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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 頭 | あたま | noun | head | 頭が痛いです。 | My head hurts. | |
| 頼む | たのむ | verb | to ask; to request | 先生に助けを頼みました。 | I asked the teacher for help. | |
| 顎 | あご | noun | chin; jaw | 彼は顎に手を当てた。 | He put his hand on his chin. | |
| 風 | かぜ | noun | wind | 今日は風が強いです。 | The wind is strong today. | |
| 風邪 | かぜ | noun | cold; flu | 風邪をひきました。 | I caught a cold. | |
| 飛ぶ | とぶ | verb | to fly | 鳥が空を飛ぶ。 | A bird flies in the sky. | |
| 飛行機 | ひこうき | noun | airplane | 飛行機で東京へ行きます。 | I go to Tokyo by airplane. | |
| 食べる | たべる | verb | to eat | 朝ごはんを食べます。 | I eat breakfast. | |
| 食べ物 | たべもの | noun | food | おいしい食べ物が好きです。 | I like delicious food. | |
| 食堂 | しょくどう | noun | dining hall; cafeteria | 食堂で昼ごはんを食べます。 | I eat lunch in the cafeteria. | |
| 飲み物 | のみもの | noun | drink | 冷たい飲み物がほしいです。 | I want a cold drink. | |
| 飲む | のむ | verb | to drink | 水を飲みます。 | I drink water. | |
| 飴 | あめ | noun | candy | 飴を一つください。 | Please give me one candy. | |
| 駅 | えき | noun | station | 駅で友だちに会いました。 | I met my friend at the station. | |
| 高い | たかい | adjective | expensive; tall | このかばんは高いです。 | This bag is expensive. | |
| 魚 | さかな | noun | fish | 魚を食べます。 | I eat fish. | |
| 鮮やか | あざやか | adjective | vivid; bright | 花が鮮やかに咲いた。 | The flowers bloomed brightly. | |
| 鳥 | とり | noun | bird | 庭に鳥がいます。 | There is a bird in the garden. | |
| 鳴く | なく | verb | to cry; to sing (birds/insects) | 鳥が鳴いています。 | A bird is chirping. | |
| 麻 | あさ | noun | hemp | この袋は麻でできている。 | This bag is made of hemp. | |
| 黄色 | きいろ | noun | yellow | 黄色が好きです。 | I like yellow. | |
| 黄色い | きいろい | adjective | yellow | 黄色い花が好きです。 | I like yellow flowers. | |
| 黒 | くろ | noun | black | 黒が好きです。 | I like black. | |
| 黒い | くろい | adjective | black | 黒いかばんです。 | It is a black bag. | |
| 鼻 | はな | noun | nose | 鼻がかゆいです。 | My nose is itchy. |
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.
