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
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 早い | はやい | adjective | early | 今日は早いです。 | Today is early. | |
| 明い | あかるい | adjective | bright | この部屋は明るいです。 | This room is bright. | |
| 明かす | あかす | verb | to spend the night | 友だちの家で夜を明かしました。 | I spent the night at a friend's house. | |
| 明くる | あくる | adjective | next; following | 明くる朝、雨がやんだ。 | The next morning, the rain stopped. | |
| 明るい | あかるい | adjective | bright | 部屋が明るいです。 | The room is bright. | |
| 明後日 | あさって | noun | day after tomorrow | 明後日、会いましょう。 | Let's meet the day after tomorrow. | |
| 明日 | あした | noun | tomorrow | 明日学校へ行きます。 | I will go to school tomorrow. | |
| 明白 | あからさま | adjective | obvious; blatant | それはあからさまです。 | That is obvious. | |
| 易しい | やさしい | adjective | easy | この漢字は易しいです。 | This kanji is easy. | |
| 映画 | えいが | noun | movie | 映画を見ました。 | I watched a movie. | |
| 映画館 | えいがかん | noun | movie theater | 映画館へ行きます。 | I go to the movie theater. | |
| 春 | はる | noun | spring | 春はあたたかいです。 | Spring is warm. | |
| 昨夜 | ゆうべ | noun | last night | 昨夜はよく眠りました。 | I slept well last night. | |
| 昨日 | きのう | noun | yesterday | 昨日は雨でした。 | It was rainy yesterday. | |
| 昼 | ひる | noun | daytime; noon | 昼に食べます。 | I eat at noon. | |
| 昼御飯 | ひるごはん | noun | lunch | 昼御飯を作ります。 | I make lunch. | |
| 時々 | ときどき | adverb | sometimes | 時々公園へ行きます。 | I sometimes go to the park. | |
| 時計 | とけい | noun | clock; watch | 時計を見ます。 | I look at the clock. | |
| 時間 | じかん | noun | time; hour | 時間がありません。 | I don't have time. | |
| 晩 | ばん | noun | evening; night | 晩にテレビを見ます。 | I watch TV at night. | |
| 晩御飯 | ばんごはん | noun | dinner | 晩御飯を食べます。 | I eat dinner. | |
| 晴れ | はれ | noun | clear weather | 今日は晴れです。 | It is sunny today. | |
| 晴れる | はれる | verb | to clear up; to become sunny | 午後は晴れます。 | It will clear up in the afternoon. | |
| 暇 | ひま | noun | free time | 今は暇です。 | I am free now. | |
| 暑い | あつい | adjective | hot; warm | 今日は暑いです。 | Today is hot. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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