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Free Practice Questions for Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken)

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Key Facts: Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken) Exam

2,136

Jōyō kanji covered by Kanken Level 2

Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, grade outline

60 min

Official answering time for Levels 1 through 7

Kanken delivery-mode comparison page

80% / 70% / 80%

Approximate passing bands: 200-point 80% (1, Pre-1, 2); 200-point 70% (Pre-2–7); 150-point 80% (8–10)

Kanken grade outline, 合格基準 table

5,200 JPY

2026 public paper-venue fee for Level 2 (tax included)

Kanken public venue page and 2026 fee revision notice

12 grades

Official ladder from Level 10 to Level 1, including Pre-2 and Pre-1

Kanken homepage and grade outline

Kanken (漢検) is Japan's kanji certification across 12 grades. Level 2 covers all 2,136 jōyō kanji, lasts 60 minutes, scores about 80% of 200 points to pass, and costs 5,200 JPY at 2026 public paper venues. This 100-question bank is independent English MCQ study, not the official handwritten paper.

Sample Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the correct on'yomi (音読み) for the underlined kanji in the compound 「暫定」 (zantei, provisional)? 下線部「暫」の正しい音読みを選びなさい。
A.ザン (zan)
B.ゼン (zen)
C.サン (san)
D.ショウ (shō)
Explanation: In 暫定 (ざんてい), 暫 is read as ザン (zan), meaning temporary or provisional. Readings like ゼン or サン are common misreadings based on visual confusion with 漸 (zen, gradual) or 斬 (zan, but rarely read san).
2What is the correct on'yomi for the underlined kanji in the formal legal term 「相殺」 (offsetting/cancellation)? 下線部「殺」の正しい読みを選びなさい。
A.サイ (sai)
B.サツ (satsu)
C.セツ (setsu)
D.サク (saku)
Explanation: In business and civil-law usage 相殺 is read そうさい. The jōyō kanji table gives 殺 three on'yomi — サツ, サイ and セツ — and サイ is the one used when the character means to reduce or cancel out, as in 相殺 and 減殺 (げんさい). サツ is the 'kill' reading in 殺人 and 殺到.
3What is the correct kun'yomi (訓読み) for the underlined kanji in 「布地を裁つ」 (to cut fabric)? 下線部「裁」の正しい訓読みを選びなさい。
A.たつ (tatsu)
B.さばく (sabaku)
C.きる (kiru)
D.さく (saku)
Explanation: 裁つ (たつ, tatsu) specifically denotes cutting out cloth, paper, or materials into shape (as in dressmaking). While 裁 is read さば・く in legal contexts (deciding/judging), in the context of fabric it is read た・つ.
4What is the correct jukujikun (熟字訓) reading for the botanical term 「百日紅」? 「百日紅」の正しい読みを選びなさい。
A.さるすべり (sarusuberi)
B.ひがんばな (higanbana)
C.つつじ (tsutsuji)
D.あじさい (ajisai)
Explanation: 百日紅 is read さるすべり (sarusuberi, crape myrtle) as a jukujikun compound. The name reflects its long hundred-day blooming period in Chinese tradition and its smooth bark that even monkeys would slip on in Japanese tradition.
5What is the correct reading for the underlined kanji in 「老舗」 (a long-established, venerable shop)? 「老舗」の正しい読みを選びなさい。
A.しにせ (shinise)
B.ろうほ (rōho)
C.ろうてん (rōten)
D.おいせ (oise)
Explanation: 老舗 is customarily read as しにせ (shinise) in modern Japanese, deriving etymologically from the verb 仕似す (shinisu, to imitate or carry on ancestral work). It is classified as an established jukujikun reading on the Kanken.
6What is the correct reading for the underlined kanji in the diplomatic phrase 「言質を取る」 (to extract a verbal commitment or pledge)? 下線部「言質」の正しい読みを選びなさい。
A.げんち (genchi)
B.げんしつ (genshitsu)
C.ごんち (gonchi)
D.ことじち (kotojichi)
Explanation: 言質 is read げんち (genchi). Here 質 takes the special reading ち, meaning collateral or pledge (as in 人質, hitojichi). げんしつ is widely heard and appears in some dictionaries as a variant, but broadcasting and usage guides treat げんち as the standard reading, and that is what Kanken keys.
7What is the correct on'yomi for the underlined kanji in 「間隙を縫う」 (to slip through a gap/opening)? 下線部「隙」の正しい音読みを選びなさい。
A.ゲキ (geki)
B.キャク (kyaku)
C.コウ (kō)
D.カク (kaku)
Explanation: In the compound 間隙 (かんげき, gap/crevice), 隙 has the on'yomi ゲキ (geki). Its common kun'yomi is すき (suki) or ひま (hima).
8What is the correct reading for the underlined kanji in 「普請」 (construction, building, civil repair work)? 「普請」の正しい読みを選びなさい。
A.ふしん (fushin)
B.ふせい (fusei)
C.ほしん (hoshin)
D.ふしょう (fushō)
Explanation: 普請 is pronounced ふしん (fushin). Originally a Zen Buddhist term for communal labor by all monks, it historically evolved into the term for civil engineering and architecture during the Edo period.
9What is the correct kun'yomi for the underlined kanji in 「面持ち」 (facial expression, look)? 下線部「面」の正しい読みを選びなさい。
A.おも (omo)
B.つら (tsura)
C.めん (men)
D.かお (kao)
Explanation: 面持ち is read おももち (omomochi), where 面 carries the ancient kun'yomi おも (face/surface), preserved in 面影 (おもかげ), 面差し (おもざし) and 面長 (おもなが). The jōyō table lists おも, おもて and つら as the kun'yomi of 面.
10What is the correct on'yomi for the underlined kanji in 「諮問」 (consultation/inquiry to a committee)? 下線部「諮」の正しい音読みを選びなさい。
A.シ (shi)
B.ジ (ji)
C.トウ (tō)
D.ショ (sho)
Explanation: In 諮問 (しもん, shimon), 諮 is read シ (shi), meaning to deliberate, inquire, or consult. Its kun'yomi is はか・る (hakaru).

