Today we will see the 150 most used kanji in the Japanese language. I can’t say how this research was conducted, but I confirm its accuracy.
Can you recognize and understand all the kanji on the list? Can you remember words that are commonly used in everyday life that use the kanji from the list below?
There may be some errors, or the translation may not make sense, because everything will depend on the context or other kanji that will form the words. A kanji cannot be merely translated or given a meaning.
We also recommend reading:
- 250 Japanese Female Names with meanings
- See how to write your name in Kanji – Ideograms!
- The ideograms and kanji of similar appearance
List of Most Used Kanji in Japanese
Below is the list of the most used ideograms in Japanese ordered by ranking:
| Ranking | Strokes | Kanji | On-Yomi | Kun-Yomi | Portuguese |
| 1 | 4 | 日 | NICHI/ SHITSU | hi/ -bi/ -ka | day, sun, Japan |
| 2 | 1 | 一 | ICHI/ ITSU | hito-/ hito(tsu) | one |
| 3 | 2 | 十 | JUU/ JIT-/ JUT- | too/ to | ten |
| 4 | 2 | 二 | NI/ JI | futa/ futa(tsu)/ futata(bi) | two |
| 5 | 3 | 大 | DAI / TAI | oo-/ oo(kii)/ -oo(ini) | big, huge |
| 6 | 3 | 三 | SAN/ ZOU | mi/ mi(tsu)/ mit-(tsu) | three |
| 7 | 9 | 係 | KEI | kaka(ru)/ kakari/ -gakari/ kaka(waru) | person in charge, connection, duty, concerns oneself |
| 8 | 6 | 会 | KAI/ E | a(u)/ a(waseru)/ atsu(maru) | meeting, gathering, party, association, interview, unite |
| 9 | 8 | 国 | KOKU | kuni | country, land, nation |
| 10 | 6 | 年 | NEN | toshi | year |
| 11 | 4 | 中 | CHUU | naka/ uchi/ ata(ru) | in, interior, medium, middle, center |
| 12 | 5 | 本 | HON | moto | book, present, real, true, main, suffix for counting long things |
| 13 | 4 | 五 | GO | itsu/ itsu(tsu) | five |
| 14 | 5 | 四 | SHI | yo/ yo(tsu)/ yot-(tsu)/ yon | four |
| 15 | 5 | 出 | SHUTSU/ SUI | de(ru)/ -de/ da(su)/ -da(su)/ i(deru)/ i(dasu) | exit, leave |
| 16 | 3 | 上 | JOU/ SHOU/ SHAN | única/ -única/ uwa-/ kami/ a(geru)/ -a(geru)/ a(garu)/ -a(garu)/ a(gari)/ -a(gari)/ nobo(ru)/ nobo(ri)/ nobo(seru)/ nobo(su)/ yo(su) | above, up, over, rise, climb, on top, scale |
| 17 | 10 | 時 | JI | toki/ -doki | time, hour |
| 18 | 6 | 同 | DOU | ona(ji) | same, agree, equal |
| 19 | 8 | 長 | CHOU | naga(i)/ osa | long, aspire, leader, chief |
| 20 | 8 | 東 | TOU | higashi | east |
| 21 | 6 | 行 | KOU/ GYOU/ AN | i(ku)/ yu(ku)/ -yu(ki)/ -yuki/ -i(ki)/ -iki/ okona(u)/ oko(nau) | go, travel, journey |
| 22 | 8 | 事 | JI/ ZU | koto/ tsuka(u)/ tsuka(eru) | matter, thing, fact, business, reason, possibly |
| 23 | 8 | 学 | GAKU | mana(bu) | study, learning, science |
| 24 | 5 | 生 | SEI/ SHOU | i(kiru)/ i(kasu)/ i(keru)/ u(mareru)/ u(mare)/ umare/ u(um)/ o(u)/ um(eru)/ um(yasu)/ ki/ nama/ nama-/ na(ru)/ na(su)/ um(su)/ -u | life, genuine, birth |
