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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| そうして | そうして | conjunction | and then; and | 宿題をして、そうして寝ます。 | I do my homework, and then I go to bed. | |
| そうして | そして | conjunction | and then; and | ご飯を食べました。そして、出かけました。 | I ate a meal, and then I went out. | |
| そこ | そこ | pronoun | there | そこに本があります。 | There is a book there. | |
| そして | そうして | conjunction | and then | ご飯を食べました。そして寝ました。 | I ate dinner, and then I went to sleep. | |
| そして | そして | conjunction | and then | 宿題をして、そしてテレビを見ました。 | I did my homework, and then I watched TV. | |
| そちら | そちら | pronoun | that way; there | そちらへ行きます。 | I will go that way. | |
| そっち | そっち | pronoun | that way; there | そっちにあります。 | It's over there. | |
| その | その | determiner | that | その本を読みます。 | I will read that book. | |
| そば | そば | noun | nearby; beside | 駅のそばに住んでいます。 | I live near the station. | |
| それ | それ | pronoun | that | それは私のです。 | That is mine. | |
| それから | それから | conjunction | and then; after that | ご飯を食べました。それから出かけました。 | I ate dinner. After that, I went out. | |
| それでは | それでは | expression | well then; goodbye | それでは、また明日。 | Well then, see you tomorrow. | |
| たいへん | たいへん | adjective | very; difficult | 今日はたいへん忙しいです。 | I'm very busy today. | |
| たくさん | たくさん | adverb | many; a lot | りんごをたくさん食べました。 | I ate a lot of apples. | |
| タクシー | タクシー | noun | taxi | タクシーで帰ります。 | I will go home by taxi. | |
| たて | たて | noun | length; height | この机はたてが長いです。 | This desk is long vertically. | |
| たばこ | たばこ | noun | tobacco; cigarette | ここでたばこを吸わないでください。 | Please don't smoke here. | |
| たぶん | たぶん | adverb | probably | たぶん雨が降ります。 | It will probably rain. | |
| だんだん | だんだん | adverb | gradually; little by little | だんだん寒くなります。 | It is getting colder little by little. | |
| ちゃわん | ちゃわん | noun | rice bowl | ちゃわんを洗います。 | I wash the rice bowl. | |
| ちょうど | ちょうど | adverb | exactly | ちょうど七時です。 | It is exactly seven o'clock. | |
| ちょっと | ちょっと | adverb | a little | ちょっと待ってください。 | Please wait a little. | |
| つける | つける | verb | turn on | 電気をつけてください。 | Please turn on the light. | |
| つまらない | つまらない | adjective | boring | この本はつまらないです。 | This book is boring. | |
| テープ | テープ | noun | tape | テープをください。 | Please give me the tape. |
Free JLPT N5 Japanese Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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