1,006

(1,006 Kyiku kanji)

Kyiku kanji (, lit. "education kanji"), also known as Gakunenbetsu kanji haithy (
, lit. "list of kanji by school year") is a list of 1,006 kanji and associated readings
developed and maintained by the Japanese Ministry of Education that prescribes which kanji, and
which readings of kanji, Japanese schoolchildren should learn for each year of elementary school.
Although the list is designed for Japanese children, it can also be used as a sequence of learning
characters by non-native speakers in order to limit the kanji to the most commonly used.
ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Diku_kanji

First grade (80 kanji)

one

ichi

two

ni

three

san

four

shi or yon

five

go

six

roku

seven

shichi or nana

eight

hachi

nine

ku or ky

ten

hundred

hyaku

thousand

sen

up

ue

below

shita

left

hidari

right

migi

middle or inside naka

large

dai or -kii

small

sh or chii-sai

month; moon

gatsu or tsuki

day

hi or nichi

year

nen or toshi

early

s or haya-i

tree

moku or ki

woods

rin or hayashi

mountain

san or yama

river

sen or kawa

soil

do or tsuchi

sky

k or sora

rice paddy

den or ta

heaven

ten or ama

life

sei or i-kiru

flower

ka or hana

grass

s or kusa

insect

ch or mushi

dog

ken or inu

person

jin or nin or hito

name

na or mei or myo

female

nyo or onna

male

dan or otoko

child

ko

eye

moku or me

ear

ji or mimi

mouth

k or kuchi

hand

shu or te

foot or leg

soku or ashi

see

ken or mi-ru

sound

on or ne or oto

power

riki or ryoku or chikara

spirit

ki

yen or circle

en

enter

ny or hai-ru or i-ru

exit

shutsu or de-ru

stand up

ritsu or ta-tsu

rest

ky or yasu-mu

previous

sen or saki

evening

book

hon or moto

writing

fumi or bun or mo

character

ji

study

gaku or mana-bu

school

k , as in

village

son or mura

town

ch or machi

forest

shin or mori

correct

sei or tada-shii

water

sui or mizu

fire

ka or hi

ball

gyoku or tama

king

stone

seki or ishi

school gakk

bamboo

chiku or take

thread

shi or ito

shellfish

kai

car

sha or kuruma

gold

kin or kane

rain

u or ame

red

seki or aka

blue

sei or ao

white

haku or shiro

Second grade (160 kanji)