| 25 | 4 | 月 | GETSU/ GATSU | tsuki | month, moon |
| 26 | 8 | 者 | SHA | mono | someone, person |
| 27 | 4 | 六 | ROKU/ RIKU | mu/ mu(tsu)/ mut-(tsu)/ mui | six |
| 28 | 12 | 間 | KAN/ KEN | aida/ ma/ ai | interval, space |
| 29 | 4 | 方 | HOU | kata/ -kata/ -gata | direction, person, alternative |
| 30 | 4 | 分 | BUN/ FUN/ BU | wa(keru)/ wa(ke)/ wa(kareru)/ wa(karu)/ wa(katsu) | part, minute, segment, part, degree, duty, understand, know, value, 1%, opportunities, shaku/ 10 |
| 31 | 9 | 前 | ZEN | mae/ -mae | in front, before |
| 32 | 9 | 後 | GO/ KOU | nochi/ ushi(ro)/ ushiro/ ato/ oku(reru) | behind, back, later |
| 33 | 6 | 地 | CHI/ JI | earth, ground | |
| 34 | 12 | 場 | JOU/ CHOU | ba | location, place |
| 35 | 4 | 手 | SHU/ ZU | te/ te-/ -te/ ta- | hand |
| 36 | 9 | 政 | SEI/ SHOU | matsurigoto/ man | politics, government |
| 37 | 8 | 的 | TEKI | mato | center of target, mark, target, object |
| 38 | 9 | 発 | HATSU/ HOTSU | ta(tsu)/ aba(ku)/ oko(ru)/ tsuka(wasu)/ hana(tsu) | release, departure, publish, emit, from, reveal |
| 39 | 6 | 合 | GOU/ GAT-/ KAT- | a(u)/ -a(u)/ a(i)/ ai-/ -a(i)/ -ai/ a(wasu)/ a(waseru)/ -a(waseru) | fit, unite |
| 40 | 2 | 八 | HACHI | ya/ ya(tsu)/ yat-(tsu)/ yo_ | eight |
| 41 | 20 | 議 | GI | deliberation, consultation, debate, consideration | |
| 42 | 11 | 部 | BU | -be | section, bureau, department, class, copy, part, portion, suffix for counting newspapers or magazines |
| 43 | 14 | 稲 | TOU/ TE | ine/ ina- | rice plant |
| 44 | 10 | 員 | IN | employee, member, number, in charge | |
| 45 | 7 | 見 | KEN | mi(ru)/ mi(eru)/ mi(seru) | see, hopes, opportunities, idea, opinion, look, visible |
| 46 | 8 | 京 | KYOU/ KEI/ KIN | miyako | capital, 10 to the power of 16 |
| 47 | 2 | 九 | KYUU/ KU | kokono/ kokono(tsu) | nine |
| 48 | 7 | 社 | SHA | yashiro | company, firm, office, association, temple |
| 49 | 7 | 対 | TAI/ TSUI | aite/ kota(eru)/ soro(i)/ tsurea(i)/ nara(bu)/ muka(u) | vis-a-vis, opposite, even, equal, versus, anti-, compare |
| 50 | 13 | 業 | GYOU/ GOU | waza | business, vocation, arts, performance |
| 51 | 2 | 七 | SHICHI | nana/ nana(tsu)/ nano | seven |
| 52 | 3 | 子 | SHI/ SU/ TSU | ko/ -ko/ -t-(ko)/ ne | child |
| 53 | 13 | 新 | SHIN | atara(shii)/ ara(ta)/ ara-/ nii- | new |
| 54 | 6 | 自 | JI/ SHI | mizuka(ra)/ ono(zukara)/ ono(zuto) | oneself |
| 55 | 10 | 高 | KOU | taka(i)/ taka/ -daka/ taka(maru)/ taka(meru) | expensive, high |
| 56 | 4 | 内 | NAI/ DAI | uchi | interior, inside, between, among, house, home |
| 57 | 5 | 立 | RITSU/ RYUU/ RITTORU | ta(tsu)/ -ta(tsu)/ ta(chi-)/ ta(teru)/ -ta(teru)/ ta(te-)/ tate-/ -ta(te)/ -da(te)/ -da(teru) | stand up, rise |
