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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 花 | はな | noun | flower | 花がきれいです。 | The flowers are beautiful. | |
| 花瓶 | かびん | noun | vase | 花瓶に花があります。 | There are flowers in the vase. | |
| 若い | わかい | adjective | young | 彼はまだ若いです。 | He is still young. | |
| 英語 | えいご | noun | English | 英語を勉強します。 | I study English. | |
| 茶色 | ちゃいろ | noun | brown | このかばんは茶色です。 | This bag is brown. | |
| 荒っぽい | あらっぽい | adjective | rough; violent | 彼は荒っぽい人だ。 | He is a rough person. | |
| 荒らす | あらす | verb | to damage; to ruin | 花を荒らす。 | I damage the flowers. | |
| 荷物 | にもつ | noun | luggage; baggage | 荷物が重いです。 | The luggage is heavy. | |
| 葉書 | はがき | noun | postcard | 葉書を送りました。 | I sent a postcard. | |
| 薄い | うすい | adjective | thin | この紙は薄いです。 | This paper is thin. | |
| 薬 | くすり | noun | medicine | 薬を飲みます。 | I take medicine. | |
| 行く | いく | verb | to go | 学校へ行きます。 | I go to school. | |
| 行く | ゆく | verb | to go | 明日、学校へ行く。 | I will go to school tomorrow. | |
| 西 | にし | noun | west | 西の空が赤いです。 | The western sky is red. | |
| 要る | いる | verb | to need | お金が要ります。 | I need money. | |
| 見せる | みせる | verb | to show | 先生にノートを見せます。 | I show my notebook to the teacher. | |
| 見る 観る | みる | verb | to see; to watch | 映画を見ます。 | I watch a movie. | |
| 覚える | おぼえる | verb | remember; learn | この言葉を覚えます。 | I will remember this word. | |
| 角 | かど | noun | corner | 角を右に曲がります。 | Turn right at the corner. | |
| 言う | いう | verb | to say | 先生は「行きます」と言いました。 | The teacher said, “I will go.” | |
| 言葉 | ことば | noun | word; language | 日本語の言葉を覚えます。 | I memorize Japanese words. | |
| 証 | あかし | noun | proof; evidence | それが証です。 | That is proof. | |
| 話 | はなし | noun | talk; story | おもしろい話を聞きました。 | I heard an interesting story. | |
| 話す | はなす | verb | to speak; to talk | 日本語で話します。 | I speak in Japanese. | |
| 誂える | あつらえる | verb | to order; to make to order | 靴を誂える。 | I order shoes made to fit. |
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.