number

s or kazu

many or much

ta or oo-i

a few or a little

sh or suku-nai or suko-shi

ten thousand

man

half

han or naka-ba

shape

kei or katachi

fat

ta or futo-i

thin

sai or hoso-i

wide

k or hiro-i

long

ch or naga-i

point

ten

circle

gan or maru

cross

k or maji

light

k or hikari

angle or corner

kaku or kado or tsuno

measure

kei or haka-ru

straight or correct

choku or nao-su

line

sen

arrow

ya

weak

jaku or yowa-i

strong

ky or tsuyo-i

tall or high

k or taka-i

same

d or ona-ji

parent

shin or oya

mother

haha or kaa (as in

father

chichi or tou (as in

older sister

shi or ane

older brother

kei or ani

younger brother

tei or otouto

younger sister

mai or imto

oneself

ji

friend

y or tomo

body

tai or karada

hair

m or ke

head

t or atama

face

gan or kao

neck

shu or kubi

heart

shin or kokoro

time

ji or toki

weekday

morning

ch or asa

daytime

ch or hiru

night

ya or yoru

minute; understand

fun or wa (as in wakaru

week

sh

spring

shun or haru

summer

ka or natsu

autumn

sh or aki

winter

t or fuyu

now

kon or ima

new

shin or atara-shii

old

ko or furu-i

interval

kan or ma or aida

direction

h or kata

north

hoku or kita

south

nan or minami

east

t or higashi or azuma

west

sei or sai or nishi

far

en or t-i

near

kin or chika-i

in front

zen or mae

behind

go or ushi-ro

inside

nai or uchi

outside

gai or soto

place

j or ba

ground

chi

country

koku or kuni

garden

en or sono

valley

koku or tani

field

ya or no

field

gen or hara

village

ri or sato

city

shi or ichi

capital

ky

wind

f or kaze

snow

setsu or yuki

cloud

un or kumo

pond

chi or ike

sea

kai or umi

rock

gan or iwa

star

sei or hoshi

room

shitsu or muro

door

to or ko or be

house

ka or ke or ie

Buddhist temple

ji or tera

pass through

ts or t-ru

gates

mon or kado

road

d or michi

talk

wa or hana-su

say

gen or i-u

answer

t or kota-eru

voice

sei or koe

hear

ch or ki-ku

language

go

read

doku or yo-mu

write

sho or ka-ku

write down

ki

paper

shi or kami

picture

ga

picture

kai or e

drawing

zu or haka-ru

craft

teach

ky or oshi-eru

fine

sei or hare

think

shi or omo-u

think about

k or kanga-eru

know

chi or shi-ru

ability or years old

sai

reason

ri or kotowari

calculate

san

make

saku or tsuku-ru

origin

gen or moto

eat, meal

shoku or ta-beru

meat

niku

horse

ba or uma

cow

gy or ushi

fish

gy or sakana

bird

ch or tori

feather

ha or wa or hane

chirp

mei or na-ku

wheat

baku or mugi

rice

bei or kome

tea

cha

colour

shoku or iro

yellow

or kiiro

black

koku or kuro

come

rai or ku-ru

go

gy or k or i-ku

return home

ki or kae-ru

walk

ho or aru-ku

run

s or hashi-ru

stop

shi or to-maru

active

katsu or i-kiru

store

ten or mise

buy

bai or ka-u

sell

bai or u-ru

noon, sign of the horse (

Branches) )

Earthly

go or uma

steam

ki

bow (archery, violin)

ky or yumi

-times, to revolve

kai

association

kai or e

association

kumi

ship

sen or fune

bright

mei or aka-rui

company

sha or yashiro

cut

setsu or ki-ru

electricity

den

every

mai

fit

g to a-u

hit

t or a-taru

base

dai or tai

pleasure

raku or tano-shii

public

kou or yake

pull

in or hi-ku

section

ka

song

ka or uta

katana

t or katana

turn

ban

use

y or mochi-iru

what

nani

Third grade (200 kanji)

pair

ch

world

se or yo

both

ry

master

shu or nushi

ride

j or no-ru

in advance

yo or arakaji-me

abstract thing

ji or koto

serve

shi or tsuka-eru

other

ta or hoka

substitute

tai or kawa-ru

dwell

j or su-mu

use

shi or tsuka-u

person in charge

kei or kakari

double

bai

whole

zen

tool

gu

copy

sha

row

retsu

help

jo or tasu-keru

diligence

ben

move

dou or ugo-ku

win

sh or kat-su

disguise

ka or ba-keru

ward

ku

doctor

leave

kyo or sa-ru

anti-

han or so-ru

take

shu or to-ru

receive

ju or u-keru

number

face(v.)

k or mu-kau

you

kun or kimi

flavor
life

mei or inochi

peace or sum

wa or nago-mu

article

hin or shina

member

in

commerce

sh or akina-i

question

mon or toi or to-u

slope

han or saka

husband

hu or otto

begin

shi or haji-meru

committee

protect

shu or mamo-ru

cheap

an or yasu-i

fix

tei or sada-meru

fruit or content

jitsu or mi

guest

kaku or kyaku

Shinto shrine or prince(princess) ky or miya

inn

shuku or yado

cold

kan or samu-i

opposite

tai or tsui

office

kyoku

premise

oku or ya

shore

gan or kishi

island

t or shima

state

sh

account book

ch

flat

hei or tai-ra

happiness

k or shiawa-se

degrees

do

warehouse

ko

garden

tei or niwa

style

shiki

role

eki or yaku

wait

tai or ma-tsu

hurry

ky or iso-gu

breath

soku or iki

bad

aku or waru-i

sad

hi or kana-shii

thought

s or omo-u

idea

feel

kan-jiru

place

sho or tokoro

hit

da or u-tsu

throw

t or na-geru

pick up

sh or hiro-u

hold

ji or mo-tsu

finger

shi or yubi

release

h or hana-su

put in order

sei or totono-eru

trip

ryo or ttabi

tribe

zoku

long ago

jaku or mukashi

clear

sh

hot

sho or atsu-i

dark

an or kura-i

music or curve

kyoku

be

y or a-ru

clothes

fuku

period of time

ki or go

board

han or ita

pillar

ch or hashira

root

kon or ne

plant

shoku or u-eru

business

gy or g or waza

appearance or Mr(Mrs,Ms)

