The 50 Most Common Kanji for Beginners

These high-frequency kanji appear constantly. Learning them first gives you the most reading power for your effort.

Numbers & basics

一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十 (1–10), 百 (hundred), 千 (thousand), 円 (yen), 年 (year).

Time & days

日 (day/sun), 月 (month/moon), 火 水 木 金 土 (weekday elements), 時 (time), 今 (now), 上 (up), 下 (down).

People & places

人 (person), 男 (man), 女 (woman), 子 (child), 学 (study), 校 (school), 先 (previous), 生 (life), 国 (country), 山 (mountain), 川 (river).

Everyday actions & things

大 (big), 小 (small), 中 (middle/inside), 本 (book/origin), 車 (car), 食 (eat), 飲 (drink), 見 (see), 行 (go), 来 (come), 話 (talk), 家 (house), 手 (hand), 目 (eye), 口 (mouth), 何 (what).

Learn these 50 in context and you''ll suddenly recognise pieces of signs, menus and textbooks everywhere.