Learning kanji can be challenging, especially when several characters look almost identical! One small line, dot, or extra stroke can completely change a kanji’s meaning.

In this post, we’ll look at seven groups of commonly confused JLPT N5 kanji and learn some simple ways to tell them apart.

1. 木 vs 本

These two kanji look very similar, but one extra line makes a big difference.

木 — Tree / Wood

木 means tree or wood.

Examples:

• 木きがあります。
  → There is a tree.
• 木曜日もくようび
  → Thursday

本 — Book / Origin

本 can mean book. It can also mean origin or base.

Examples:

• 本ほんを読よみます。
  → I read a book.
• 日本にほん
  → Japan

How to remember:
本 is like 木 with an extra line marking the base of the tree.

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2. 休 vs 体

These kanji both have the person radical 亻 on the left, which can make them easy to confuse.

休 — Rest

休 means to rest or a break.

Examples:

• 休やすみます。
  → I rest.
• 今日きょうは休やすみです。
  → Today is my day off.

休 is made of:

亻 + 木 = 休

Imagine a person leaning against a tree to rest!

体 — Body

体 means body.

Examples:

• 体からだが大おおきいです。
  → The body is big.
• 体からだを動うごかします。
  → I move my body.

体 is made of:

亻 + 本 = 体

How to remember:
The right side is the key!

• 休 → 木
• 体 → 本

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3. 人 vs 入

These are two of the most commonly confused beginner kanji.

人 — Person

人 means person.

Examples:

• 日本人にほんじん
  → Japanese person
• 三人さんにん
  → Three people

入 — Enter / Put In

入 is related to entering or putting something in.

Examples:

• 入はいります
  → To enter
• 入口いりぐち
  → Entrance

How to tell them apart:
Pay attention to which stroke crosses through the other. The direction is slightly different!

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4. 大 vs 太 vs 犬

These three kanji are almost identical at first glance.

大 — Big

大 means big or large.

Examples:

• 大おおきい
  → Big
• 大学だいがく
  → University

太 — Thick / Fat

太 means thick or fat.

Examples:

• 太ふとい
  → Thick
• 太ふとる
  → To gain weight

犬 — Dog

犬 means dog.

Examples:

• 犬いぬがいます。
  → There is a dog.
• 小ちいさい犬いぬ
  → A small dog

How to tell them apart:

• 大 → no dot
• 太 → dot inside
• 犬 → dot outside

That tiny dot changes everything!

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5. 日 vs 目

Both kanji are rectangular, but they have completely different meanings.

日 — Sun / Day

日 means sun or day.

Examples:

• 毎日まいにち
  → Every day
• 日曜日にちようび
  → Sunday

目 — Eye

目 means eye.

Examples:

• 目めが大おおきいです。
  → My eyes are big.
• 一ひとつ目め
  → First

How to remember:
目 has an extra horizontal line inside. Think of it as the details inside an eye!

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6. 石 vs 右

These kanji can look confusing because they both contain 口.

石 — Stone

石 means stone.

Examples:

• 石いしがあります。
  → There is a stone.
• 石川県いしかわけん
  → Ishikawa prefecture

右 — Right

右 means right.

Examples:

• 右みぎに曲まがります。
  → Turn right.
• 右手みぎて
  → Right hand

How to tell them apart:
Look at the top part.

• 石 → the top is a small line
• 右 → the top has a longer, more complex shape

The position of 口 is also different.

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7. 白 vs 百

One small line can completely change these kanji.

白 — White

白 means white.

Examples:

• 白しろい
  → White
• 白しろい犬いぬ
  → A white dog

百 — One Hundred

百 means one hundred.

Examples:

• 百円ひゃくえん
  → 100 yen
• 百人ひゃくにん
  → 100 people

How to tell them apart:

• 白 → no line at the top
• 百 → one extra horizontal line

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How to Stop Confusing Similar Kanji

When kanji look similar, don’t try to memorize the whole character at once. Instead, look closely at the small details.

Ask yourself:

• Does it have an extra line?
• Where is the dot?
• Does it have a different radical?
• Which part of the kanji has changed?

For example:

木 → 本
Add one line.

休 → 体
Change 木 to 本.

大 → 太 → 犬
Move or add a dot.

These small differences can completely change the meaning of a kanji.

Final Thoughts

Confusing similar kanji is completely normal when you’re a beginner. The good news is that once you start comparing kanji side by side, you’ll begin to notice the small differences much more easily.

Don’t just memorize kanji individually—compare them with similar-looking characters. This can help you recognize their shapes, remember their meanings, and avoid common mistakes.

The more you see them, the easier they become!

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