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[Elementary School] Let's Learn Kanji with Songs! The Fun Kanji Song
Elementary school students, are you having trouble memorizing kanji?
With kanji, it’s not just the shapes—you also have to learn the correct stroke order, on-yomi and kun-yomi readings, stroke counts, radicals, and more.
On top of that, there are 80 characters in first grade, 160 in second grade… in fact, you need to learn over 1,000 characters by graduation!
Once you develop a dislike for kanji, it can be tough to catch up.
In this article, we’ll introduce “kanji songs” that make learning kanji fun!
They focus mainly on lower-grade kanji, but middle- and upper-grade students should give them a listen for review, too.
[Elementary School] Learn Kanji with Songs! The Fun Kanji Song (1–10)
On-kun Song (2nd Grade Elementary School)
The perfect way to teach lower-grade elementary school children the fun of learning kanji is with “On-kun Song (2nd Grade).” It’s an ideal track for second graders, who have studied for a year and are ready to tackle new characters.
Each kanji comes with sentences written around themes that are easy for elementary students to relate to.
Just sing along to the lively rhythm, and they can learn both the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings at the same time.
For kids who have a hard time getting into study mode, making cards for each kanji and trying it like a game can also work well.
Be sure to give this song a listen—it can help children overcome their dislike of kanji.
Let’s count with kanji
“Let’s Count in Kanji” is a song where you count from 1 to 20 in kanji to a rhythmic performance.
Because it’s a simple song made up only of numbers, it’s recommended for lower elementary school children.
You can sing along to prompts from adults or teachers, or let children try on their own to see how far they can remember.
The first verse has a slow tempo, and in the second verse the melody develops with a slightly faster pace.
It’s perfect both for those about to learn kanji and for elementary students who want to review what they’ve already learned.
Give it a listen to help remember the order of numbers and how to read them.
A Pretty Painful Year of Puns
When it comes to an easy way to remember the traditional lunar calendar for a whole year, “Kanari Kurushii Dajare DE Ichinenkan” is the go-to song.
Set to an up-tempo beat, it covers the months from January to December.
With puns that match seasonal events, you can have fun learning the kanji, too.
Since it deals with themes anyone can relate to, it’s perfect for elementary school students as well.
The lunar calendar can seem difficult, but another plus is that you can master it just by memorizing the lyrics.
It’s a unique song that lets you learn 12 kanji in a short time.
Be sure to listen to it with your family and friends!
Feel it.
Shakiin! is an entertainment program created with the theme of helping children start their day with fun.
It gained popularity through its unique quizzes and viewer-participation segments.
Among the songs used on the show, “Kanjite Goran” focuses on kanji.
It features characters learned by lower-grade elementary school students, resonating with a dynamic band sound.
It’s a heartwarming piece that evokes natural scenery and cityscapes.
Try singing the kanji that appear in the lyrics and enjoy learning them!
Radical Song (Crown)
“The Radicals Song” focuses on the crowns (kanmuri), the radical components that make up various kanji.
It uses illustrations and text to explain how radicals originated, and the lyrics are crafted so you can easily learn their meanings.
Many kanmuri are based on motifs from nature or the human body.
Once you’ve learned the song along with the example sentences, try singing along by filling in the blanks.
The structure helps you learn thoroughly—first by answering based on shape alone, then by speeding up, and more.
It’s a kanji song that also helps you gain knowledge about each kanmuri.
Song of the Days of the Week
For anyone who wants to memorize the kanji for the days of the week from Sunday to Saturday, we recommend “The Days-of-the-Week Song.” The lyrics carefully explain the origin of each kanji, so it should be easy even for lower elementary school students to learn.
If you have trouble remembering the order of the days, you can master them just by singing the seven days in order.
Try learning them one by one to a slow tempo.
Once you’ve learned all seven, try singing without looking at the lyrics! How about learning the kanji along with a gentle singing voice and melody?
Let’s sing! Feels good!
When it comes to songs that make studying kanji fun through singing, “Utaou! Ii Kanji!” is the one to pick.
The school-bell chime that suggests the start of class and the teacher’s cues make it perfect for elementary school students.
While explaining the origins of kanji, the song unfolds with a rhythmic melody.
It covers kanji suitable for lower through upper grades, so it’s great for both preview and review.
It also sounds fun not only to sing but to add gestures and dance.
Be sure to listen together with your family and friends.
Song of Radicals
If you want to memorize radicals—the parts often chosen to show a kanji’s meaning—‘The Radicals Song’ is highly recommended.
It’s a tune that teaches how kanji came to be, set to a lively melody.
The lyrics cover everything from the history of kanji itself to the background of how radicals were born.
It introduces radicals in coherent groups like “grass” and “person,” making it easy for elementary school students to visualize.
Let’s enjoy learning radicals to rhythmic music and dance! It’s also a great idea to study kanji grouped by their radicals.
Fish Lovers: The Song of Fish Radicals
When it comes to songs that help parents and children enjoy learning fish-related kanji together, “Osakana Daisuki ~Sakana-hen no Uta~” is a top pick.
With its rhythmic melody and dance, even elementary school students can have fun giving it a try.
From dialogue-style lyrics to mnemonic wordplay, the song approaches fish-themed kanji in various ways.
Fish kanji aren’t easy for elementary schoolers, but pairing them with unique phrases makes them easier to remember.
For upper elementary students, it can also help overcome any dislike of kanji.
Try enjoying and learning fish kanji while imagining the seasons and natural scenery.
On-kun Reading Song (1st Grade)
A song that helps you learn all the kanji taught in first grade is “Onkun Song (First Grade).” Each kanji comes with example sentences like a karuta card, and by repeating the same character, you can memorize it.
Start by singing along to the lively rhythm.
Once you have the lyrics down, try memorizing and singing them, or writing them in your notebook.
The lyrics are structured like a diary, so they’re easy for lower-grade elementary students to remember.
It’s also a good idea to create your own original lyrics based on real events.
Be sure to listen to this kanji song that lets you learn both on-yomi and kun-yomi at the same time.