Get Ready for JLPT N3: 100 Kanji List

Is N3 difficult? Though it depends on where a learner has reached, as to myself, yes! While I was preparing, I felt it is not just one level up from N4. However, when receiving a PASS, it is like graduating from “beginner”.

In this article, the information of JLPT application will be introduce first. Also, the part everybody would like to know, the exam sections guide (passing mark…) is also included before the list of 100 Kanji of JLPT N3. Hope you can find what you need here!

Apply for JLPT N3 (2022)

The JLPT is usually held twice a year, in early July and December. More precisely, the JLPT is usually held on the first Sunday of July and December.

Taking in Japan

  • Release dates of test information: (First test) around early February and (Second test) around early July.
  • Registration period (online only): (First test) from late March to mid-April and (Second test) from late August to mid-September.
  • Receipt of paper test voucher: (First test) mid-June and (Second test) mid-November.
  • Publication of test results: (First test) in early September and (Second test) in early February.

Exam Fee6,500 JPY (including excise tax)

All LevelsTest DateRegistrationTest VoucherTest Results
First testSunday, Jul. 3Mar. 25 ~ Apr. 15
at 5 PM JST
Jun. 17, 2022the end of August 2022
Second testSunday, Dec. 4Aug. 25 ~ Sep.15
at 5 PM JST
Nov. 18, 2022the end of January 2023

The application is online-only, therefore, make sure you register and sign on at MyJLPT on JEES website: https://info.jees-jlpt.jp/info/

Taking in the United States

Test Fee100 USD

JLPT in the United States is administered by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). There is no July test in the United States. You can find the current registration information here: https://www.aatj.org/jlpt

N3Test DateRegistrationTest Results
First test
Second testDec. 4From August 15 at 9:00 AM
until September 13, at 5:00 PM Pacific time
around March 2023

Taking in other countries or areas

  • Some countries/cities only held one exam (July or December) each year.
  • Depending on the country, there are different application deadlines and the date of the result. Check this page for the region where you want to take JLPT: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas_list.html

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), remember to check the official website for the latest news of JLPT!

Preparing for the JLPT N3 Test

Take notice here! The test time and passing score for N3 are different from N4 and N5. We can see in the table below that the test time is longer in all three sections.

Though the pass mark for each section seems low, the overall pass mark comes to 95, which this is 90 in N4 and N5.

◉ Linguistic competence required: The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree.

◉ Overall pass marks / full marks95 / 180 points

◉ All questions are multiple-choice questions. No essay question.

In all the levels, the main test sections include:

  1. Language Knowledge(Vocabulary / Grammar): 言語知識(文字・語彙 / 文法)
  2. Reading: 読解
  3. Listening: 聴解
N3 Test sectionsLanguage Knowledge (Vocabulary / Grammar)・ReadingListening
Test timeLanguage Knowledge (Vocabulary): 30 min
Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading: 70 min
40 min
Sectional pass mark / full markLanguage Knowledge (Vocabulary / Grammar): 19 / 60 points
Reading: 19 / 60 points
19 / 60 points

Section 1: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary):

✎ Kanji readingSelect the correct hiragana for the kanji word given in the question.
✎ OrthographySelect the correct kanji for the hiragana given in the question.
✎ Contextually-defined expressionsSelect the most proper word/phrase to complete the given sentence in the question.
✎ ParaphrasesSelect the option that possesses the closest meaning to the given sentence in the question.
✎ UsagesSelect the correct usage(sentence) of the given word in the question.

For N3 examinee, to recognize hiragana and katagana is not a problem! In the next stage from N3 to upper levels, increasing the Japanese vocabulary is one of your critical mission.

In my personal experience, apart from learning new words as many as possible, remembering the correct pronunciation of certain words is another challenge.

  • We all know that the pronunciation of words with “k or g”, “s or z”, and “t or d” can sound similar to each other. In daily life, the wrong pronunciation won’t be a big matter in the conversation. However, this can be confusing when taking tests. For example,

観客“, “かんきゃく“? Or “かんぎゃく“?

  • Is this word with “う”(u) behind? Is this word with “っ”(small tsu) in the middle? This is also one of the challenges occur in this section. For example,

到着“, is it “とうちゃく“? Or “とちゃく“?

欠席“, is it “けっせき“? Or “けせき“?

In my other article, you can find the Hiragana, Katakana and Romaji table and download it for practicing.

Section 2: Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading

Language Knowledge (Grammar)

✎ Sentential grammar 1
(Selecting grammar form)
Select the correct phrase that can best fit into the question.
✎ Sentential grammar 2
(Sentence composition)
There are 4 consecutive spaces in a sentence. You must construct the sentence with the 4 given options and choose the correct option for the assign space.
✎ Text grammarSelect the correct word/particle that can best fit into the blank in an article.

Reading

✎ Comprehension
(Short passages)
Choose the correct option to the question according to the given passages.
✎ Comprehension
(Mid-size passages)
Choose the correct option to the question according to the given passages (mid-size).
✎ Comprehension
(Long passages)
Choose the correct option to the question according to the given passages (long-size).
✎ Information retrievalYou might be given graphs, tables, or any data in other forms, which you need to find the answer to the questions.

