JLPT N5 Vocabulary List — 800+ Essential Japanese Words
This JLPT N5 vocabulary list brings together over 800 commonly studied Japanese words for beginner Japanese learners preparing for the N5 level, complete with kanji, furigana, romaji, English meanings, and example sentences to help every word actually stick.
JLPT N5 vocabulary refers to the everyday Japanese words learners commonly study when preparing for the N5 level, the entry point of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Building a solid vocabulary foundation is essential at this stage, since N5 reading and listening sections rely heavily on recognizing basic, high-frequency words used in daily conversation.
Most study resources reference roughly 800 words for N5, covering everyday topics like family, numbers, time, food, and common verbs and adjectives. It's worth knowing that the Japan Foundation does not currently publish one single official N5 vocabulary list, so different textbooks and resources vary slightly in exactly which words they include.
This JLPTForAll vocabulary list is a curated study resource built from commonly referenced N5-level vocabulary. Each word includes kanji where applicable, furigana, romaji, an English meaning, and a natural example sentence, so you can see how the word is actually used rather than just memorizing an isolated definition.
How Many Words Do You Need for JLPT N5?
Learners commonly aim to study around 800 vocabulary words to prepare for JLPT N5, a figure widely referenced across textbooks and study guides. This number is a helpful benchmark rather than a strict requirement — the JLPT does not publish an official, fixed vocabulary count or list for any level, including N5.
In practice, exam questions draw from common, everyday vocabulary rather than obscure or highly specialized words, which is why resources tend to converge on a similar core set even without an official list. Focusing on high-frequency words used in daily life — greetings, numbers, time, family terms, common verbs and adjectives — will cover the large majority of what typically appears at this level.
N5 Vocabulary by Topic
Browse N5 vocabulary grouped by everyday topic. Each category links to the relevant words in the full list below.
Browse N5 Vocabulary A–Z (Kana)
Jump directly to words starting with a specific kana group.
Complete N5 Vocabulary List
Search, filter, or browse the full list below. Each word includes kanji, furigana, romaji, meaning, part of speech, and an example sentence.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Part of Speech | Example Sentence | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 私 わたし | watashi | I, me | pronoun | 私は学生です。I am a student. |
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| あなた あなた | anata | you | pronoun | あなたの名前は何ですか。What is your name? |
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| 家族 かぞく | kazoku | family | noun | 私の家族は四人です。My family has four people. |
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| 父 ちち | chichi | father (own) | noun | 父は会社員です。My father is an office worker. |
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| 母 はは | haha | mother (own) | noun | 母は料理が上手です。My mother is good at cooking. |
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| 一 いち | ichi | one | number | りんごが一つあります。There is one apple. |
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| 二 に | ni | two | number | 猫が二匹います。There are two cats. |
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| 今日 きょう | kyou | today | noun | 今日は暑いです。It is hot today. |
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| 明日 あした | ashita | tomorrow | noun | 明日学校へ行きます。I will go to school tomorrow. |
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| 食べる たべる | taberu | to eat | verb | 朝ごはんを食べます。I eat breakfast. |
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| 飲む のむ | nomu | to drink | verb | 水を飲みます。I drink water. |
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| 行く いく | iku | to go | verb | 学校へ行きます。I go to school. |
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| 来る くる | kuru | to come | verb | 友達が来ます。My friend is coming. |
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| 大きい おおきい | ookii | big | i-adjective | この犬は大きいです。This dog is big. |
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| 小さい ちいさい | chiisai | small | i-adjective | この部屋は小さいです。This room is small. |
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| 水 みず | mizu | water | noun | 水を飲みたいです。I want to drink water. |
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| 米 こめ | kome | rice (uncooked) | noun | 米を買いました。I bought rice. |
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| 学校 がっこう | gakkou | school | noun | 毎日学校へ行きます。I go to school every day. |
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| 先生 せんせい | sensei | teacher | noun | 先生はとても親切です。The teacher is very kind. |
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| 会社 かいしゃ | kaisha | company | noun | 父は大きい会社で働いています。My father works at a large company. |
