JLPT · 10% of test plan

JLPT N1 — Kanji Mastery (2,000+ Characters) for the JLPT Exam

JLPT N1 requires knowledge of approximately 2,000 kanji (roughly the Jōyō kanji set) plus compound words formed from them. At N1, candidates must read newspapers, legal documents, and literary texts without difficulty. The kanji at N1 include rare characters, on-yomi used only in formal compounds, and classical readings.

Locale-specific study guides

Pass-rate data, regulatory context, and study tips for JLPT N1 — Kanji Mastery (2,000+ Characters) all change by candidate locale. Pick your context:

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

!Knowing common kanji readings but not the rare readings tested at N1
!Not practising reading compounds — individual kanji knowledge is insufficient
!Confusing kanji with similar forms but different meanings at advanced level

Study tips

1Use the Remembering the Kanji (RTK) system by James Heisig for the foundational 2,000 kanji.
2Move beyond individual kanji to compound word study — N1 tests kanji in compound contexts.
3Read authentic Japanese texts: Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei, and Japanese novels (Haruki Murakami's earlier works are N2–N1 accessible).

Sample JLPT JLPT N1 — Kanji Mastery (2,000+ Characters) questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real JLPT questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1
「懸念」(kenen) in the sentence 「この問題について懸念がある」 means:
- ACertainty
- BConcern/WorryCorrect
- CResolution
- DUnderstanding
Why this answer?
"懸念" (kenen) means concern, worry, or apprehension. It is a formal N1-level word used in news, official statements, and academic writing. "この問題について懸念がある" = "There is concern about this issue." It would not typically appear in casual conversation.

Practice JLPT free with Koydo.

N5 to N1 — vocabulary, kanji, grammar, listening.

Start free JLPT practice →