JLPT N5 vocabulary: list of words to master

2025/07/16

Are you studying Japanese and looking for solutions to prepare for the JLPT N5 and the necessary vocabulary for the exam?

In this article, discover our selection of vocabulary by topic, as well as proven techniques to quickly memorize the 800 words from the Japanese Proficiency Test.

Need the complete JLPT N5 vocabulary list for your preparation? Download it right now below! 

Essential Information about JLPT N5

What is the JLPT?

The JLPT (Nihongo Nôryoku Shiken) is the most globally recognized official Japanese exam, attracting over 600,000 candidates per session. Organized twice a year, it comes in five levels, with the JLPT N5 as the simplest level.

Unlike traditional tests, it only evaluates passive skills through a multiple-choice exam scored out of 180 points, using a weighted score system based on statistical models rather than a simple count of correct answers.

What grade level is JLPT N5?

Although it’s difficult to make direct correspondences between learning Japanese as a foreign language and learning it as a native language, the content covered by the JLPT N5 is generally learned during the first year or even the beginning of the second year of elementary school in Japan.

This comparison remains approximate because Japanese children acquire their language through natural immersion without formally studying grammatical rules, vocabulary, etc., unlike foreign learners.

How many questions does the JLPT N5 have?

The JLPT N5 exam includes a total of 91 questions distributed across 3 main sections: Language Knowledge JLPT N5 (vocabulary + writing), Grammar and Reading Comprehension, and Listening Comprehension. This balanced structure allows for effective evaluation of all facets of a beginner learner’s passive linguistic skills.

JLPT N5 vocabulary: test details and requirements

How many vocabulary words are there in JLPT N5?

The JLPT N5’s vocabulary section requires knowledge of approximately 800 to 1000 words. This fundamental lexicon covers basic themes such as greetings, numbers, time, everyday objects, family, food, etc. The vocabulary for JLPT N5 allows learners to understand simple sentences and maintain elementary conversations in daily situations.

How long does it take to memorize JLPT N5 vocabulary?

According to research data, a beginner dedicates approximately 130-240 hours specifically to acquiring vocabulary words for the JLPT N5.

To memorize the JLPT N5 vocabulary list in two months, you’ll need to adopt an intensive approach, studying 2 to 4 hours per day, combined with proven memorization methods.

What’s the difference between JLPT N5 and N4 vocabulary?

The main difference between JLPT N4 and JLPT N5 in vocabulary lies in the volume and complexity of words to know. The N5 covers approximately 800-1000 fundamental words for basic situations, while the N4 expands this repertoire to approximately 1500-1700 words, including more specific terms related to administrative, emotional, and more varied social contexts.

Complete JLPT N5 vocabulary list with sentences

Discover an overview of the JLPT N5 and the vocabulary to know for the exam. Download our PDF to get the complete list.

Food and drink vocabulary

Vocabulary word	Translation	Reading	Example
ご飯	rice/meal	ごはん	ごはんをたべました。(I ate lunch.)
朝御飯	breakfast	あさごはん	あさごはんは７じにたべます。 (I eat breakfast at 7 o’clock.)
パン	bread	パン	あさはぱんをたべます。 (I eat bread in the morning.)
魚	fish	さかな	このさかなはおいしいです。 (This fish is delicious.)
肉	meat	にく	にくがすきです。(I like meat.)
野菜	vegetables	やさい	まいにちやさいをたべます。 (I eat vegetables every day.)
果物	fruits	くだもの	くだものはけんこうにいいです。(Fruits are good for health.)
お茶	green tea	おちゃ	おちゃをのみませんか。 (Would you like to drink tea?)
コーヒー	coffee	こーひー	あさはコーヒーをのみます。 (I drink coffee in the morning.)
水	water	みず	みずをください。(Water, please.)

Time expressions vocabulary

Vocabulary word	Translation	Reading	Example
今	now	いま	いま、なんじですか。 (What time is it now?)
昨日	yesterday	きのう	きのうはいそがしかったです。(Yesterday I was busy.)
今日	today	きょう	きょうははれています。 (It’s sunny today.)
明日	tomorrow	あした	あした、がっこうにいきます。(Tomorrow, I’m going to school.)
毎日	every day	まいにち	まいにちにほんごをべんきょうします。(I study Japanese every day.)
時々	sometimes	ときどき	ときどきえいがをみます。 (I sometimes watch movies.)
午前	morning (before noon)	ごぜん	ごぜんちゅうにかいものをします。(I go shopping in the morning.)
午後	afternoon	ごご	ごごはとしょかんにいきます。 (In the afternoon, I go to the library.)
朝	morning	あさ	あさは6じにおきます。 (I wake up at 6 in the morning.)
昼	noon	ひる	ひるごはんをたべましょう。 (Let’s eat lunch.)