y or sama

side

or yoko

bridge

ky or hashi

next

ji or tsugi

tooth

shi or ha

death

shi

ice

hy or kri

decide

ketsu or ki-meru

oil

yu or abura

wave

ha or nami

pour

ch or soso-gu

swim

ei or oyo-gu

ocean, western

stream

ry or naga-reru

extinguish

sh or ke-su

deep

shin or fuka-i

warm

on or atata-kai

harbor

k or minato

lake

ko or mizuumi

hot water

t or yu

China

kan

charcoal

tan or sumi

thing

butsu or mono

ball

ky or tama

reason

say

shin or m-su

world

kai

agricultural field

hatake

sick

by or yamai

departure

hatsu

climb

to or nobo-ru

skin

hi or kawa

dish

sara

mutual

s or ai

prefecture

ken

true

shin or ma

wear

chaku or ki-ru

short

tan or mijika-i

sharpen

ken

thanks

rei

god(s)

shin or kami

festival

sai or matsuri

luck

huku

second

by

research

ky or kiwa-meru

chapter

sh

juvenile

d or warabe

whistle

teki or fue

ordinal number prefix

dai

writing brush

hitsu or fude

class

t or nado

box

hako

rank

ky

end

sh or owa-ru

green

ryoku or midori

practice

ren or ne-ru

sheep

y or hitsuji

beauty

bi or utsuku-shii

learn

sh or nara-u

someone

sha or mono

nurture

iku or haguku-mu

suffer

ku or kuru-shii

luggage

ka or ni

fall

raku or o-chiru

leaf

y or ha

medicine

yaku or kusuri

blood

ketsu or chi

list or surface

hy or omote

poem

shi

investigate

ch or shira-beru

discuss

dan

beans

mame

lose

fu or ma-keru

wake up

ki or o-kiru

road

ro or michi

body

shin or mi

revolve

ten or koro-bu

light

kei or karu-i

farming

return

hen or kae-su

follow

tsui or o-u

send

s or oku-ru

fast

soku or haya-i

advance

shin or susu-mu

play

y or aso-bu

carry

un or hako-bu

part

bu

metropolis

to or miyako

distribute

hai or kuba-ru

alcoholic drink

shu or sake

heavy

j or omo-i

iron

tetsu

silver

gin

open

kai or hira-ku

institution

in

sunshine

hi or y

floor of a building

kai

collect

sh or atsu-maru

face

men or tsura or omo

topic

dai

drink

in or no-mu

public building

kan or yakata

station

eki

nose

bi or hana

Fourth grade (200 kanji)

not

hu

conflict

s or araso-u

attach

hu or tsu-ku

orders

rei

since

go-between

naka

transmit

den or tsuta-eru

rank

i or kurai

low

tei or hiku-i

example

rei or tato-eru

convenience

ben or bin or tayo-ru

trust

shin or shin-jiru

godown

s or kura

climate

borrow

shaku or ka-riru

halt

tei or to-maru

healthy

ken or suko-yaka

side

soba or gawa

work

d or hatara-ku

hundred million

oku

portentor trillion

ch or kiza-shi

child

ji

together

ky or tomo

soldier

hei or hy or tsuwamono

code

ten

cool

rei or tsume-tai

first

sho or hatsu or ubu

separate

betsu or waka-reru

profit

ri

printing

satsu or su-ru

vice-

huku

achievement

add

ka or kuwa-eru

toil

do or tsuto-meru

labor

r or negira-u

courage

y or isa-mashii

wrap

h or tsutu-mu

graduate

sotsu

cooperation

ky

simple

tan

Dr.

