OniKanji

Pick Your Kanji Level: Choose Where You Start, or Change Levels Once

By mikan-chan ·

Hi Folks,

One of the most common things we hear: "I already know basic kanji like 一, 日 and 人. Do I really have to start at Level 1?"

Not anymore. We've shipped two new ways to study at the level that fits you:

  1. New learners: pick your starting level during onboarding.
  2. Existing learners: make a one-time level change from your profile. Skip ahead, or go back.

How to find your level

Both options open the same level picker. Every level is laid out with its kanji and a rough JLPT label (Levels 1–2 are mostly N5, Levels 3–4 mix in N4, and so on). Tap any kanji to see its meaning.

Scroll down until most of a level's kanji look unfamiliar, and start there.

New feature 1: Pick your starting level at onboarding

When you sign up, the welcome screen has a Pick your starting level option. Browse the levels, choose one, and your first reviews start from there.

Brand new to Japanese? Stick with Level 1. It's built for you, and your first three kanji take about two minutes.

New feature 2: One-time level change from My Profile

Already studying? Go to your profile page and choose Restart at a Level. You can:

  • Skip ahead if the early levels feel too easy.
  • Go backwards to an earlier level if you want to rebuild your foundation.

You'll confirm the move by typing your username:

Confirming a one-time level change

Screenshot from an early build. Your streak and heat map are now kept when you change levels.

Here's what happens when you move:

  • Reset: your progress on the levels you're moving through. Those answers also come off your accuracy and totals.
  • Kept: every level before that, plus your streak, heat map, coins, membership and manga library.
  • Skipped kanji still count: they show up as done in your JLPT progress on My Stats.

A few things to know

  • One level change per account. Picking a level during onboarding counts as your one change, so choose carefully.
  • Speed Run leaderboard: if you skip ahead, you won't appear on the Speed Run board, since you didn't clear the early levels. Every other leaderboard works as normal.
  • Free accounts: you normally get the first 3 levels free. If you start at Level 2, Levels 2–3 are free. If you start at Level 3 or higher, the level you pick is free, and going further needs a membership.

Not sure where you'd land? Browse the full kanji list or check the JLPT N5 and N4 kanji to see what you already know.

If anything about it feels off, reply here or ping us on Discord. We read everything.

Happy studying!