Tofugu's Kanji Knowledge Database Learn everything we know about kanji so you can learn every kanji there is to know

Kanji. When you first start learning Japanese, it stands in front of you like an unscalable wall. Thousands of characters to learn. But once you start learning, kanji can become a friend. A compelling puzzle that yields tasty knowledge fruit. Once you experience the joy of reading Japanese with your own eyes and brain, you'll push forward through the frustration to get more joy.

It's this love/hate relationship that made us kanji nerds. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best ways to learn kanji and keep it stuck in our brains permanently. We've written a lot of articles on kanji based on this experience. Below is a collection of our very best kanji posts. Here's a sample of what you'll find:

How To Learn Kanji

Learning kanji is hard. But you'll make it way harder if you don't learn how to study kanji before you start. Most of the articles in this series focus on different ways to learn kanji, mistakes you should avoid, how to guess stroke order, how to find the kanji radical, and more. Take some time to read our tips before you start cramming kanji. It'll save you a lot of sweat in the long run.

Kanji Product Reviews

Though we personally recommend WaniKani (wink wink), there are a lot of other kanji learning apps, books, and products we like too. Check out our reviews to kick you kanji study game up to the next level.

Kanji Explanations

It's not enough to simply cram kanji characters into your head. You need to learn about the idea of kanji itself: how it works, where it came from, and exceptions that can trip you up. The more aspects of kanji you understand, the more effectively you'll be able to use it.

Articles in Series