| 58 | 9 | 相 | SOU/ SHOU | ai- | inter-, mutual, together, mutually, state minister, advisor, aspect, face, physiognomy |
| 59 | 9 | 度 | DO/ TO/ TAKU | tabi/ -ta(i) | degrees, occurrence, time, suffix for counting occurrences |
| 60 | 6 | 回 | KAI/ E | mawa(ru)/ -mawa(ru)/ -mawa(ri)/ mawa(su)/ -mawa(su)/ mawa(shi-)/ -mawa(shi)/ motoo(ru)/ ka(eru) | times, round, game, revolve, suffix for counting occurrences, turn |
| 61 | 11 | 問 | MON | to(u)/ to(i)/ ton | ask, question, problem |
| 62 | 8 | 定 | TEI/ JOU | sada(meru)/ sada(maru)/ sada(ka) | determine, fix, establish, decide |
| 63 | 15 | 億 | OKU | one hundred million, 10 to the power of 8 | |
| 64 | 5 | 目 | MOKU/ BOKU | me/ -me/ ma- | eye, class, look, vision, experience, attention, favor |
| 65 | 3 | 小 | SHOU | chii(sai)/ ko-/ o-/ única- | small, little |
| 66 | 2 | 力 | RYOKU/ RIKI/ RII | chikara | strength, strong, effort, endure, exercise |
| 67 | 6 | 全 | ZEN | matta(ku)/ sube(te) | whole, all, everything, complete, fill |
| 68 | 4 | 円 | EN | maru(i)/ maru/ mado/ mado(ka)/ maro(yaka) | circle, yen, round |
| 69 | 6 | 気 | KI/ KE | iki | spirit, mind |
| 70 | 9 | 峠 | – | to_ge | mountain peak, mountain pass, climax, summit, (kokuji) |
| 71 | 8 | 金 | KIN/ KON/ GON | kane/ kana-/ -gane | gold |
| 72 | 10 | 通 | TSUU/ TSU | too(ru)/ too(ri)/ -too(ri)/ -doo(ri)/ too(su)/ too(shi)/ -doo(shi)/ kayo(u) | traffic, pass through, avenue, commute, suffix for counting letters |
| 73 | 12 | 開 | KAI | hira(ku)/ hira(ki)/ -bira(ki)/ hira(keru)/ a(ku)/ a(keru) | open, unfold, unseal |
| 74 | 13 | 戦 | SEN | ikusa/ tataka(u)/ onono(ku)/ soyogu/ wanana(ku) | war, battle, dispute |
| 75 | 5 | 市 | SHI | ichi | market, city, town |
| 76 | 6 | 米 | BEI/ MAI/ MEUTORU | kome/ yone | rice, USA |
| 77 | 5 | 民 | MIN | tami | people, nation, affairs |
| 78 | 3 | 千 | SEN | chi | thousand |
| 79 | 10 | 連 | REN | tsura(naru)/ tsura(neru)/ tsu(reru)/ -dzu(re) | lead along, priority, unite, connect, party, gang, group |
| 80 | 7 | 決 | KETSU | ki(meru)/ -gi(me)/ ki(maru)/ um(ku) | decide, fix, agree on, appoint |
| 81 | 11 | 現 | GEN | arawa(reru)/ arawa(su) | present, existence, reality |
| 82 | 2 | 入 | NYUU/ NIT- | i(ru)/ -i(ru)/ -i(ri)/ i(reru)/ -i(re)/ hai(ru)/ hama(ru) | enter, insert |
| 83 | 4 | 午 | GO | uma | noon |
| 84 | 5 | 代 | UM/ TAI | ka(waru)/ kawa(ru)/ kawa(ri)/ -gawa(ri)/ ka(eru)/ yo/ shiro | substitute, change, convert, replace, period, age, generation, load, value, rate |
| 85 | 11 | 第 | JÁ/ TEI | prefix for ordinal numbers, residence | |
| 86 | 8 | 実 | JITSU/ SHITSU | mi/ mino(ru)/ makoto/ makotoni/ mino/ michi(ru)/ jit- | reality, truth |
| 87 | 5 | 主 | SHU/ SU/ SHUU | nushi/ omo/ aruji | lord, chief, master, main thing, principal |
| 88 | 11 | 動 | DOU | ugo(ku)/ ugo(kasu) | move, movement, change, fusion, exchange, stir |
