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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 憧れ | あこがれ | noun | longing; yearning | 子どものころ、先生に憧れがあった。 | When I was a child, I longed to be a teacher. | |
| 或る | ある | adjective | a certain; some | ある日、彼に会った。 | One day, I met him. | |
| 戸 | と | noun | door | 戸を開けてください。 | Please open the door. | |
| 所 | ところ | noun | place | ここは静かな所です。 | This is a quiet place. | |
| 手 | て | noun | hand | 手を洗います。 | I wash my hands. | |
| 手紙 | てがみ | noun | letter | 母に手紙を書きます。 | I write a letter to my mother. | |
| 扱い | あつかい | noun | treatment; handling | 店の扱いが丁寧だ。 | The shop's service is polite. | |
| 押す | おす | verb | push | ドアを押してください。 | Please push the door. | |
| 持つ | もつ | verb | to hold; to have | かばんを持っています。 | I am carrying a bag. | |
| 掃除 | そうじする | verb | to clean | 部屋を掃除します。 | I clean the room. | |
| 授業 | じゅぎょう | noun | class; lesson | 授業は九時に始まります。 | Class starts at nine. | |
| 撮る | とる | verb | to take a photo | 友達の写真を撮ります。 | I take a photo of my friend. | |
| 操る | あやつる | verb | to control; to operate | 彼は車を操る。 | He controls the car. | |
| 改まる | あらたまる | verb | to become formal; to change | 話が改まる。 | The conversation becomes formal. | |
| 教える | おしえる | verb | teach; tell | 先生が漢字を教えます。 | The teacher teaches kanji. | |
| 教室 | きょうしつ | noun | classroom | 教室で勉強します。 | I study in the classroom. | |
| 敢えて | あえて | adverb | boldly; without hesitation | あえて言います。 | I will say it boldly. | |
| 散歩 | さんぽする | verb | to take a walk | 公園を散歩します。 | I take a walk in the park. | |
| 文章 | ぶんしょう | noun | sentence; text | 短い文章を書きます。 | I write a short sentence. | |
| 料理 | りょうり | noun | cooking; cuisine | 母は料理が上手です。 | My mother is good at cooking. | |
| 新しい | あたらしい | adjective | new | 新しいかばんを買いました。 | I bought a new bag. | |
| 新聞 | しんぶん | noun | newspaper | 新聞を読みます。 | I read the newspaper. | |
| 方 | かた | noun | way; person | この方は先生です。 | This person is a teacher. | |
| 旅行 | りょこう | noun | travel; trip | 夏に旅行します。 | I will travel in summer. | |
| 日曜日 | にちようび | noun | Sunday | 日曜日は休みです。 | Sunday is a day off. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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