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First 66 Japanese kanji to start effectively

Learning your first 66 kanji through Japanese names is both a practical and motivating method to start studying Japanese. These characters, frequently used in surnames and given names, will enable you to quickly recognise common inscriptions and better understand Japanese culture.

Unlike abstract kanji learning, studying those found in names offers a concrete and memorable context. Each character carries meaning related to nature, virtues or elements, which facilitates memorisation. This approach provides an excellent gateway to immerse yourself in the language whilst discovering Japanese values and aesthetics.

Nature and flora

Nature holds a central place in Japanese culture and inspires a great portion of both feminine and masculine names. References to flowers, plants and trees often symbolise beauty, strength or resilience through the seasons.

Seasons and time

Marking birth by the current season is a deeply rooted tradition. These names anchor the individual in the temporal cycle and evoke sensations linked to each period of the year, such as spring warmth or winter clarity.

Light, sky and elements

Celestial and natural elements provide names evoking grandeur, brilliance and open-mindedness. These kanji are particularly prized for suggesting a radiant future or a luminous personality.

Virtues and feelings

Many parents choose characters representing moral qualities or feelings they wish to see in their child. Love, truth and kindness feature amongst the most commonly used concepts.

Aesthetics and arts

Beauty and artistic harmony are recurring themes, particularly for feminine names, though some apply to both genders. The kanji for beauty is one of the most frequent in name composition.

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Colours

Colours in Japanese possess strong symbolism. They don’t merely describe a hue, but also an atmosphere or character trait, such as the purity of white or the youthfulness of blue.

Strength and action (Common masculine names)

Certain kanji are traditionally associated with masculinity, evoking grandeur, direction or physical action. They are often composed of vigorous strokes and meanings related to movement or stature.

Places and connections

These names often evoke reassuring places or the idea of bringing people together. The concept of “bond” has become extremely popular in the 2020s decade, symbolising the importance of human relationships.

Suffixes and classic structures

It’s useful to recognise frequent endings which often indicate the gender of the name. Although modern trends sometimes favour short names with a single kanji, these structures remain pillars of Japanese civil records.