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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 地図 | ちず | noun | map | 地図を見てください。 | Please look at the map. | |
| 垢 | あか | noun | dirt; grime | 手の垢を洗います。 | I wash the dirt off my hands. | |
| 塩 | しお | noun | salt | 塩を少し入れてください。 | Please add a little salt. | |
| 声 | こえ | noun | voice | 声が大きいです。 | The voice is loud. | |
| 売る | うる | verb | to sell | この店で本を売ります。 | I sell books at this store. | |
| 夏 | なつ | noun | summer | 夏は暑いです。 | Summer is hot. | |
| 夏休み | なつやすみ | noun | summer vacation | 夏休みに海へ行きます。 | I go to the sea during summer vacation. | |
| 夕方 | ゆうがた | noun | evening | 夕方に散歩します。 | I take a walk in the evening. | |
| 夕飯 | ゆうはん | noun | dinner | 夕飯を食べました。 | I ate dinner. | |
| 外 | そと | noun | outside | 外で遊びます。 | I play outside. | |
| 外国 | がいこく | noun | foreign country | 外国へ行きたいです。 | I want to go to a foreign country. | |
| 外国人 | がいこくじん | noun | foreigner | あの人は外国人です。 | That person is a foreigner. | |
| 多い | おおい | adjective | many | 人が多いです。 | There are many people. | |
| 夜 | よる | noun | night | 夜に本を読みます。 | I read books at night. | |
| 大きい | おおきい | adjective | big | 大きい家に住んでいます。 | I live in a big house. | |
| 大きな | おおきな | adjective | big | 大きな犬がいます。 | There is a big dog. | |
| 大丈夫 | だいじょうぶ | expression | okay; all right | もう大丈夫です。 | I'm okay now. | |
| 大人 | おとな | noun | adult | もう大人です。 | I am already an adult. | |
| 大使館 | たいしかん | noun | embassy | 大使館へ行きます。 | I will go to the embassy. | |
| 大切 | たいせつ | adjective | important; precious | この本は大切です。 | This book is important. | |
| 大勢 | おおぜい | noun | many people | 今日は大勢来ました。 | Many people came today. | |
| 大好き | だいすき | adjective | love; like very much | 私は日本料理が大好きです。 | I love Japanese food. | |
| 大学 | だいがく | noun | university | 大学で勉強します。 | I study at university. | |
| 天 | あまつ | noun | heaven; sky | 天を見上げる。 | I look up at the sky. | |
| 天地 | あめつち | noun | heaven and earth; the world | 天地が広がる。 | Heaven and earth spread out. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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