JLPT N2 kanji list

60high-frequency JLPT N2 kanji, grouped by theme with on'yomi/kun'yomi readings and meaning, studied with real spaced repetition. Free, no signup, works in your browser.

N2 kanji push into abstract, society/news, and advanced everyday vocabulary — the characters you need to read a newspaper. Each card shows the kanji with its readings and meaning, none repeated from the N3 set. Tap any group to study it with the forgetting-curve scheduling that times each review to memory.

Kanji: N2 abstract

Study these 20
  • gaioutline, general, approximately
  • kei / katamu(ku), katamu(keru)lean, incline, tendency
  • kyo, kobasis, grounds, foothold
  • mu / hokohalberd, spear (as in 矛盾, contradiction)
  • jun / tateshield (as in 矛盾, contradiction)
  • chuuabstract, extract, pull out
  • soku / unaga(su)urge, prompt, stimulate
  • hanpattern, model, scope, range
  • i / kako(mu), kako(u)surround, enclose, range
  • bidelicate, subtle, minute, slight
  • myouexquisite, strange, subtle
  • junpure, genuine, innocent
  • shi / mune, uma(i)purport, gist, effect (of a statement)
  • sho, cho / othread, beginning, cord (as in 一緒)
  • ryakuabbreviation, omission, strategy
  • shouname, title, praise
  • shu / omomukipurport, taste, elegance, charm
  • tan / hashi, ha, hataedge, end, beginning, fragment
  • sen / shi(meru), urana(u)occupy, hold; tell fortunes
  • men / manuga(reru), manuka(reru)excuse, exemption, dismiss, license

Kanji: N2 society & news

Study these 20
  • ken, gonright, authority, power
  • sakuplan, policy, scheme, measure
  • ritsu, richilaw, regulation, rhythm
  • zeitax, duty
  • 貿boutrade, exchange (as in 貿易)
  • judemand, request, need
  • kyuusupply, provide, salary, grant
  • tou / su(beru)unite, govern, statistics, command
  • yutransport, send, import/export
  • ikiregion, area, boundary
  • ko / yato(u)employ, hire
  • fukufortune, blessing, welfare
  • shiwelfare, happiness (as in 福祉)
  • shou / tsuguna(u)compensate, make up for, atone
  • chougovernment office, agency
  • ei / itona(mu)manage, run (a business), operate
  • ki / abu(nai), aya(ui), aya(bumu)danger, risk, fear
  • kyou, ku / sona(eru), tomooffer, supply, accompany
  • hou / muku(iru)report, news, reward, requite
  • ho / ogina(u)supplement, make up for, assistant

Kanji: N2 advanced everyday

Study these 20
  • gan / fuku(mu), fuku(meru)contain, include, hold in the mouth
  • yoku / osa(eru)suppress, restrain, hold down
  • sai / no(seru), no(ru)load, publish, place on, record
  • 湿shitsu / shime(ru), shime(su)damp, humid, moist
  • kan / kawa(ku), kawa(kasu)dry, parch
  • kitsu / tsu(meru), tsu(maru), tsu(mu)stuff, cram, pack, be blocked
  • you / yu(reru), yu(ru), yu(suru), yu(saburu)shake, sway, swing
  • shoku / fu(reru), sawa(ru)touch, feel, come into contact
  • hou / da(ku), ida(ku), kaka(eru)embrace, hold, harbor (a feeling)
  • ko(mu), ko(meru)be crowded, put into, include
  • 沿en / so(u)run alongside, follow (a line)
  • batsu / nu(ku), nu(keru), nu(kasu)pull out, extract, omit, surpass
  • byou / ega(ku), ka(ku)draw, depict, describe
  • tai / ka(eru), ka(waru)replace, exchange, substitute
  • kou / awa(teru), awa(tadashii)be flustered, panic, be in a hurry
  • tou / tao(reru), tao(su)fall over, collapse, overthrow
  • in / kaku(su), kaku(reru)hide, conceal
  • fun / magi(reru), magi(rasu), magi(rawasu)be confused with, distract, lose (in a crowd)
  • saku / kezu(ru)delete, cut down, sharpen, scrape off
  • kai / imashi(meru)admonish, warn, be on guard

A curated core of the highest-yield N2 items — not the full N2 list (the JLPT hasn't published an official one since 2010). Every card is checked against the N2 level, and against our N3 set so nothing is repeated from the level below.