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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 痛い | いたい | adjective | painful | 歯が痛いです。 | My tooth hurts. | |
| 登る | のぼる | verb | to climb; to go up | 山に登ります。 | I climb the mountain. | |
| 白 | しろ | noun | white | 白が好きです。 | I like white. | |
| 白い | しろい | adjective | white | 白い花です。 | It is a white flower. | |
| 百 | ひゃく | noun | one hundred | 百円あります。 | I have 100 yen. | |
| 皆さん | みなさん | noun | everyone | 皆さん、こんにちは。 | Hello, everyone. | |
| 目 | め | noun | eye | 目が赤いです。 | My eyes are red. | |
| 相 | あい | noun | mutual; together | 二人は相に話しました。 | The two talked together. | |
| 相変わらず | あいかわらず | adverb | as usual; still | 彼は相変わらず元気です。 | He is still doing well as usual. | |
| 相対 | あいたい | noun | face-to-face; private | 二人で相対して話しました。 | The two talked face-to-face. | |
| 眼鏡 | めがね | noun | glasses | 眼鏡をかけます。 | I put on glasses. | |
| 着く | つく | verb | arrive | 駅に着きました。 | I arrived at the station. | |
| 着る | きる | verb | to wear | シャツを着ます。 | I wear a shirt. | |
| 知る | しる | verb | to know | その人を知っています。 | I know that person. | |
| 短い | みじかい | adjective | short | この鉛筆は短いです。 | This pencil is short. | |
| 砂糖 | さとう | noun | sugar | コーヒーに砂糖を入れます。 | I put sugar in my coffee. | |
| 磨く | みがく | verb | to polish; to brush | 歯を磨きます。 | I brush my teeth. | |
| 私 | わたくし | pronoun | I; me | 私が行きます。 | I will go. | |
| 私 | わたし | pronoun | I; me | 私の名前は田中です。 | My name is Tanaka. | |
| 秋 | あき | noun | autumn; fall | 秋はすずしいです。 | Autumn is cool. | |
| 空 | そら | noun | sky | 空が青いです。 | The sky is blue. | |
| 空間 | あきま | noun | space; gap | この部屋には空間がある。 | There is space in this room. | |
| 窓 | まど | noun | window | 窓を開けます。 | I open the window. | |
| 立つ | たつ | verb | to stand up | みんな立ってください。 | Everyone, please stand up. | |
| 答える | こたえる | verb | to answer | 先生の質問に答えます。 | I answer the teacher's question. |
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.