After learning the grammar for N3, you might have found the new grammars much more complicated than in N4 and N5. There are several grammar with almost the same meaning. However, at the same time , the correct usage is quite different to each other.

As for the reading section, as you work through the exercise book, you should pay attention to whether you’re spending too much time reading. If so, you should improve your reading speed before the exam!

Section 3: Listening

✎ Task-based comprehensionExam sheet: (○) options & (X) question
The description of the situation and question will be played, then followed by a conversation. Lastly, the question will be played again.
✎ Comprehension of key pointsExam sheet: (○) options & (X) question
The question will be played. Before the statement/conversation being played, there’s a short pause to read the options. Lastly, the question will be played again.
✎ Comprehension of general outlineExam sheet: (X) options & (X) question
Firstly, the description of the situation will be played, then followed by a conversation. Lastly, the question and the options will be played only once.
✎ Verbal expressionsExam sheet: (X) options & (X) question
The pictures are given in your exam paper, and a person is pointed with an arrow. Choose the best option that the person could say according to the picture. The options are played only once.
✎ Quick responseExam sheet: (X) options & (X) question
Listen to a statement and the options. Choose from the option that can be the best reply to the statement.

100 Kanji list of JLPT N3

Kanji
漢字
Onyomi
音読み
Kunyomi
訓読み
Word
語彙
HiraganaEnglish
繰り返すく-り-かえ-すto repeat
あて宛先あて-さきthe address to be delivered
けた4桁よん-けた4 digit number
うつ・移民
・移す
・い-みん
・うつ-す
・immigrant, to immigrate
・to move, transfer
かこ・範囲
・囲む
・はん-い
・かこ-む
・a range
・to surround / circle
インかく隠すかく-すto hide, conceal
エン応援おう-えんto support/cheer for somebody
エンけむ・
けむり
禁煙きん-えんNo smoking.
エン演奏えん-そうmusical performace, to play a musical instrument
オウなぐ殴るなぐ-るto hit, punch, strike
オンあたた・
ぬる
・温度
・温める
・おん-ど
・あたた-める
・temperature
・to heat up
カイく・くや悔しいくや-しいbeing regratable, frustrated
カイ・ ゲ・理解
・解ける
・り-かい
・と-ける
・understanding, comprehension
・to be resolved
カクたし・確認
・確かめる
・かく-にん
・たし-かめる
・to check
・to verify
カクおぼ・さ覚めるさ-めるto awake
ガクあごあごjaw
カン・3巻
・巻く
・さん-かん
・ま-く
・three volumes
・to roll up, wind, wrap
カン夕刊ゆう-かんevening newspaper
カンかわ・乾燥
・乾く
・かん-そう
・かわ-く
・being dry
・to get dry
寄るよ-るto get closer, get together
もと基本的き-ほん-てきfundamental, basic
しる記事き-じarticle
キョゆる・免許
・許す
・めん-きょ
・ゆる-す
・licence, permission
・to forgive, allow
キョウさけ叫ぶさけ-ぶto shout out, scream, yell
キョク曲がるま-がるto bend, turn
キン禁止きん-しprohibition, to prohibit
ケイ警察けい-さつa police
ゲキはげ・激安
・激しい
・げき-やす
・はげ-しい
・bargain-priced, extremely cheap
・being intense, in an extreme degree
ケツあなあなhole
ゲンあらわ・現実
・現す
・げん-じつ
・あらわ-す
・reality
・to appear, indicate, show
ケン・
コン
建てるた-てるto build (building/house…)
あやま・誤字
・誤り
・ご-じ
・あやま-り
・a typo
・a mistake
コウあわ慌てるあわ-てるto panic
コウたた・
はた・ひか
叩くたた-くto knock(door) / hit / tap
コウひろ・広げる
・広い
・ひろ-げる
・ひろ-い
・to extend, broaden
・being wide, broad, large
コウ・効果
・効く
・こう-か
・き-く
・effect, effectiveness
・to be effective
コンま・こ・混乱
・混ぜる
・こん-らん
・ま-ぜる
・disorder, chaos, mix-up
・to mix something and another
サイまつ祭りまつ-りa festival
サク・ サつく・作品
・作業
・さく-ひん
・さ-ぎょう
・creation / a peice of work
・work
サツ・
サイ
ころ殺すころ-すto kill
サン賛成さん-せいto agree with
あぶら動物性脂肪どう-ぶつ-せい-し-ぼう・animal fat
・名刺
・刺す
・めい-し
・さ-す
・a business card
・to stick / stab / be bitten(by mosquito)
