Sumi
JLPT N5 → N1
How many kanji for JLPT N5 to N1?
There’s no official JLPT kanji list, so every course draws its own lines. Here is how Sumi divides all 2,136 Jōyō kanji across the five levels — with a free list of every character, its meaning and its readings.
How the levels work
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels, from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced). Since the test was revised in 2010, it hasn’t published an official kanji or vocabulary list, so these counts are a study guide, not an exam rule.
Sumi’s five decks add new kanji at each level, with no repeats, and together they cover all 2,136 Jōyō kanji (常用漢字), the official list of kanji for everyday use in Japan. Each level is split into chapters of up to ten.
On’yomi and Kun’yomi
Most kanji can be read in more than one way. On’yomi (音読み) came from Chinese and are shown here in katakana, like ダイ for 大. Kun’yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, shown in hiragana, like おお in 大きい.
Which reading to use depends on the word. That’s why every Sumi card links each reading to real vocabulary, with example sentences and audio.
Questions
Is there an official JLPT kanji list?
No. Since the test was revised in 2010, the JLPT hasn’t published an official kanji or vocabulary list. Lists like these are study guides based on the older test specifications and common textbooks.
How many kanji do I need for N5?
Commonly cited N5 lists include about 80 to 100 kanji. Sumi’s N5 deck has 80, with 250 word cards to practise them in context.
How many kanji do I need for N3?
In Sumi, N3 adds 370 kanji, for 620 in total counting N5 and N4.
What are the Jōyō kanji?
The Jōyō kanji (常用漢字) are the 2,136 characters on Japan’s official list of kanji for everyday use, revised in 2010. Sumi covers all of them from N5 to N1.
Which order should I learn kanji in?
Start at N5 and follow the chapters: each one groups up to ten kanji, beginning with common characters like 人, 一 and 日. Learning each kanji through real words helps the readings stick.