haku

mark

in or shirushi

participate or three

san

history

shi

director

shi or tsukasado-ru

each

kaku

tell

koku or tsu-geru

circumference

sh

chant

sh or tona-eru

rejoice

ki or yoroko-bu

container

ki or utsuwa

surround

or kako-u

harden

ko or kata-maru

model

kei or kata

public chamber

salt

shio

gentleman

shi

change

hen or ka-waru

center

lose

sitsu or ushina-u

like

k su-ku or kono-mu

seasons

ki

grandson,granddaughtor son or mago

perfect

kan

government official

kan

harm

gai

guess

satsu

nest

s or su

distinction

sa

hope

ki or mare

seat

seki

sash

tai or obi

bottom

tei or soko

urban prefecture

fu

ease

build

ken or ta-teru

diameter

kei

junior

to

acquire

e-ru or toku

without fail

hitsu or kanara-zu

thought

nen

love

ai or ito-shii

become

sei or na-ru

war

sen or ikusa or tataka-u

fold

setsu or o-ru

raise

kyo or a-geru

reformation

kai or arata-meru

salvation

ky or suku-u

failure

hai or yabur-reru

scatter

san or chi-ru

fee

ry

national flag

hata

previous

saku

scenery

kei

most

sai or mo or motto-mo

hope

b or nozo-mu

un-

mi or ima-da

end

matsu or sue

tag

satsu or huda

lumber

zai

bundle

soku or taba or tsuka

pine

sh or take

fruit

ka or ha-tasu

prosperity

ei or sakae-ru

plan

an

plum

bai or ume

contraption

kai

poles

kyoku or kiwa-meru

signpost

hy

machine

ki

lack

ketsu or ka-keru

curriculum

reki

remainder

zan or noko-ru

kill

satsu or koro-su

poison

doku

family name

shi or uji

people

min or tami

request

kyu or moto-mu

govern

chi or osa-meru

method

cry

ky or na-ku

shallow

sen or asa-i

bathe

yoku or abi-ru

pure

sei or kiyo-raka

full

man or mi-chiru

fishing

ry or asa-ru

lamp

t or tomo-su

nothing

mu or na-i

so

zen or shika-shi

bake

sh or ya-ku

illuminate

sho or te-rasu

heat

netsu or atsu-i

breed

boku or maki

special

toku

give birth

san or u-mu

target

teki or mato

government ministry

sho or sei or habu-ku

celebrate

shuku or iwa-u

ballot

hy

kind or seed

shu or tane or kusa

accumulate

seki or tsu-mu

emulate

ky or kiso-u

laugh

sh or wara-u

pipe

kan or kuda

node

setsu or fushi

flour

ko or kona

chronicle

ki

promise

yaku

tie

ketsu or musu-bu or yu-u

salary

ky or tama-u

continue

zoku or tsudu-ku

put

chi or o-ku

old man

r or o-iru

stomach

vein

myaku

intestines

ch

retainer

shin

cruise

good

ry or yo-i

art

gei

bud

ga or me

England

ei

vegetable

na

city

gai or machi

clothes

i or koromo

need

y or i-ru

memorize

kaku or sa-meru

observe

kan or mi-ru

instruction

kun

test

shi or kokoromi-ru

theory

setsu or to-ku

section

ka

deliberation

gi

elephant

z or sh

freight

ka

savings

cho or ta-meru

expense

hi or tsui-yasu

prize

sh

army

gun

wheel

rin or wa

resign

ji or ya-meru

environs

hen or ata-ri

take along

ren or tsu-reru or tsura-neru

attain

tachi

choose

sen or era-bu

county

gun

quantity

ry

record

roku

mirror

ky or kagami

related

kan

land

riku

group

tai

quiet

sei or shizu-ka

obey

jun

request

gan or nega-u

sort

rui

fly

hi or to-bu

meal

han or meshi

foster

y or yashina-u

test

ken

Fifth grade (185 kanji)

