JLPT
JLPT N2 Kanji — the next step.
The JLPT N2 is the upper-intermediate level recognized by most Japanese employers and universities. The kanji portion covers roughly 1,000 cumulative characters. Here's what to expect and how long it takes.
N2≈1,000 kanji · ≈6,000 vocab · ≈900–1,200 study hours
A taste of the N2 set
A representative sample of N2 kanji. Unlocked with Premium.
技
設
改
造
革
営
量
型
専
準
税
輸
貿
額
損
比
均
倍
貯
個
境
汚
森
林
河
池
岩
雲
震
温
象
純
略
般
像
著
普
厚
固
復
史
講
編
章
律
籍
訓
庫
誌
課
What N2 actually covers
~1,000 kanji cumulative
Adds ~350 over N3: technical, industrial, environmental, philosophical, and abstract academic vocabulary.
~6,000 vocabulary words
The vocabulary floor needed for professional contexts, formal writing, and university-level reading.
Workplace + academic Japanese
Read business documents and academic articles; participate in formal meetings; follow news without subtitles.
How long it takes & what you need
Most learners reach N2 readiness in 900–1,200 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 9 to 14 months, plus review time.
In KanjiKanji Modern, N2 content is included in the Premium tier. Unlock all levels with a Premium subscription — $9.99/mo, $79.99/yr, or $99.99 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.
See also: Pricing · What is spaced repetition?