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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 同じ | おなじ | adjective | same | この本はあの本と同じです。 | This book is the same as that book. | |
| 名前 | なまえ | noun | name | 名前を書いてください。 | Please write your name. | |
| 向こう | むこう | noun | the other side; over there | 向こうに駅があります。 | There is a station over there. | |
| 吸う | すう | verb | to drink; to smoke | 水を吸います。 | I drink water. | |
| 吹く | ふく | verb | to blow | 風が強く吹いています。 | The wind is blowing strongly. | |
| 呆れる | あきれる | verb | to be amazed; to be shocked | その話には呆れた。 | I was shocked by that story. | |
| 呆気ない | あっけない | adjective | disappointingly easy; anticlimactic | 試合はあっけない終わり方だった。 | The game ended disappointingly quickly. | |
| 味わい | あじわい | noun | taste; flavor | この料理は味わいが深い。 | This dish has a deep flavor. | |
| 呼ぶ | よぶ | verb | to call; to invite | 友だちを呼びます。 | I call my friend. | |
| 咲く | さく | verb | to bloom | 桜が咲きました。 | The cherry blossoms bloomed. | |
| 商人 | あきうど | noun | merchant | 昔、この町には商人が多かった。 | Long ago, there were many merchants in this town. | |
| 問題 | もんだい | noun | problem; question | 問題を解きます。 | I solve the problem. | |
| 喫茶店 | きっさてん | noun | cafe; coffee shop | 喫茶店でコーヒーを飲みます。 | I drink coffee at a cafe. | |
| 嗚呼 | ああ | expression | ah; oh | ああ、そうですか。 | Oh, I see. | |
| 四 | し | noun | four | 四人います。 | There are four people. | |
| 四 | よん | noun | four | りんごを四つください。 | Please give me four apples. | |
| 四つ | よっつ | counter | four | みかんを四つ食べました。 | I ate four mandarins. | |
| 四日 | よっか | noun | the 4th day; four days | 四日に帰ります。 | I will return on the fourth. | |
| 困る | こまる | verb | to be troubled | お金がなくて困ります。 | I am troubled because I have no money. | |
| 図書館 | としょかん | noun | library | 図書館で本を読みます。 | I read books at the library. | |
| 国 | くに | noun | country | 日本はいい国です。 | Japan is a nice country. | |
| 土曜日 | どようび | noun | Saturday | 土曜日に買い物をします。 | I go shopping on Saturday. | |
| 圧力 | あつりょく | noun | pressure; stress | 水の圧力が強い。 | The water pressure is strong. | |
| 圧迫 | あっぱく | noun | pressure | 仕事の圧迫を感じる。 | I feel pressure from work. | |
| 地下鉄 | ちかてつ | noun | subway | 地下鉄で学校へ行きます。 | I go to school by subway. |
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.
