Q1. Why do we use kanji?

A1. To make the meaning of a sentence clear.

The 2 sentences are the same, but when expressed in hiragana only it becomes difficult to
distinguish between separate words and their meanings.

How do you read the following kanji? Let’s listen.

All of them are read 「かみ」（kami）. Homonyms are very common in Japanese, so kanji
notation helps to differentiate clearly between the meanings of words which are pronounced
the same way.

Q2. Does a single kanji have only one reading?

A2. Many kanji have multiple readings.

There are readings introduced from China (on’yomi) and readings born in Japan (kun’yomi).
Q3. What are the key points when trying to memorize kanji?

A3. Focus on the kanji origins and the radical.

Kanji origins

・If you get to know the origins of each kanji, it will be of some help when you try to memorize
them.
・Kanji origins fall into the following main groups:

(1) Kanji derived from pictographs

(2) Kanji in which combinations of points and lines represent abstract concepts
(3) Kanji created by combining 2 or more different kanji characters

(4) Kanji where the meaning and pronunciation were matched together.

Radicals

・Every kanji has a radical.

・The radical is the base element used when classifying kanji by their form.
・For example, kanji with the 「木」（TREE, WOOD） radical are characters that have a
connection with trees.
Q4. Around how many kanji are used in Japan?

A4.
・A4. About 3000 kanji are seen in Japan on an everyday basis, though it is said that if you
know about 2000 kanji you can understand 96% of the kanji characters used in newspapers.
・Children study 1006 kanji at elementary school (age 6～12).

Around 300 kanji are studied in a beginner-level Japanese course.

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