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JLPT

JLPT N1 Kanji — the deepest step.

The JLPT N1 is the highest JLPT level — advanced Japanese fluency, near-native reading, and academic/literary comprehension. The kanji portion covers roughly 2,000 cumulative characters. Here's what to expect and how long it takes.

N12,000 kanji · ≈10,000 vocab · ≈1,500–2,500 study hours

A taste of the N1 set

A representative sample of N1 kanji. Unlocked with Premium.

What N1 actually covers

~2,000 kanji cumulative

Adds ~1,000 over N2: philosophical, literary, rare-use, and rhetorical vocabulary. Includes archaic and figurative usage.

~10,000 vocabulary words

Vocabulary at the level of literary fiction, op-eds, academic monographs, and formal speeches.

Near-native reading and listening

Read novels and editorials, follow lectures and debates, and write formal essays. The threshold for professional translators.

How long it takes & what you need

Most learners reach N1 readiness in 1,500–2,500 of total study time from zero, including vocabulary, grammar, and listening. The kanji portion alone, at the standard 3–10 new-per-day pace, runs from 12 to 24 months, plus review time.

In KanjiKanji Modern, N1 content is included in the Premium tier. Unlock all levels with a Premium subscription — $9.99/mo, $79.99/yr, or $199.99 lifetime.

The JLPT has not published an official kanji list since the 2010 redesign. Counts cited here follow community-curated approximations from JLPT preparation textbooks (Genki, Minna no Nihongo, Tofugu) and analyses of past exams.
Source: Japan Foundation — about JLPT

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See also: Pricing · What is spaced repetition?

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