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.
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.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 何 | なん | question word | what | これは何ですか。 | What is this? | |
| 何 | なに | question word | what | 何を食べますか。 | What will you eat? | |
| 作る | つくる | verb | to make | 夕ご飯を作ります。 | I make dinner. | |
| 作文 | さくぶん | noun | composition; essay | 作文を書きます。 | I will write a composition. | |
| 使う | つかう | verb | use | このペンを使います。 | I use this pen. | |
| 便利 | べんり | adjective | convenient | この駅は便利です。 | This station is convenient. | |
| 借りる | かりる | verb | to borrow | 図書館で本を借ります。 | I borrow books at the library. | |
| 値 | あたい | noun | price; cost | この値は高い。 | This price is high. | |
| 値する | あたいする | verb | to be worth; to deserve | この本は読むに値する。 | This book is worth reading. | |
| 傘 | かさ | noun | umbrella | 雨の日は傘を持って行きます。 | I take an umbrella on rainy days. | |
| 働く | はたらく | verb | to work | 父は毎日働きます。 | My father works every day. | |
| 元気 | げんき | adjective | healthy; energetic | 今日は元気です。 | I am fine today. | |
| 兄 | あに | noun | older brother | 兄は会社員です。 | My older brother is a company employee. | |
| 兄弟 | きょうだい | noun | siblings | 兄弟が二人います。 | I have two siblings. | |
| 先 | さき | noun | ahead; the future | 先に行ってください。 | Please go ahead. | |
| 先月 | せんげつ | noun | last month | 先月日本へ行きました。 | I went to Japan last month. | |
| 先生 | せんせい | noun | teacher | 先生は教室にいます。 | The teacher is in the classroom. | |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | noun | last week | 先週テストがありました。 | There was a test last week. | |
| 入る | はいる | verb | to enter | 部屋に入る。 | Enter the room. | |
| 入れる | いれる | verb | to put in | かばんに本を入れます。 | I put the book in my bag. | |
| 入口 | いりぐち | noun | entrance | 入口はあそこです。 | The entrance is over there. | |
| 全部 | ぜんぶ | noun | all; everything | 全部食べました。 | I ate everything. | |
| 八 | はち | noun | eight | りんごが八つあります。 | There are eight apples. | |
| 八つ | やっつ | counter | eight | りんごを八つください。 | Please give me eight apples. | |
| 八日 | ようか | noun | the 8th day; eight days | 八日に出発します。 | I leave on the eighth. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
Grab the purple button for the JLPT N5 Japanese vocabulary list and the teal button for the JLPT N5 Japanese flashcards. Both downloads are 100% free, with no signup required.