| 89 | 8 | 明 | MEI/ MYOU/ MIN | a(kari)/ aka(rui)/ aka(rumu)/ aka(ramu)/ aki(raka)/ a(keru)/ -a(ke)/ a(ku)/ a(kuru)/ a(kasu) | bright, light |
| 90 | 10 | 党 | TOU | nakama/ mura | party, faction, clique |
| 91 | 6 | 当 | TOU | a(taru)/ a(tari)/ a(teru)/ a( te)/ masa(ni)/ masa(nibeshi) | hit, right, appropriate, oneself |
| 92 | 3 | 下 | KA/ GE | shita/ shimo/ moto/ única(geru)/ única(garu)/ kuda(ru)/ kuda(ri)/ kuda(su)/ -kuda(su)/ kuda(saru)/ o(rosu)/ o( riru) | below, down, descend, inferior, low, under, beneath |
| 93 | 14 | 関 | KAN | seki/ -zeki/ kaka(waru)/ karakuri/ kannuki | connection, obstacle, passage, involve, concerning |
| 94 | 10 | 家 | KA/ KE | ie/ ya/ uchi | house, home |
| 95 | 15 | 調 | CHOU | shira(beru)/ shira(be)/ totono(u)/ totono(eru) | song, tone, meter, clef (music), style of writing, prepare, exorcise, investigate |
| 96 | 18 | 題 | DAÍ | topic, subject | |
| 97 | 11 | 教 | KYOU | oshi(eru)/ oso(waru) | teach, faith, doctrine |
| 98 | 13 | 意 | I | idea, mind, heart, taste, thought, desire, attention, liking | |
| 99 | 4 | 区 | KU/ OU/ KOU | waº, district | |
| 100 | 5 | 北 | HOKU | kita | north |
| 101 | 16 | 機 | KI | hata | mechanism, opportunity, occasion, machine, airplane |
| 102 | 9 | 要 | YOU | I(ru) | need, main point, essence, pivot, key to |
| 103 | 4 | 化 | KA/ KE | ba(keru)/ ba(kasu)/ fu(keru)/ ke(C132suru) | change, take the form of, influence, enchant, deceive, seduce, -ization |
| 104 | 11 | 野 | YA/ SHO | no/ no- | plains, field, rustic, civilian life |
| 105 | 7 | 来 | RAI/ TAI | ku(ru)/ kita(ru)/ kita(su)/ ki(tasu)/ ki(taru)/ ki/ ko | come, due, next, cause, become |
| 106 | 11 | 理 | RI | kotowari | logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth |
| 107 | 7 | 体 | TAI/ TEI | karada/ katachi | body, substance, object, reality, suffix for counting images |
| 108 | 11 | 強 | KYOU/ GOU | tsuyo(i)/ tsuyo(maru)/ tsuyo(meru)/ shi(iru)/ kowa(i) | strong, powerful, force |
| 109 | 6 | 成 | SEI/ JOU | na(ru)/ na(su)/ -na(su) | become, obtain, grow, pass, reach |
| 110 | 5 | 外 | GAI/ GE | soto/ hoka/ hazu(su)/ hazu(reru)+C190/ to- | outside |
| 111 | 11 | 都 | TO/ TSU | miyako | metropolis, capital |
| 112 | 7 | 作 | SAKU/ UM | tsuku(ru)/ tsuku(ri)/ -dzuku(ri) | make, production, prepare, construction |
| 113 | 15 | 選 | SEN | era(bu) | elect, select, choose, prefer |
| 114 | 8 | 所 | SHO | tokoro/ -tokoro/ dokoro/ toko | place |
| 115 | 3 | 万 | MAN/ BAN | yorozu | ten thousand |
| 116 | 4 | 公 | KOU/ KU | ooyake | public, prince, official, governmental |
| 117 | 8 | 表 | HYOU | omote/ -omote/ arawa(su)/ arawa(reru)/ ara(wasu) | surface, table, chart, diagram |
| 118 | 12 | 最 | SAI/ SHU | motto(mo)/ tsuma | maximum capacity, greatest, extreme |