long time

ky or hisa

Buddha

hutsu or butsu or hotoke

sham

kari

affair

ken

responsibility

nin or maka-seru

becoming

ji or ni-ru

too much

yo or ama-ru

value

ka

preserve

ho or tamo-tsu

discipline

sh or osa-meru

straw bag

hy or tawara

individual

ko

provide

bi or sona-eru

statue

again

sai or futata-bi

publish

kan

judge

han or waka-ru

control

sei

ticket

ken

rule

soku or notto-ru

effect

duty

mu or tsuto-meru

power

sei or ikio-i

thick

k or atsu-i

phrase

ku

possible

ka

manage

ei or itona-mu

cause

in or yo-ru

group

dan

pressure

atsu

exist

zai or a-ru

level

kin

foundation

ki or moto-duku

report

h or muku-iru

boundary

ky or sakai

grave

bo or haka

increase

z or ma-su or fu-eru

dream

mu or yume

wife

sai or tsuma

lady

fu

contain

approach

ki or yo-ru

rich

fu or tomi

guide

d or michibi-ku

reside

kyo or i-ru

belong

zoku

linen

fu or nuno

expert

shi

normal

j or tsune

tree-trunk

kan or miki

preface

jo

valve

ben

stretch

ch or ha-ru

journey

repeating

fuku

virtue

toku

intention

shi or kokorozashi

respond

or kota-eru

cheerful

kai or kokoroyo-i

gender

sei or sh or saga

grace

on

feelings

j or nasa-ke

condition

tai

accustomed

kan or na-reru

acquiesce

sh or uketamawa-ru

skill

gi or waza

beckon

sh or mane-ku

instruct

ju or sazu-keru

pick

sai or to-ru

contact

setsu

present

tei or sa-geru

loss

son or soko-neru

branch

shi or sasa-eru

politics

sei or matsurigoto

circumstances ko or yue
enemy

teki or kataki

cut off

dan or ta-tsu

old times

ky

easy

eki or yasa-shii

outburst

b or aba-ku

clause

branch

shi or eda

investigate

sa

status

kaku

cherry

or sakura

examine

ken

construct

k or kama-eru

military

bu

compare

hi or kura-beru

eternity

ei or naga-i

river

ga or kawa

fluid

eki

mix

kon or maza-ru

decrease

gen or he-ru

fathom

soku or haka-ru

standard

jun

perform

en

undefiled

ketsu or isagiyo-i

disaster

sai or wazawa-i

burn

nen or mo-eru

printing block han

crime

han or oka-su

form

alone

doku or hito-ri

rate

ritsu or hikii-ru

appear

gen or arawa-reru

detain

ry ru or todo-maru

abbreviation

ryaku

benefit

eki or ma-su

eyeball

gan or me

rend

ha or yabu-ru

certain

kaku or tashi-ka

indicate

shi or shime-su

ancestor

so

prohibition

kin

shift

i or utsu-ru

extent

tei or hodo

tax

zei

fabricate

chiku or kizu-ku

refined

sei

elementary

su or moto

manage

kei he-ru

unite

t or su-beru

discontinue

zetsu or ta-tsu

cotton

men or wata

whole

compile

hen or a-mu

exploits

seki

weave

shiki or o-ru

guilt

zai or tsumi

flock

gun mu-reru

righteousness

gi

till

k or tagaya-su

employment

shoku

fertilizer

hi or ko-yasu

ability

entertain

ky or oko-su

tongue

zetsu or shita

cottage

sha

art

jutsu or sube

defense

ei

manufacture

sei

duplicate

fuku

rule

ki

untie

ge or kai or to-ku

establish

setsu or mouke-ru

permit

kyo or yuru-su

evidence

sh

evaluate

hy

lecture

apologize

sha or ayama-ru

discriminating shiki
safeguard

go or mamo-ru

bountiful

h or yuta-ka

wealth

zai

poor

hin or mazushi-i

blame

seki or se-meru

lend

tai or ka-su

trade

congratulations ga
resources

shi

approve

san

quality

shitsu

transport

yu

mention

jutsu or no-beru

astray

mei or mayo-u

retreat

tai or shirizo-ku or do-ku

inverted

gyaku or sakara-u

create

z or tsuku-ru

go beyond

ka or ayama-chi

suitable

teki

acid

san

mineral

copper

coin

sen or zeni

prevent

b or fuse-gu

limit

gen or kagi-ru

precipitous

ken

occasion

sai or kiwa

miscellaneous zatsu

negative

hi or ara-zu

deposit

yo or azu-keru

territory

ry

amount

gaku or hitai

domesticate

shi or ka-u

Sixth grade (181 kanji)

