Hi everyone, if there’s already an article or thread about this I’d be happy to read through it instead. But I wanted to ask about writing Japanese names as someone with minimal kanji knowledge. So it seems like beyond just common nouns, both first and last names also have kanji. If this is the case, should this be integrated into learning early? How many names should you be able to recognize by the time you’re an N4?
Also when looking up the kanji for a name (Akira) I’m given several Kanji “options” just for 1 first name. Is this common for all first names? What about last names? Or am I just over thinking this and should focus on common nouns until I’m more comfortable with the language?
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I never took any of the JLPT tests so I can’t speak to how many names you should recognize by N4, but I can speak to how kanji work in names as someone who lived in Japan for 2 years.
Last names are generally homogenized, with maybe some occasional local variances that I can’t think of off the top of my head.
First names are basically a lawless landscape where anything is game. Which is why it’s customary to ask someone which kanji they use when first meeting.
All that being said, regular nouns are what you should be focusing on.