JLPT N5 is where real Japanese starts. You’ve nailed the kana, and now you’re ready for words that actually do useful work-ordering food, talking about your day, asking simple questions. This list packs roughly 800 practical N5 words you’ll meet on the exam and in daily chats, not dusty textbook fillers. Pair these words with JLPT N5 grammar to build complete beginner sentences.
Every entry gives you a straightforward meaning and a natural example sentence, so you see how the word behaves in the wild-not just a lonely translation. Audio playback is baked right in, because your ears need practice just as much as your eyes. Tap, listen, repeat.
Ready to give your Japanese study a little boost? Scroll all the way to the bottom for the free printable JLPT N5 Japanese vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable JLPT N5 Japanese flashcards—nice, tidy, and perfect for quick review.
Want more than one list? Browse our Japanese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve already memorised a few N5 words? Give the quiz a quick spin-it’s a low‑stress way to spot which ones still need a second look.
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 五日 | いつか | noun | the 5th day; five days | 五日に会いましょう。 | Let's meet on the 5th. | |
| 亜科 | あか | noun | subfamily | この動物は亜科に入ります。 | This animal belongs to a subfamily. | |
| 交差点 | こうさてん | noun | intersection | 交差点で右に曲がります。 | Turn right at the intersection. | |
| 交番 | こうばん | noun | police box | 交番で道を聞きました。 | I asked for directions at the police box. | |
| 人 | ひと | noun | person | あの人は先生です。 | That person is a teacher. | |
| 今 | いま | noun | now | 今、行きます。 | I am going now. | |
| 今年 | ことし | noun | this year | 今年は暑いです。 | This year is hot. | |
| 今日 | きょう | noun | today | 今日は忙しいです。 | I am busy today. | |
| 今晩 | こんばん | noun | this evening; tonight | 今晩は雨です。 | It will rain tonight. | |
| 今月 | こんげつ | noun | this month | 今月は忙しいです。 | I am busy this month. | |
| 今朝 | けさ | noun | this morning | 今朝パンを食べました。 | I ate bread this morning. | |
| 今週 | こんしゅう | noun | this week | 今週はテストがあります。 | There is a test this week. | |
| 仕事 | しごと | noun | work; job | 父は仕事をしています。 | My father is working. | |
| 他人 | あだびと | noun | other people | 他人のことは分からない。 | I don't know about other people. | |
| 仰ぐ | あおぐ | verb | to look up | 空を仰ぎました。 | I looked up at the sky. | |
| 休み | やすみ | noun | holiday; break | 今日は休みです。 | Today is a day off. | |
| 休む | やすむ | verb | to rest; to take a break | 少し休みます。 | I will rest a little. | |
| 会う | あう | verb | to meet | 駅で友だちに会います。 | I meet my friend at the station. | |
| 会社 | かいしゃ | noun | company | 父は会社で働いています。 | My father works at a company. | |
| 伯母さん | おばさん | noun | aunt; older female relative | 伯母さんに会いました。 | I met my aunt. | |
| 伯父 | おじいさん | noun | uncle | 伯父は東京に住んでいます。 | My uncle lives in Tokyo. | |
| 伯父 | おじさん | noun | uncle | おじさんは会社員です。 | My uncle is a company employee. | |
| 低い | ひくい | adjective | low | この机は低いです。 | This desk is low. | |
| 住む | すむ | verb | to live; to reside | 東京に住んでいます。 | I live in Tokyo. | |
| 体 | からだ | noun | body | 体が痛いです。 | My body hurts. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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