| 119 | 7 | 近 | KIN/ KON | chika(i) | near, early, blood relative, equivalent |
| 120 | 12 | 期 | KI/ GO | period, time, date, term | |
| 121 | 9 | 思 | SHI | omo(u)/ omoera(ku)/ obo(su) | think |
| 122 | 5 | 正 | SEI/ SHOU | tada(shii)/ tada(su)/ masa/ masa(ni) | correct, justice, right, proper, 10 to the power of 40 |
| 123 | 8 | 物 | BUTSU/ MOTSU | mono/ mono- | thing, object, matter |
| 124 | 12 | 道 | DOU/ TOU | michi | path, road, street, district, journey, course, moral, teachings, philosophy |
| 125 | 8 | 府 | FU | borough, urban area, high commission, representative body, depot | |
| 126 | 8 | 法 | HOU/ HAT-/ HOT-/ FURAN | nori | method, law, rule, principle, model, system |
| 127 | 9 | 約 | YOU | promise, approximately, retreat | |
| 128 | 5 | 用 | YOU | mochi(iru) | use, business, service, employ |
| 129 | 9 | 点 | TEN | tsu(keru)/ tsu(ku)/ ta(teru)/ sa(su)/ tobo(su)/ tomo(su)/ bochi | point, mark, decimal point |
| 130 | 6 | 安 | AN | yasu(i)/ yasu(maru)/ yasu/ yasu( raka) | relax, calm, low, cheap, restful, peaceful, satisfied |
| 131 | 4 | 不 | FU/ BU | negative prefix, negative, no, ugly, bad, inelegant | |
| 132 | 11 | 務 | JÁ | tsuto(meru) | task, duties |
| 133 | 4 | 心 | SHIN | kokoro/ -gokoro | heart, mind, spirit |
| 134 | 11 | 産 | SAN | u(mu)/ u(mareru)/ ubu-/ mu(su) | products, give birth, be born, give rise, birth, native, goods |
| 135 | 4 | 今 | KON/ KIN | ima | now |
| 136 | 3 | 川 | SEN | kawa | stream, river |
| 137 | 11 | 経 | KEI/ KYOU | he(ru)/ ta(tsu)/ tateito/ jáka(ru)/ nori | sutra, longitude, pass through, expire, bend |
| 138 | 8 | 委 | I | yuda(neru) | committee, entrust to, leave to, dedicate, discard |
| 139 | 5 | 以 | I | mot-(te) | by means of, because, in view of, compared with |
| 140 | 6 | 共 | KYOU | tomo/ tomo(ni)/ -domo | together, both (in affirmative), none (in negative), all, and, likewise, with |
| 141 | 10 | 原 | GEN | hara | meadow, original, primitive, field, plain, prairie, tundra, wilderness |
| 142 | 9 | 重 | JUU/ CHOU | e/ omo(i)/ omo(ri)/ omo(nau)/ kasa(neru)/ kaum(naru)/ omo | heavy, pile up, stack of boxes, -fold |
| 143 | 12 | 結 | KETSU/ KECHI | musu(bu)/ yu(u)/ yu(waeru) | tie, unite, contract, union, organize, braid, close |
| 144 | 9 | 海 | KAI | umi | ocean, sea |
| 145 | 4 | 水 | SUI | mizu/ mizu- | water |
| 146 | 5 | 打 | DA/ DAASU | u(tsu)/ u(chi-) | hit, access, strike, pound, dozen |
| 147 | 6 | 名 | MEI/ MYOU | na/ -na | name, fame, distinction, reputation |
| 148 | 7 | 町 | CHOU | machi | village, town, block, street |
| 149 | 4 | 予 | YO/ SHA | arakaji(me) | in advance, prior, myself, I |
| 150 | 6 | 多 | TA | oo(i)/ masa(ni)/ masa(ru) | many, frequent, much |
This list was sent by Bebeto Guerra.
Leave a Reply