Learning how to write is a process that develops over a series of years. It’s something that you can always get better at, no matter what your skill level is. This is true for all forms of writing, and Japanese kanji is no different. If you’re a non-native speaker, then writing in Japanese can seem like a daunting task. For those preparing for JLPT at any level, there’s a multitude of kanji you’ll need to learn to pass.
Do you have to write kanji on the JLPT? No, you do not have to write kanji on any level of the JLPT. JLPT measures linguistic competence by testing an individual’s language knowledge (Japanese vocabulary and grammar, reading, and listening). There is no writing section on the test.
Just because you don’t have to write kanji on the test physically, does not mean that you will not learn how to write it. Reading and writing are two sides of the same coin. One side involves transmitting data, and the other side involves deciphering it. You cannot become a competent reader without at least picking up some writing basics. And though JLPT doesn’t test you in writing kanji, you’re bound to pick up a few tricks along the way. This doesn’t mean you’ll become an expert kanji writer, though.
Will Studying for JLPT Teach You to Write Kanji?
Kanji are ideograms. Every character has its own unique meaning and directly corresponds to a word. When you combine characters, even more words can be created. For example, if you take the kanji for “car” and combine it with the kanji for “electricity,” you will end up with the word “train.”
There are tens of thousands of characters that you can learn. Of those, 2000 to 3000 are required to understand native Japanese newspapers. At the highest level of JLPT, you’ll be required to know the official set of 2136 kanji that have been declared the “kanji for everyday use.”
Will studying for JLPT teach you to write kanji? The purpose of JLPT at any level is to measure an individual’s linguistic competency in the Japanese language. This is done by primarily testing language knowledge, like vocabulary and grammar, as well as listening comprehension. There are no writing sections on any level of JLPT, but you will need to know plenty of kanji. Here is how much kanji you should know based on which level of JLPT you’re taking:
- N5: At least 100 kanji
- N4: At least 300 kanji
- N3: At least 650 kanji
- N2: At least 1000 kanji
- N1: At least 2000 kanji
As stated above, learning how to read and learning how to write are two sides of the same coin, but they are two very different sides. JLPT tests you in your ability to comprehend written kanji, not your ability to write it down.
At the highest level of JLPT, an individual will spend over 3100-4500 hours of studying. This study does not include kanji writing. Every kanji has a specific set of strokes that you must learn, and you’ll need to know how to combine them to make the correct word.
It all comes down to practice. You can be perfectly fluent in the language, being able to speak it and read it at an advanced level, but if you don’t practice writing, then you won’t be able to do it at a fast pace. Did you ever have to practice your handwriting? Learning to comprehend a letter does not give you the ability to do the correct strokes with a paper and pen. Learning the stokes for each kanji and committing it to retainable memory in a way that you can write as fast as you think takes an enormous amount of practice.
If this is something you wish to do, then your hours of JLPT study will increase, but it can only be considered as “extra credit,” as these skills will not be tested in any capacity.
Should You Take the Time to Learn to Write Kanji?
So far, we’ve mentioned that learning to write kanji is not necessary for JLPT and that you should generally avoid it if you want to strategize the thousands of hours you’ll spend studying effectively. But are there benefits to learning to write kanji, and could it even help improve your overall score on JLPT?
The truth is, most westerners will never need to stroke a single line of kanji in day-to-day life. If you ever find yourself needing to write kanji, there is plenty of helpful computer software that you can use to craft your message, granted that you’re a competent reader of kanji. That being said, there are hidden benefits to learning that can make your path to reading kanji more effective.
If being a competent reader makes you a competent writer, then being a competent writer makes you a competent reader. If reading comprehension is the core skill evaluated in JLPT, then you can use the practice of writing kanji to sharpen your reading skills to a sufficient level in an alarming timeframe.
Remembering the Kanji I
There is a practical textbook written by James Heisig called, “Remembering the Kanji I.” The idea behind this textbook is that the mastery of a kanji character includes the ability to produce every one of its lines and dots from memory. It puts you on a path to full kanji literacy by helping you learn component by component, teaching you the meaning of every individual character. Being able to stroke the characters out with a pen, or even just your finger helps you retain knowledge in a way that flashcards cannot compare with.
How does the book equip you to be a successful reader for JLPT? The author argues that learning how to write kanji is easier than learning how to pronounce them. The process orders the kanji according to their component parts and then assigns each part a distinct meaning with a unique image. This enables you to learn the various combinations that make up the kanji using “imaginative memory.” On top of this, each kanji is assigned its own keyword to represent the meaning of that character.
Learning the meaning and writing of kanji will put you in a fantastic position to learn the readings. From here, you can move on to Volume 2, which has a broader focus on the actual reading of kanji. Keep in mind: this will not improve your handwriting. Calligraphy is an entirely different matter.
Conclusion
The truth is, you will not need to write kanji on JLPT. Outside of individual cases, you won’t even need to write it in your day-to-day life. Learning to comprehend Japanese for any level of JLPT is going to cost you an immense amount of time, and committing some of that time to learn to write kanji will not aid you in being successful on the test—unless you utilize the writing in a way that makes you a better reader.
Always be aware of what kind of learner you are. When studying for JLPT, reading and listening comprehension should be your top priority. If you’re going to learn how to write kanji, learn it in a way that improves your Japanese reading skill. Even though those writing skills won’t be tested on the JLPT itself, the reading mastery they helped you attain will make you successful no matter which level of JLPT you take.