Transportation vocabulary

Vocabulary word	Translation	Reading	Example
駅	station	えき	えきはどこですか。 (Where is the station?)
電車	train	でんしゃ	でんしゃでがっこうにいきます。 (I go to school by train.)
タクシー	taxi	たくしー	タクシーをよんでください。(Please call a taxi.)
自転車	bicycle	じてんしゃ	じてんしゃでかいものにいきます。(I go shopping by bicycle.)
車	car	くるま	くるまをもっています。 (I have a car.)
飛行機	airplane	ひこうき	ひこうきでにほんにいきました。 (I went to Japan by airplane.)
地下鉄	subway	ちかてつ	ちかてつはべんりです。 (The subway is convenient.)
道	street/road	みち	このみちをまっすぐいってください。 (Please go straight on this road.)
交差点	intersection	こうさてん	こうさてんでみぎにまがってください。(Please turn right at the intersection.)

Family relationship terms

Vocabulary word	Translation	Reading	Example
お父さん	father	おとうさん	おとうさんはかいしゃいんです。(My father is an office worker.)
お母さん	mother	おかあさん	おかあさんはりょうりがじょうずです。(My mother cooks well.)
兄	older brother	あに	あにはだいがくせいです。(My older brother is a university student.)
姉	older sister	あね	あねはとうきょうにすんでいます。(My older sister lives in Tokyo.)
弟	younger brother	おとうと	おとうとはこうこうせいです。(My younger brother is a high school student.)
妹	younger sister	いもうと	いもうととこうえんにいきました。(I went to the park with my younger sister.)
家族	family	かぞく	かぞくは5にんです。(My family has 5 people.)
両親	parents	りょうしん	りょうしんはりょこうがすきです。(My parents like traveling.)

Color vocabulary

Vocabulary word	Translation	Reading	Example
赤	red	あか	あかいペンをつかいます。(I use a red pen.)
青	blue	あお	あおいそらがきれいです。(The blue sky is beautiful.)
白	white	しろ	しろいシャツをきています。(I’m wearing a white shirt.)
黒	black	くろ	くろいくつをかいました。(I bought black shoes.)
黄色	yellow	きいろ	きいろいはながすきです。(I like yellow flowers.)
茶色	brown	ちゃいろ	ちゃいろいかばんをもっています。(I have a brown bag.)
緑	green	みどり	みどりのやさいをたべましょう。(Let’s eat green vegetables.)

Best tips for memorizing N5 JLPT vocabulary fast

Fast memorization strategies for vocabulary

To quickly memorize the 800 JLPT vocabulary N5 words, use the Anki application which automatically reminds you of words at the right time for long-term memorization. Create simple cards with the Japanese word on one side and its translation on the other, or download an existing deck.

Study words by themes (food, family, transportation, etc.) rather than alphabetically to better retain vocabulary in context. Associate each new word with a mental image or memorable situation: the more surprising the image, the better you’ll remember the word.

Practice 15 minutes of immersion daily: label objects at home with their Japanese names, listen to beginner mini-dialogues during your commute, or use smartphone vocabulary games.

Follow a simple review program: review new words after 1 day, then 3 days, then one week, then two weeks to permanently fix them in your memory more quickly.

Best books for JLPT N5 vocabulary practice

To quickly study the 800 JLPT N5 vocabulary words, two books stand out.

“1000 Essential Vocabulary for the JLPT N5” by Ark Academy offers a complete program with 200 additional words beyond official requirements, organized in practical themes with audio files.

For French speakers, the book dedicated to JLPT N5 and vocabulary “Apprentissage Rapide du Vocabulaire Japonais” offers 1800 words also covering N4 level, with French translations and progress tracking system.Discover other textbooks to prepare for JLPT N5 in our dedicated article.Stratégie de mémorisation rapide 

Combining JLPT N5 Vocabulary with Grammar and Kanji

Rather than studying vocabulary, grammar, and the 100 kanji of JLPT N5 separately, adopt an integrated approach.

Learn each kanji in the context of complete words. For example, don’t just memorize the kanji 食 (eat) in isolation, but through JLPT N5 vocabulary with sentences like 食べる (taberu – to eat) and 食事 (shokuji – meal). Similarly, for each new grammar point, create sentences using the vocabulary you’ve just learned.

For each study session, dedicate 15 minutes to vocabulary, then 15 minutes to corresponding kanji, followed by 15 minutes to JLPT N5 grammar using these same words. This rotation keeps your brain engaged and creates stronger neural connections between these elements, allowing you not only to memorize vocabulary quickly but also kanji and grammar.

To prepare for JLPT N5 even more effectively, combine these methods with professional guidance from Nihongo Online School teachers. Thanks to our program specially designed for JLPT N5 and our online Japanese courses, you can reach N5 level in just 3 months.