Grade 1 kanji list: all 80 characters and writing practice
Japan's first elementary-school grade introduces 80 kanji. Here is the complete set with quick English meanings, followed by a plan for turning the list into handwriting practice. KanjiBrush includes Grade 1 as its free starting point.
All 80 Grade 1 kanji
The list below follows the app's practice ordering. Meanings are short memory aids, not complete dictionary definitions or pronunciations. School-grade groupings are different from a JLPT study syllabus.
The character set was checked against the Ministry of Education's school-grade kanji allocation table. The official table lists these 80 characters for the first grade. This is a reference to the character set, not an endorsement of KanjiBrush.
Start with a few useful groups
Numbers: 一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十. Notice how the first three share a simple idea, while later shapes require different movements. Check each model rather than trying to invent a stroke sequence from its finished appearance.
Nature: 日 月 火 水 木 金 土. These also appear in the names of the days of the week. Learning a character and learning a word containing it are connected tasks; the word supplies the reading you need in that context.
Compare related shapes: 木, 林 and 森 share visible components. Compare the space available to each part instead of drawing every 木 at the same width. 人 and 入 are another useful pair to inspect carefully.
Use a four-part practice round
- Choose a small group and check each meaning.
- Watch or trace the stroke sequence once.
- Hide the model and write from memory.
- Compare the attempt, name one correction, and revisit that character in another round.
Read the full kanji handwriting routine for examples of useful corrections. KanjiBrush's canvas checks stroke order, direction and shape; the school-grade list itself is a sequence of study material, not a test score.
Practice in the app or print a sheet
Download KanjiBrush for iPhone or Android to start Grade 1 free. Additional grades and study modes use optional premium plans; the current plan details are shown before purchase.
For paper practice, use the free companion KanjiSteps. These two sets keep each printable sheet within its 40-character limit. In the browser desk choose Worksheet, then print or save as PDF.
Open characters 1–40 in free browser practice →
Open characters 41–80 in free browser practice →
You do not need to learn all 80 at once. Use the list to select a manageable group and check the same group again after a break. Add readings through example words instead of trying to memorize every possible reading on the first pass.