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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 閉まる | しまる | verb | to close; to shut | ドアが閉まります。 | The door closes. | |
| 閉める | しめる | verb | to close; to shut | ドアを閉めてください。 | Please close the door. | |
| 開く | あく | verb | to open; to be open | ドアが開きます。 | The door opens. | |
| 開ける | あける | verb | to open | 窓を開けます。 | I open the window. | |
| 間柄 | あいだがら | noun | relationship | 二人の間柄はいいです。 | The relationship between the two is good. | |
| 降りる | おりる | verb | get off; descend | ここで電車を降ります。 | I get off the train here. | |
| 降る | ふる | verb | to fall; to snow/rain | 雨が降ります。 | It rains. | |
| 階段 | かいだん | noun | stairs | 階段を上ります。 | I go up the stairs. | |
| 隣 | となり | noun | next to; neighbor | 駅の隣にコンビニがあります。 | There is a convenience store next to the station. | |
| 集まる | あつまる | verb | to gather; to assemble | 駅に人が集まる。 | People gather at the station. | |
| 雑誌 | ざっし | noun | magazine | この雑誌はおもしろいです。 | This magazine is interesting. | |
| 難しい | むずかしい | adjective | difficult | この問題は難しいです。 | This problem is difficult. | |
| 雨 | あめ | noun | rain | 今日は雨です。 | It is raining today. | |
| 雨具 | あまぐ | noun | rain gear | 雨具を持って行きます。 | I will take rain gear with me. | |
| 雪 | ゆき | noun | snow | 雪が降っています。 | It is snowing. | |
| 零 | れい | noun | zero | 答えは零です。 | The answer is zero. | |
| 電気 | でんき | noun | electricity; light | 電気を消してください。 | Please turn off the light. | |
| 電話 | でんわ | noun | telephone | 電話をかけます。 | I make a phone call. | |
| 電車 | でんしゃ | noun | train | 電車で行きます。 | I go by train. | |
| 青 | あお | noun | blue | 青が好きです。 | I like blue. | |
| 青い | あおい | adjective | blue | 青い空ですね。 | The sky is blue, isn't it? | |
| 静か | しずか | adjective | quiet | この部屋は静かです。 | This room is quiet. | |
| 靴 | くつ | noun | shoes | 新しい靴を買いました。 | I bought new shoes. | |
| 靴下 | くつした | noun | socks | 靴下がぬれました。 | My socks got wet. | |
| 音楽 | おんがく | noun | music | 音楽を聞きます。 | I listen to music. |
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.
