use a structured learning platform that guides you through each stage, from the basics to more advanced concepts.

The Ling app is a platform designed to do exactly that. Ling’s Japanese course takes language learners through the fundamentals step by step, helping them build vocabulary and develop the skills needed for everyday communication.

The app also includes useful learning tools, such as native-speaker audio and review exercises, to help reinforce what you have learned and make practice more effective.

And that is not all. Ling also gives you the opportunity to explore the app before committing to a subscription through its 7-day free trial. So you can start your free trial today and take the next step in your Japanese learning journey!