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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 車 | くるま | noun | car | 車で行きます。 | I will go by car. | |
| 軽い | かるい | adjective | light; not heavy | このかばんは軽いです。 | This bag is light. | |
| 辛い | からい | adjective | spicy | このカレーは辛いです。 | This curry is spicy. | |
| 辞書 | じしょ | noun | dictionary | 辞書で調べます。 | I look it up in the dictionary. | |
| 辺 | へん | noun | area; vicinity | この辺は静かです。 | This area is quiet. | |
| 近い | ちかい | adjective | near; close | 駅はここから近いです。 | The station is close from here. | |
| 近く | ちかく | noun | nearby | 駅の近くにコンビニがあります。 | There is a convenience store near the station. | |
| 返す | かえす | verb | return; give back | 本を返します。 | I return the book. | |
| 速い | はやい | adjective | fast | この車は速いです。 | This car is fast. | |
| 遅い | おそい | adjective | slow; late | 今日は帰るのが遅いです。 | I am late going home today. | |
| 遊ぶ | あそぶ | verb | to play | 公園で遊びます。 | I play at the park. | |
| 過ち | あやまち | noun | mistake; fault | 過ちを認める。 | I admit my mistake. | |
| 道 | みち | noun | road; way | この道をまっすぐ行きます。 | Go straight on this road. | |
| 違う | ちがう | verb | to be different | それは違います。 | That is different. | |
| 遠い | とおい | adjective | far | 学校は遠いです。 | The school is far. | |
| 部屋 | へや | noun | room | 部屋をきれいにします。 | I clean the room. | |
| 郵便局 | ゆうびんきょく | noun | post office | 郵便局はどこですか。 | Where is the post office? | |
| 重い | おもい | adjective | heavy | このかばんは重いです。 | This bag is heavy. | |
| 野菜 | やさい | noun | vegetables | 野菜をたくさん食べます。 | I eat a lot of vegetables. | |
| 金曜日 | きんようび | noun | Friday | 金曜日は忙しいです。 | Friday is busy. | |
| 鉛筆 | えんぴつ | noun | pencil | 鉛筆で書きます。 | I write with a pencil. | |
| 銀行 | ぎんこう | noun | bank | 銀行でお金をおろします。 | I withdraw money at the bank. | |
| 銅 | あかがね | noun | copper | この線は銅です。 | This wire is copper. | |
| 長い | ながい | adjective | long | この道は長いです。 | This road is long. | |
| 門 | もん | noun | gate | 門の前で待ちます。 | I will wait in front of the gate. |
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.
