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[For Seniors] Challenging but Exciting! Kanji Quiz

In this article, we introduce kanji quizzes designed for older adults!

These quizzes are often used as activities at day service centers, and this time we’ve gathered ones that focus on kanji.

With people using mobile phones more often and being able to convert text so easily, many can read kanji but find writing them difficult, don’t you think?

It’s great to let each person think carefully on their own, and it’s also fun to solve the questions everyone’s unsure about by chatting and consulting together.

Kanji quizzes are a win-win—they train the brain and help with studying—so be sure to give them a try!

[For Seniors] Difficult but Exciting! Kanji Quiz (21–30)

Auspicious Words Kanji Quiz

[Brain Training] Kanji Quiz ✏️ Auspicious Words ✨ Perfect for the New Year!! “A Little Daily Brain Workout”
Auspicious Words Kanji Quiz

Will your luck improve!? Here are some ideas for a kanji quiz featuring auspicious words.

When you hear “lucky” or “auspicious” words, what comes to mind? If you form an image first and then tackle the quiz, your accuracy might even go up.

For example, a question might show the phrase “家内安全” and ask you to consider how it is read and what it means.

There are 15 such questions.

There are also hints, so feel free to give the quiz a try!

Kanji that are easy to misread quiz

[20-question quiz on commonly misread kanji] Fun! Introducing kanji many people get wrong [for adults and seniors]
Kanji that are easy to misread quiz

We use them all the time, but we might actually be reading them wrong! Here are some ideas for a quiz on kanji that are easy to misread.

There are countless idioms used in everyday life, right? It might be a quiz full of new discoveries like “Oh, I memorized that wrong!” or “I didn’t know that!” Be sure to try this quiz on commonly misread kanji! For example, a word like “肉汁” appears and you’re asked, “How do you read this kanji?” There are 20 such questions.

Each has a 10-second time limit, so just answer as you normally would.

[For Seniors] Challenging but Exciting! Kanji Quiz (31–40)

Kanji quiz with the fish radical

[Obscure Fish Kanji] A tough quiz on fish-related kanji! 25 in a row!
Kanji quiz with the fish radical

Here are some ideas for a tricky quiz on kanji with the “fish” radical.

The exact count varies depending on the dictionary and what you include, but it seems there are actually more than 200 such characters.

We might think we know the kanji for fish that commonly appear on the dining table, but if you don’t fish or work with fish, many of them can be quite difficult.

For example, there’s a quiz with 25 questions where a fish-radical kanji is shown and you’re asked, “How do you read this kanji?” The questions get more difficult in the latter half, but it really piques your curiosity.

A quiz of hard-to-read kanji related to autumn

[Hard-to-Read Kanji Quiz About Autumn] 20 Questions! Flowers, Fish, Food, and Creatures [For Seniors]
A quiz of hard-to-read kanji related to autumn

This is a quiz where you write autumn-themed difficult kanji on a whiteboard and guess how they’re read.

By choosing kanji that evoke the season, the activity feels familiar and engaging.

Offering hints or setting a time limit can raise focus and a pleasant sense of tension, making it lively as a recreational activity for older adults.

In addition to a solo, contemplative style, a team format—where participants share ideas as they go—is also recommended.

Beyond reading the kanji, the activity can lead to discussions about the related plants or foods, making it an intellectually stimulating game that fosters interaction and knowledge sharing.

Kanji quiz with characters many people misread

What is the reading of the commonly misread kanji '五十歩百歩'? A kanji quiz with 15 tricky questions on frequently misread characters!
Kanji quiz with characters many people misread

Easily misread words! Here are some ideas for a kanji quiz featuring characters that many people read incorrectly.

Even words you use every day might actually be ones you’ve been misreading.

In recent years, there have even been cases where incorrect usage spread and became socially accepted.

This time, let’s try a kanji quiz that many people get wrong.

For example, a word like “呑気” is shown, and you’re asked, “How do you read this kanji?” There are 15 such questions.

Each has a 10-second time limit, so if you want to think more carefully, try pausing the video as you go.

Kanji hunt: Let’s find the character ‘士’

Kanji search game: 士 and 土. Word search, spot-the-difference, mini games, brain and eye exercises. Find the Japanese kanji.
Kanji hunt: Let's find the character '士'

Let’s find four instances of the character 士 among regularly arranged 土 characters.

Checking each character one by one helps train concentration, but it’s also important to take a bird’s-eye view of the whole.

As the title suggests, this is an exercise for your eyes and brain, so shake off fixed ideas and keep a flexible mindset.

There are many ways to enjoy it: do it individually or compete in teams to see who can find them the fastest.

It’s also recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities, so give it a try!

“Now” + “King” + “Spring” + “Thread” + “King” =

"Now" + "King" + "Spring" + "Thread" + "King" =

Let’s think about combining the five given kanji to form a complete word.

A key point is that two instances of the kanji '王' are lined up, and figuring out how to use them will bring us closer to the answer.

The answer is “kinsen,” a word that expresses the subtle emotions hidden deep in the heart, often seen in the expression “to strike a chord” (kinsen ni fureru).

Without knowing the word, it might be hard to arrive at the answer, so we should also consider how to craft effective hints.