row

hei or nami or nara-bu

riot

ran or mida-reru

milk

ny or chichi

deceased

b or na-kunaru

kindness

jin

offer

ky or ku or tomo

actor

hai

value

chi or atai

wound

sh or kizu

superior

y or yasa-shii

political party

counter for books satsu

dispose

sho

engrave

koku or kiza-mu

divide

katsu or wa-ru

create

s or tsuku-ru

drama

geki

diligence

kin or tsuto-meru

dangerous

ki or aya-ui

egg

ran or tamago

strict

gen or kibi-shii

take in

sh or osa-meru

queen

g or kisaki

negate

hi or ina or iya

suck

ky or su-u

call

ko or yo-bu

good

zen or yo-i

become distressed kon or koma-ru

droop

choku or ta-reru

castle

j or shiro

range

iki

play music

s or kana-deru

stirred up

hun or huru-u

shape

shi or sugata

suppose

son

filial piety

home

taku

eaves

religion

sh or s

mid-air

ch

treasure

h or takara

proclaim

sen or notama-u

secrecy

mitsu

measurement

sun

specialty

sen or moppa-ra

shoot

sha or i-ru

leader

sh

revered

son

concerning

sh or tsu-ku

measure of length shaku

deliver

todo-ku

expand

ten

stratum

self

ko or onore

scroll

kan or ma-ku

curtain

baku or maku

dry

kan or ho-su

infancy

y or osana-i

government office ch
sit

za or suwa-ru

prolong

en or no-basu

rhythm

ritsu

obey

jun or sitaga-u

forget

b or wasu-reru

loyalty

ch

constitution

ken

ego

ga or ware

criticism

hi

shouldering

tan or nina-u

worship

hai or oga-mu

broaden

kaku or hiro-geru

throw away

sha or su-teru

grope

tan or saga-su

infer

sui

command

ki

maneuver

s or ayatsu-ru

respect

kei or uyama-u

reflect

ei or utsu-ru

nightfall

ban

warmth

dan or atata-kai

livelihood

bo or ku-rasu

melodious

r or hoga-raka

desk

ki or tsukue

sheet of...

mai

dye

sen or so-meru

stocks

kabu

rod

imitation

mo

rights

ken

trees

ju or ki

longing

yoku or ho-shii

steps

dan

run alongside

en or so-u

fountain

sen or izumi

wash

sen or ara-u

sect

ha

settle

sai or su-mu

origin

gen or minamoto

tide

cho or shio

violent

geki or hage-shii

ashes

hai

ripen

juku or u-reru

one-sided

hen ore kata

group

han

uncommon

i or koto-naru

doubt

gi or utaga-u

pain

ts or ita-i

emperor

k or

prosper

sei or mo-ru

alliance

mei

watch over

kan

sand

sa or sha or suna

magnet

ji

me

shi or watakushi or watashi

secret

hi

serial

koku

hole

ketsu or ana

window

s or mado

muscle

kin or suji

scheme

saku

simplicity

kan

sugar

lineage

kei

deep red

k or beni or kurenai

settlement

n or osa-meru

genuine

jun

silk

ken or kinu

vertical

ju or tate

shrink

shuku or chidi-mu

government office sho

the following

yoku

holy

sei

lung

hai

back

hai or se

bosom

ky or mune

brain

abdomen

fuku or hara

entrails

lookover

rin or nozo-mu

climax

shi or ita-ru

young

jaku or waka-i

renowned

cho

steam

j or mu-su

warehouse

z or kura

silkworm

kaiko

masses

sh

judge

sai or saba-ku

attire

s or sh or yosoo-u

back

ri or ura

supplement

ho or ogina-u

look at

shi or mi-ru

perusal

ran

chastise

t or u-tsu

visit

h or otozu-reru

translate

yaku or wake

poetry

shi or kotoba

document

shi

recognize

nin or mito-meru

born

tan

sincerity

sei or makoto

mistake

go or ayama-ru

theory

ron

everything

sho or moro

guard against

kei

precious

ki

fare

chin

bequeath

mail

home town

ky or g

needle

shin or hari

steel

g or hagane

closed

hei or shi-meru

tall

kaku

descend

k or o-riru

majesty

hei

exclude

jo or nozo-ku

hurt

sh or sawa-ru

difficult

nan or muzuka-shii

leather

kaku or kawa

place on the head ch or itada-ku

bone

kotsu or hone