Kanji for Beginners

Learning kanji characters is one of the biggest challenges for beginners studying Japanese, but it's also one of the most rewarding. Unlike the English alphabet, kanji is a system of logographic characters borrowed from Chinese, each carrying meaning rather than just a sound. If you’ve just started your kanji journey, don’t worry—we’ll break it down step by step.

In this guide, you’ll learn about basic kanji, including the meaning of watashi kanji, the difference between onyomi and kunyomi, and how to effectively study kanji to boost your Japanese skills.

What Are Kanji Characters?

Kanji are one of the three scripts used in Japanese, alongside hiragana and katakana. If you didn't learn about Hiragana yet, check out my blog article on hiragana and katakana. Unlike these phonetic writing systems, kanji represent ideas and meanings rather than just sounds.

For example, the kanji 山 (yama) means "mountain," and 川 (kawa) means "river." By learning kanji, you’ll not only improve your reading skills but also understand the deeper meaning behind Japanese words.

Most kanji have two or more readings, which we’ll explore later under onyomi and kunyomi. This might seem intimidating at first, but learning kanji is essential for mastering Japanese.

How Many Kanji Do You Need to Know?

The Japanese government has designated 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字) as the standard set for daily use. However, as a beginner, you don’t need to memorize them all at once!

To start, focus on basic kanji—around 100–200 commonly used characters. These will help you read simple sentences and recognize important signs when traveling in Japan.

Watashi Kanji (私) and Other Essential Basic Kanji

A great place to start learning kanji is with common pronouns, such as the watashi kanji (私), which means "I" or "me." This kanji is frequently used in polite speech and appears in daily conversations and writing.

Here are some basic kanji that every beginner should learn:

These kanji for beginners are commonly used in daily life and provide a solid foundation for your studies.

Understanding Onyomi and Kunyomi Readings

Each kanji has two main types of readings:

1. Onyomi (音読み) – "Chinese reading" (often used in compound words)

2. Kunyomi (訓読み) – "Japanese reading" (often used when kanji stand alone)

For example, the kanji for water (水) can be read in different ways:

• Onyomi: sui (used in words like 水曜日 / suiyōbi = "Wednesday")

• Kunyomi: mizu (used when referring to "water" by itself)

As you learn more kanji, you’ll see patterns in how onyomi and kunyomi readings are used.

How to Learn Kanji Effectively

1. Start with Basic Kanji and Build Up

Focus on the most commonly used basic kanji, such as numbers, days of the week, and nature-related words.

2. Use Mnemonics to Remember Kanji

Create stories or visual associations to help remember characters. For example:

• The kanji for tree (木) looks like an actual tree!

• The kanji for forest (森) is made up of three tree kanji (木木木).

3. Practice Writing Kanji

Writing kanji helps reinforce memory. Pay attention to stroke order, as it improves recognition and writing speed.

4. Learn Onyomi and Kunyomi Readings Gradually

Instead of memorizing every reading at once, learn the most common pronunciation first and add more over time.

5. Read Simple Japanese Texts

Practice reading children’s books, menus, and signs to encounter kanji in context.

6. Use Flashcards and Apps

Apps like Anki, WaniKani, and Kanji Study help reinforce kanji recognition through spaced repetition.

7. Take a Kanji Course

I wrote a workbook to better explain you what Kanji really are, how they form vocabulary. If you want to learn more you can take a look into my Basic Principles of Japanese Language Course

Conclusion

Learning kanji for beginners is a journey that takes time, but by starting with basic kanji like the watashi kanji (私) and understanding onyomi and kunyomi, you’ll develop a strong foundation in Japanese.

Remember, consistency is key—practice every day, and soon you’ll be reading and writing kanji with confidence. If you want study materials that will assist you on your learning journey, you can take subscribe to my newsletter below for monthly free learning assets!