About the Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken) Exam

The Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (日本漢字能力検定, 漢検 / Kanken) is a Japanese-language kanji certification administered by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, with MEXT backing. It uses twelve grades from Level 10 (Grade 1 elementary kanji) to Level 1 (about 6,000 characters). Level 2 is the usual benchmark because it covers all 2,136 jōyō kanji. Official papers mix readings, handwriting, radicals, yojijukugo, antonyms and synonyms, homophones, error correction, and okurigana, and they are scored out of 200 or 150 points rather than a published item count. Public paper Level 2 costs 5,200 JPY in 2026 and lasts 60 minutes. OpenExamPrep provides independent English-language multiple-choice study for those topics. It is not an official translation, not a handwriting simulation, and not a substitute for writing kanji by hand.

Exam sponsor: The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (公益財団法人 日本漢字能力検定協会). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Twelve grades from Level 10 to Level 1, including Pre-2 and Pre-1. Public paper sittings are held three times a year. 漢検CBT covers Levels 2–7; 漢検オンライン covers Levels 2–10. Official answers are handwritten kanji and fill-ins in Japanese.

Time Limit

60 minutes for Levels 1–7; 40 minutes for Levels 8–10.

Passing Score

About 80% of 200 points (Levels 1, Pre-1, 2); about 70% of 200 points (Pre-2 through 7); about 80% of 150 points (Levels 8–10).

Exam / Certification Fees

2026 public paper venue, tax included: 3,200–6,700 JPY by grade (Level 2: 5,200 JPY). CBT/online Level 2: 4,800 JPY.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

15% of this local practice set

Kanji Reading (読み)

On'yomi, kun'yomi, jukujikun, and ateji. Official Level 2 lists 漢字の読み among 主な出題内容; the Foundation does not publish domain percentages.

20% of this local practice set

Kanji Writing & Orthography (書き取り・表記)

Choosing the correct jōyō character in context. Levels 2–10 are scored against the 2010 jōyō table.

15% of this local practice set

Radicals and Kanji Construction (部首・熟語の構成)

Radical identification and two-character compound structure, both named on the Level 2 outline.

15% of this local practice set

Four-Character Idioms (四字熟語)

Attested yojijukugo completion and meaning, a named Level 2 task.

15% of this local practice set

Antonyms and Synonyms (対義語・類義語)

Opposite and near-equivalent pairs from the official 出題内容 list.

10% of this local practice set

Homophones and Error Correction (同音・同訓異字・誤字訂正)

Same-sound kanji choice and spotting the wrong character in a sentence.

10% of this local practice set

Okurigana and Idiomatic Usage (送り仮名・故事成語・慣用句)

Okurigana is listed for Level 2. Classical stories and proverbs are listed for Pre-1 and Level 1.

Preparing for the Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: About 80% of 200 points (Levels 1, Pre-1, 2); about 70% of 200 points (Pre-2 through 7); about 80% of 150 points (Levels 8–10).
  • Assessment: Twelve grades from Level 10 to Level 1, including Pre-2 and Pre-1. Public paper sittings are held three times a year. 漢検CBT covers Levels 2–7; 漢検オンライン covers Levels 2–10. Official answers are handwritten kanji and fill-ins in Japanese.
  • Time limit: 60 minutes for Levels 1–7; 40 minutes for Levels 8–10.
  • Exam / certification fees: 2026 public paper venue, tax included: 3,200–6,700 JPY by grade (Level 2: 5,200 JPY). CBT/online Level 2: 4,800 JPY. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanken): Suggested Study Strategy

1Drill on'yomi and kun'yomi in compounds, not only as isolated characters, because Kanken readings are almost always set in words.
2Learn radicals (部首) with their names and positions (hen, tsukuri, kanmuri, ashi) so you can classify unfamiliar characters quickly.
3Pair antonyms and synonyms as sets; Level 2 lists 対義語・類義語 as a standing task.
4Write yojijukugo from memory. Official Level 2 examples include 鶏口牛後 and 呉越同舟.
5Practice okurigana on verbs that share a stem, such as 表す versus 表れる, because those items penalize a correct kanji with the wrong kana ending.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kanken Level 2?

The Foundation describes Level 2 as high-school-completion through general adult level, covering all 2,136 jōyō kanji. It is scored out of 200 points with an approximate 80% passing threshold and lasts 60 minutes.

What format is the real Kanken examination?

Official Kanken is a Japanese written test. Public venues use paper; CBT (Levels 2–7) uses a computer at a test center; 漢検オンライン (Levels 2–10) uses a tablet. Candidates write kanji and complete fill-in tasks. It is not an English four-option multiple-choice paper.

Does OpenExamPrep simulate the official handwritten Kanken format?

No. OpenExamPrep publishes independent English-language multiple-choice study. It is not an official translation, not a handwriting or stroke-order simulation, and not a substitute for writing kanji by hand.

How much does Kanken cost in 2026?

Public paper-venue fees (tax included) range from 3,200 JPY for Levels 8–10 to 6,700 JPY for Level 1. Level 2 is 5,200 JPY on paper and 4,800 JPY on CBT or 漢検オンライン. These are 2026 prices after the Foundation's fee revision.

Is Kanken offered in English?

The Foundation administers Kanken in Japanese. This practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation for people who search and study in English. It is not an official English sitting.