JLPT N4 Kanji Compositions: 10 Tricky Kanji With Easy Mnemonics
Some JLPT N4 kanji look deceptively complicated. I can recognize them when reading, but when I have to write or remember their composition, suddenly they all start looking the same.
So, instead of memorizing them as random shapes, I like breaking them into smaller components and attaching a small story to each one.
These are my notes for 10 N4-level kanji that are worth paying a little extra attention to.
Target keywords: JLPT N4 kanji, N4 kanji, Japanese kanji mnemonics, JLPT N4 vocabulary, Japanese kanji study
1. 館 — Building / Hall
Readings:
- On'yomi: カン
- Kun'yomi: やかた
Meaning: building, hall, mansion
Composition:
食 + 官
The left side originally relates to food, while 官 gives the sound kan.
Mnemonic: Imagine a big 館 where a government official has a huge place to eat.
Example:
図書館で日本語の本を借りました。
The word 図書館（としょかん） is especially useful because you'll see it often in beginner Japanese.
2. 鏡 — Mirror
Readings:
- On'yomi: キョウ
- Kun'yomi: かがみ
Meaning: mirror
Composition:
金 + 京
The left side is 金, meaning metal, while 京 provides the phonetic component.
Mnemonic: A shiny piece of metal shows the capital city reflected in it.
Example:
朝、鏡を見てから家を出ました。
3. 議 — Discussion
Readings:
- On'yomi: ギ
- Kun'yomi: —
Meaning: discussion, deliberation
Composition:
言 + 義
言 is related to words and speaking, which makes sense because 議 is used for discussions and debates.
Mnemonic: When people use lots of words (言) to discuss what is right (義), they are having a 議.
Example:
会議で新しい計画について話しました。
Remember 会議（かいぎ） = meeting.
4. 警 — Warn
Readings:
- On'yomi: ケイ
- Kun'yomi: —
Meaning: warn, caution
Composition:
敬 + 言
The bottom 言 represents words or speech.
Mnemonic: Someone uses serious words (言) to make you respect/care (敬) about danger.
Example:
警察官が危ないので近づかないように言いました。
A useful word is 警察（けいさつ）, meaning police.
5. 薬 — Medicine
Readings:
- On'yomi: ヤク
- Kun'yomi: くすり
Meaning: medicine, drug
Composition:
艹 + 楽
The top 艹 is the grass/plant radical, which appears frequently in words related to plants.
Mnemonic: A useful plant (艹) can make you feel 楽, or more comfortable.
Example:
風邪をひいたので、薬を飲んで早く寝ました。
6. 運 — Carry / Luck
Readings:
- On'yomi: ウン
- Kun'yomi: はこぶ
Meaning: carry, transport, luck, fortune
Composition:
辶 + 軍
辶 is associated with movement or walking.
Mnemonic: A 軍 moving along a road 辶 is carrying things from one place to another.
Example:
重い荷物を駅まで運びました。
Don't forget 運転（うんてん）, which means driving.
7. 遠 — Far
Readings:
- On'yomi: エン
- Kun'yomi: とおい
Meaning: far, distant
Composition:
辶 + 袁
Again, 辶 suggests movement.
Mnemonic: If you have to keep walking 辶 for a long time, the destination must be far.
Example:
駅からホテルまでは思ったより遠かったです。
8. 様 — Way / Appearance / Mr. or Ms.
Readings:
- On'yomi: ヨウ
- Kun'yomi: さま
Meaning: manner, appearance, formal title
Composition:
木 + 羊
The left side 木 means tree, while 羊 means sheep.
Mnemonic: Imagine a sheep (羊) standing beside a tree (木) in a particular pose or manner.
Example:
田中様からメールが届きました。
様（さま） is also commonly used after names when speaking politely, especially in customer service.
9. 練 — Practice / Train
Readings:
- On'yomi: レン
- Kun'yomi: ねる
Meaning: practice, train, refine
Composition:
糸 + 東
糸 means thread.
Mnemonic: Think of repeatedly working with thread (糸) until it becomes properly refined.
Example:
日本語が上手になるように、毎日会話を練習しています。
A very useful compound is 練習（れんしゅう） = practice.
10. 願 — Wish / Request
Readings:
- On'yomi: ガン
- Kun'yomi: ねがう
Meaning: wish, request, hope
Composition:
原 + 頁
The character contains 頁, which is historically related to the head.
Mnemonic: Think of putting a strong wish in your head while standing on an open plain.
Example:
今年は健康に過ごせるように願っています。
A common word is お願い（おねがい）, one of those expressions you'll hear constantly in everyday Japanese.
Quick Study Tips
For difficult kanji, I don't think copying the character fifty times is always the best way.
I prefer three steps:
- Break it apart — identify familiar components.
- Make a ridiculous mental image — the stranger, the better.
- Use it in a sentence — especially with vocabulary you already know.
For example:
鏡 → 金 + 京 → shiny metal → mirror
Then connect it to an actual sentence:
朝、鏡を見る。
Now the character isn't just a complicated collection of strokes. It has a meaning, a sound, and a small scene attached to it.
Also, don't worry if your mnemonic feels a little silly. That's kind of the point. A weird image is usually much easier to remember than a perfectly logical explanation.