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.
Keep building your Japanese
Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 北 | きた | noun | north | 北へ行きます。 | I go north. | |
| 医者 | いしゃ | noun | doctor | 医者に会いました。 | I saw a doctor. | |
| 十 | じゅう とお | noun | ten | 十人います。 | There are ten people. | |
| 十日 | とおか | noun | 10th day of the month | 今日は十日です。 | Today is the 10th. | |
| 千 | せん | noun | one thousand | 千円あります。 | I have 1,000 yen. | |
| 午前 | ごぜん | noun | morning | 午前は忙しいです。 | I am busy in the morning. | |
| 午後 | ごご | noun | afternoon | 午後に勉強します。 | I study in the afternoon. | |
| 半 | はん | noun | half | 半分ください。 | Please give me half. | |
| 半分 | はんぶん | noun | half | 半分食べました。 | I ate half. | |
| 南 | みなみ | noun | south | 南の方へ行きます。 | I will go south. | |
| 危ない | あぶない | adjective | dangerous | ここは危ないです。 | This place is dangerous. | |
| 危ぶむ | あやぶむ | verb | to worry about; to doubt | 結果を危ぶむ。 | I worry about the result. | |
| 卵 | たまご | noun | egg | 卵を二つ買いました。 | I bought two eggs. | |
| 厚い | あつい | adjective | thick | この本は厚いです。 | This book is thick. | |
| 去年 | きょねん | noun | last year | 去年日本へ行きました。 | I went to Japan last year. | |
| 友達 | ともだち | noun | friend | 友達と公園へ行きます。 | I go to the park with my friend. | |
| 叔母さん | おばさん | noun | aunt; younger female relative | 叔母さんはやさしいです。 | My aunt is kind. | |
| 叔父 | おじいさん | noun | uncle | 叔父は車を持っています。 | My uncle has a car. | |
| 叔父 | おじさん | noun | uncle | おじさんに会いました。 | I met my uncle. | |
| 取る | とる | verb | to take; to get | 本を取ってください。 | Please take the book. | |
| 口 | くち | noun | mouth | 口をあけてください。 | Please open your mouth. | |
| 古い | ふるい | adjective | old | この家は古いです。 | This house is old. | |
| 台所 | だいどころ | noun | kitchen | 台所で料理します。 | I cook in the kitchen. | |
| 右 | みぎ | noun | right | 右へ行きます。 | I go to the right. | |
| 合間 | あいま | noun | spare moment; break | 仕事の合間にお茶を飲みます。 | I drink tea during breaks at work. |
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.
