Kanji Writing Practice Online for Free

Kanji are Chinese-origin characters used in Japanese writing. This free kanji writing practice tool covers Grade 1–3 characters (JLPT N5–N4 level) with animated stroke order, on'yomi and kun'yomi readings, and example words. Writing kanji by hand builds deeper memory than passive recognition alone. Each kanji is organized by Japanese school grade level, giving you a natural progression from the simplest, most common characters to more complex ones. The handwriting canvas lets you practice each character's stroke order until it becomes automatic. Explore our guides: how many kanji you need to know and understanding kanji radicals.

This tool covers Japanese Grade 1–3 kanji, which spans JLPT N5 and N4. Grade 1 aligns with N5 foundations (numbers, days, basic actions); Grade 2 fills in common everyday kanji; Grade 3 rounds out the vocabulary needed for N4 topics like travel, school, and daily routines. Use the grade tabs above to focus on the level you're preparing for.

On'yomi is the Chinese-derived reading, typically used in compound words (e.g., 山 = サン in 山脈). Kun'yomi is the native Japanese reading, often used when the kanji appears alone or with hiragana (e.g., 山 = やま). Most kanji have both types of readings.

Start with kanji that resemble their meaning, such as 山 (mountain), 川 (river), 木 (tree), 日 (sun/day), and 月 (moon/month). Numbers (一、二、三) are also straightforward. These are all included in Grade 1.

Kanji stroke order follows consistent rules (top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical). Learning these rules makes it easier to write complex characters correctly, improves legibility, and helps you guess the stroke order of unfamiliar kanji.

The Japanese government's jōyō kanji list includes 2,136 characters for everyday use. However, there are over 50,000 kanji in existence. For practical fluency, knowing 1,000–2,000 kanji covers most reading needs.

Start with Grade 1 kanji — they are the most common and simplest. Watch the stroke order animation, then write each character on the canvas. Learn each kanji with its readings and example words so you remember it in context. Practice 3–5 new kanji per day and review previous ones. Understanding radicals (common building blocks) makes new kanji easier to learn.

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