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| 店 みせ | mise | shop, store | noun | この店は安いです。This shop is cheap. |
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| 買う かう | kau | to buy | verb | 新しい本を買いました。I bought a new book. |
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| 駅 えき | eki | station | noun | 駅はどこですか。Where is the station? |
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| 電車 でんしゃ | densha | train | noun | 電車で会社へ行きます。I go to work by train. |
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| 公園 こうえん | kouen | park | noun | 公園で散歩します。I take a walk in the park. |
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| 天気 てんき | tenki | weather | noun | 今日の天気はいいです。Today's weather is nice. |
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| 雨 あめ | ame | rain | noun | 今日は雨です。It is raining today. |
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| 目 め | me | eye | noun | 目が痛いです。My eyes hurt. |
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| 手 て | te | hand | noun | 手を洗ってください。Please wash your hands. |
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| 赤 あか | aka | red | noun | 赤いリンゴが好きです。I like red apples. |
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| 白 しろ | shiro | white | noun | 白い猫がいます。There is a white cat. |
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| ゆっくり ゆっくり | yukkuri | slowly | adverb | ゆっくり話してください。Please speak slowly. |
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| とても とても | totemo | very | adverb | これはとても面白いです。This is very interesting. |
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| 何 なに | nani | what | question word | これは何ですか。What is this? |
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| どこ どこ | doko | where | question word | トイレはどこですか。Where is the bathroom? |
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| ありがとう ありがとう | arigatou | thank you | expression | 手伝ってくれてありがとう。Thank you for helping me. |
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| すみません すみません | sumimasen | excuse me, sorry | expression | すみません、駅はどこですか。Excuse me, where is the station? |
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| 起きる おきる | okiru | to wake up | verb | 毎朝六時に起きます。I wake up at six every morning. |
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| 寝る ねる | neru | to sleep | verb | 十時に寝ます。I sleep at ten. |
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| 家 いえ | ie | house, home | noun | 私の家は駅の近くです。My house is near the station. |
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| 部屋 へや | heya | room | noun | 私の部屋は小さいです。My room is small. |
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Showing 41 of 800+ curated N5 words. Practice the full list in the app →
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How This List Was Compiled
This vocabulary list is a study resource created for Japanese learners preparing for JLPT N5. Because the JLPT does not publish a current official vocabulary list, the words here represent a curated collection of commonly referenced N5-level vocabulary drawn from widely used textbooks and study materials. These are not confirmed exam words, and no resource can guarantee which specific vocabulary will appear on any given test.
Frequently Asked Questions About JLPT N5 Vocabulary
How many vocabulary words are needed for JLPT N5?
Learners commonly study around 800 words to prepare for JLPT N5, though the JLPT does not publish an official fixed vocabulary count or list, so this figure is a widely referenced study guideline rather than a strict requirement.
Is there an official JLPT N5 vocabulary list?
No. The Japan Foundation, which administers the JLPT, does not currently publish an official fixed vocabulary list for N5. Study resources like this one curate commonly referenced N5-level vocabulary based on textbooks, past patterns, and learner needs.
What vocabulary should I learn for JLPT N5?
Focus on everyday, practical vocabulary: greetings, numbers, time expressions, family terms, common verbs and adjectives, food, places, and basic question words. These form the foundation for reading and listening at the N5 level.
How can I memorize JLPT N5 vocabulary?
Spaced repetition flashcards, reading example sentences aloud, grouping words by topic, and reviewing words alongside their kanji and furigana all help vocabulary stick. Consistent short daily sessions tend to work better than occasional long ones.
How long does it take to learn N5 vocabulary?
This varies by learner, but studying a small set of new words daily alongside regular review commonly takes a few months to build a solid N5-level vocabulary foundation.
Should I learn kanji with N5 vocabulary?
Yes, learning the kanji alongside each word's reading helps with recognition in real text, since many N5 words appear in kanji form rather than only in hiragana once you progress beyond the earliest lessons.
Can I study JLPT N5 vocabulary online for free?
Yes, this JLPTForAll vocabulary list, along with flashcards, audio, and practice quizzes, is free to use for studying JLPT N5 vocabulary.
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