辞めるや-めるto quite, give up (job, doing something)
湿シツしめ・湿度
・湿る
・しつ-ど
・しめ-る
・Humidity
・to be wet
シャおご奢るおご-るto give (someone) a treat
シャなな斜めなな-めbeing at a slant, oblique
シュウ蹴るけ-るto kick
ジュウ・
チョウ
え・
おも・かさ
・重量
・重ねる
・じゅう-りょう
・かさ-ねる
・weight of something
・to pile up, to repeat many times
ジュウ・
チョウ
しぶ・渋滞
・渋谷
・じゅう-たい
・しぶ-や
・traffic jam
・Shibuya (Tokyo)
ジュンめぐ・巡回
・寺巡り
・じゅん-かい
・てら-めぐ-り
・go round, on patrol
・visit temples from place to place
ジュン順番じゅん-ばんdo something in sequence
ショウまね招き猫まね-き-ねこthe cat brings luck
シンくちびるくちびるlip
シンもう・申請
・申し込む
・しん-せい
・もう-し-こ-む
・application, to apply
・to apply
シン伸びるの-びる(height)to get taller, (hair)to get longer, to get longer, stretch
セイ製品せい-ひんproduct
セツ・
セチ
ふし節約せつ-やくthe saving of (resources, expense…)
センあさ浅いあさ-いbeing shallow, light
センうらや羨ましいうらや-ましいbe jealous
ソウあらそ・戦争
・争う
・せん-そう
・あらそ-う
・war
・to contend/argue
ソウ掻くか-くto scratch
ソウさわ・騒音
・騒ぐ
・そう-おん
・さわ-ぐ
・noise, undesired sound
・to be noisy, to make a clamor
ソンうわさうわさrumour
わ・わび・ほこお詫びお-わ-びan apology
ダンあたた暖まるあたた-まるto get warm
チュウなか仲間なか-まcompanion, fellow
チン家賃や-ちんhouse rent
ネン・可燃ゴミ
・燃える
・か-ねん-ごみ
・も-える
・combustible waste
・being flammable
ノウ農家のう-かfarmer
やぶ破るやぶ-るto breake, destroy
バイ・ビ・ミカビ・か防黴剤ぼう-かび-ざいmildewproofing agent
バツ抜くぬ-くto take away, exclude
ハンさか上り坂のぼ-り-さかan uphill road
避けるさ-けるto avoid
ヒョウおもて・
あらわ
・時刻表
・表す
・じ-こく-ひょう
・あらわ-す
・a time table
・to express/symbolize/represent
くさ腐るくさ-るsomething(food…) go bad
フクはば幅広いはば-ひろ-いa wide range of
ヘキくせ悪い癖わる-い-くせa bad habit
ヘンかた・だま騙すだま-すto deceive
暮らすく-らすto live
ホウ縫うぬ-うto sew
ホウ飽きるあ-きるto get tired of
ホウゆた豊かゆた-かbeing abundant, prosperous (future…), fertile (imagination)
ホウおとず・
たず
・訪問販売
・訪ねる
・ほう-もん-はん-ばい
・たず-ねる
・door-to-door selling
・to visit somewhere
ボウふせ・防犯カメラ
・防ぐ
・ぼう-はん-かめら
・ふせ-ぐ
・security camera
・to prevent
ボウ・ モウのぞ・希望
・望む
・き-ぼう
・のぞ-む
・(to) wish, request
・to hope, wish
マイ埋まるう-まるto cover, fill in, bury
マン・満足
・満たす
・まん-ぞく
・み-たす
・being satisfied
・to satisfy
ゆめ・夢中
・夢
・む-ちゅう
・ゆめ
・being addicted to
・dream
あず・預かる
・預ける
・あず-かる
・あず-ける
・to look after, take care of, keep
・to deposit, leave something in somebody’s care
あた・給与
・与える
・きゅう-よ
・あた-える
・salary
・to give
ヨウ揺れるゆ-れるto swing, shake
ヨウ揚げるあ-げるto fry
ヨウかゆ・
かさ・や・やまい
痒いかゆ-いitchy
ランみだ・乱暴
・乱れる
・らん-ぼう
・みだ-れる
・violence
・to be in disorder
リュウ・ ルなが・一流
・流れ
・いち-りゅう
・なが-れ
・the best, top-ranking (resterant, school…)
・a stream, a processing flow
レイ年齢ねん-れいage
レイ・ ライ礼儀れい-ぎcourtesy
レンつら・つ連続れん-ぞくconsecutively
Kanji
漢字
Onyomi
音読み
Kunyomi
訓読み
Word
語彙
HiraganaEnglish

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Summary

To prepare for an exam is not an easy thing, for sure. There are too many factor that can be count in. Not just learning new words and grammar, getting yourself rela while taking exam or making sure the time is enough can also be critical factors. Therefore, remember to prepare yourself to be in a good status as well!

Lastly, hope the Kanji list and information of N3 can help you well. Belowe are the PDF and Excel file to download the 100 kanji list for JLPT N3!

ABOUTこの記事をかいた人

Representative Director of Reboot Japan Co., Ltd., which operates EDOPEN JAPAN. Founded the company in 2018, which provides Japanese language education and assistance for studying in Japan. Started the company after living with international students at a Japanese language school. He enjoys learning about new people and cultures and has lived in Australia and Malaysia. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Sophia University.