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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 天気 | てんき | noun | weather | 今日はいい天気です。 | The weather is nice today. | |
| 太い | ふとい | adjective | thick; fat | この本は太いです。 | This book is thick. | |
| 奥さん | おくさん | noun | wife | 奥さんは元気です。 | His wife is well. | |
| 女 | おんな | noun | woman | あの女は先生です。 | That woman is a teacher. | |
| 女の子 | おんなのこ | noun | girl | 女の子が笑っています。 | A girl is smiling. | |
| 好き | すき | adjective | liked; favorite | 日本語が好きです。 | I like Japanese. | |
| 妹 | いもうと | noun | younger sister | 妹は学生です。 | My younger sister is a student. | |
| 姉 | あね | noun | older sister | 姉は東京にいます。 | My older sister is in Tokyo. | |
| 始まる | はじまる | verb | to begin | 授業が始まります。 | Class begins. | |
| 始め | はじめ | noun | beginning | 始めが大切です。 | The beginning is important. | |
| 嫌 | いや | adjective | disliked; unpleasant | 私は虫が嫌です。 | I dislike bugs. | |
| 嫌い | きらい | adjective | disliked; hate | 私はピーマンが嫌いです。 | I dislike green peppers. | |
| 子供 | こども | noun | child | 子供が公園で遊んでいます。 | A child is playing in the park. | |
| 字 | あざ | noun | village section | その字に住んでいます。 | I live in that village section. | |
| 字引 | じびき | noun | dictionary | 字引を使います。 | I use a dictionary. | |
| 学校 | がっこう | noun | school | 毎日学校へ行きます。 | I go to school every day. | |
| 学生 | がくせい | noun | student | 私は学生です。 | I am a student. | |
| 安い | やすい | adjective | cheap | この店は安いです。 | This store is cheap. | |
| 宛 | あて | noun | address; to | 母宛に手紙を書いた。 | I wrote a letter addressed to my mother. | |
| 宛てる | あてる | verb | to address | 手紙を父に宛てる。 | I address the letter to my father. | |
| 家 | いえ | noun | house; home | 家に帰ります。 | I go home. | |
| 家庭 | かてい | noun | home; household | 家庭で日本語を話します。 | We speak Japanese at home. | |
| 家族 | かぞく | noun | family | 私の家族は四人です。 | My family has four people. | |
| 宿題 | しゅくだい | noun | homework | 宿題をします。 | I do my homework. | |
| 寒い | さむい | adjective | cold | 今日は寒いです。 | It is cold today. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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