JLPT
JLPT N3 Kanji — the next step.
The JLPT N3 is the intermediate bridge between everyday Japanese and academic / professional reading. The kanji portion covers roughly 650 cumulative characters. Here's what to expect and how long it takes.
N3≈650 kanji · ≈3,750 vocab · ≈600–900 study hours
A taste of the N3 set
A representative sample of N3 kanji. Unlocked with Premium.
政
議
民
法
治
制
規
戦
選
権
経
済
産
資
費
給
富
貧
商
値
婚
婦
老
若
育
職
労
働
警
害
判
認
識
念
信
想
解
説
論
観
喜
悲
怒
怖
愛
困
笑
痛
望
願
What N3 actually covers
~650 kanji cumulative
Adds ~350 kanji over N4: economics, politics, education, social topics, and abstract concepts that appear in news and conversation.
~3,750 vocabulary words
More than doubles N4's vocabulary. Includes nuanced verbs of judgment, reason, and consequence.
Real-life listening
Follow a normal-speed conversation on everyday topics, understand the gist of news, and read short essays.
How long it takes & what you need
Most learners reach N3 readiness in 600–900 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 5 to 9 months, plus review time.
In KanjiKanji Modern, N3 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?