Reference
JLPT N5 vocabulary list
Every word on this page is vocabulary you would be expected to know at JLPT N5, the entry level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test — 718 entries, each with its kanji, its reading in kana, and an English meaning. It is ordered the way a Japanese dictionary is ordered, by reading, so you can find a word from how it sounds rather than from how it is spelled in English.
One thing worth knowing before you use any N5 list, including this one: there is no official list to compare it against. The examiners published vocabulary lists for the old four-level exam and stopped when the test was restructured in 2010. Every list since is a reconstruction. The figure usually quoted is around 800 words; treat that, and this page, as a well-informed approximation rather than a syllabus.
あa141 words
- ああああAh!, Oh!
- 会うあうto meet, to see
- 青あおblue (noun)
- 青いあおいblue (adjective)
- 赤あかred (noun)
- 赤いあかいred (adjective)
- 明るいあかるいbright (in reference to personality or weather); cheerful
- 秋あきfall (season)
- 開くあくto open, to become open
- 開けるあけるto open (v.t.)
- 上げるあげるto raise, to lift
- 朝あさmorning
- 朝御飯あさごはんbreakfast
- 明後日あさってday after tomorrow
- 足; 脚あしfoot; leg
- 明日あしたtomorrow
- あそこあそこthere, over there, that place
- 遊ぶあそぶto play; to spend time pleasantly
- 暖かいあたたかいwarm
- 頭あたまhead
- 新しいあたらしいnew
- あちらあちらthis way (polite)
- 暑いあついhot (in reference to weather), warm
- 熱いあついhot (objects)
- 厚いあついkind, warm(hearted), thick, deep
- あっちあっちover there
- 後あとafterwards (later); in the future
- あなたあなたyou
- 兄あに(my) older brother (humble)
- 姉あね(my) older sister (humble)
- あのあのthat over there; like that, that way
- アパートアパートapartment (abbr.)
- 浴びるあびるto bathe, to shower
- 危ないあぶないdangerous, critical
- 甘いあまいgenerous, sweet
- 余りあまりnot very; surplus
- 雨あめrain
- 飴あめ(hard) candy
- 洗うあらうto wash
- 在るあるto be, to have
- 有るあるto be, to have
- 歩くあるくto walk
- あれあれthat one (over there)
- いい; よいいい; よいgood
- いいえいいえno, not at all
- 言ういうto say
- 家いえhouse, home
- いかがいかがhow, in what way
- 行くいく; ゆくto go
- いくついくつhow many, how old
- いくらいくらhow much, how many
- 池いけpond
- 医者いしゃdoctor; physician
- 椅子いすchair
- 忙しいいそがしいbusy (people, days)
- 痛いいたいhurt; painful
- 一いちone
- 一日いちにちone day (duration)
- 一番いちばんbest (most), first, number one
- いついつwhen
- 五日いつかfive days; fifth day of the month
- 一緒いっしょtogether
- 五ついつつfive things
- いつもいつもalways, usually, every time, never (with neg. verb)
- 犬いぬdog
- 今いまnow
- 意味いみmeaning, significance
- 妹いもうとyounger sister (humble)
- 嫌いやdisagreeable, detestable, unpleasant
- 入口いりぐちentrance
- 居るいる(humble) to be (animate), to exist
- 要るいるto need
- 入れるいれるto put in
- 色いろcolor
- 色々いろいろvarious
- 上うえabove (up, top, etc.), over, on top of
- 後ろうしろback, behind, rear
- 薄いうすいthin, weak
- 歌うたa song
- 歌ううたうto sing
- うちうちhome; house
- 生まれるうまれるto be born
- 海うみsea, beach
- 売るうるto sell (v.t.)
- うるさいうるさいnoisy; annoying
- 上着うわぎcoat, jacket
- 絵えa painting; a picture
- 映画えいがmovie, film
- 映画館えいがかんmovie theater, cinema
- 英語えいごEnglish (language)
- ええええyes
- 駅えきstation
- エレベーターエレベーターelevator
- ～円～えんYen
- 鉛筆えんぴつpencil
- お～お～honorable ~ (honorific)
- 美味しいおいしいdelicious, tasty
- 多いおおいmany; there are a lot
- 大きいおおきいbig, large
- 大きなおおきなbig
- 大勢おおぜいgreat number of people
- お母さんおかあさんmother (formal)
- お菓子おかしconfections, sweets, snack
- お金おかねmoney
- 起きるおきるto get up (e.g., from sleeping); to happen
- 置くおくto put; to lay
- 奥さんおくさん(someone else's) wife (hon.)
- お酒おさけsake; alcohol
- お皿おさらplate, dish
- おじいさんおじいさんgrandfather, male senior citizen
- 教えるおしえるto teach, to inform, to instruct
- 伯父; 叔父さんおじさんuncle, middle-aged man
- 押すおすto push, to press, to stamp (e.g., a passport)
- 遅いおそいslow; (to be) late
- お茶おちゃ(green) tea
- お手洗いおてあらいtoilet, restroom, bathroom (lit., a place to wash one's hands)
- お父さんおとうさんfather (formal)
- 弟おとうとyounger brother
- 男おとこman, male
- 男の子おとこのこboy
- 一昨日おとといthe day before yesterday
- おととしおととしyear before last
- 大人おとなadult
- お腹おなかstomach
- 同じおなじsame, identical
- お兄さんおにいさん(someone else's) older brother (formal)
- お姉さんおねえさんolder sister (formal)
- おばあさんおばあさんgrandmother, female senior-citizen
- 伯母さん; 叔母さんおばさんaunt
- お風呂おふろa bath
- お弁当おべんとうa boxed lunch
- 覚えるおぼえるto learn, to commit to memory, to remember, to memorize
- おまわりさんおまわりさんpoliceman (friendly term)
- 重いおもいheavy; serious
- 面白いおもしろいinteresting, amusing
- 泳ぐおよぐto swim
- 降りるおりるto get off
- 終るおわるto finish, to close
- 音楽おんがくMusic
- 女おんなwoman, female
- 女の子おんなのこgirl
かka132 words
- ～回～かいcounter for occurrences (~ times)
- ～階～かいcounter for stories (floors) of a building
- 外国がいこくforeign country; abroad
- 外国人がいこくじんforeigner
- 会社かいしゃcompany, corporation
- 階段かいだんstairs
- 買い物かいものshopping
- 買うかうto buy
- 返すかえすto return something
- 帰るかえるto go back, to go home, to return
- 顔かおface (body part)
- かかるかかるit takes (amount of time, money) (v.i.)
- 鍵かぎa lock; a key
- 書くかくto write
- 学生がくせいstudent
- ～か月～かげつ(number of) months
- 掛けるかけるto put on (e.g., glasses); to hang (e.g., on a wall)
- かけるかけるto dial/call (e.g., phone); to sit down
- 傘かさumbrella, parasol
- 貸すかすto lend
- 風かぜwind, breeze
- 風邪かぜcold, flu
- 家族かぞくfamily, members of a family
- 方かた-- honorific form for 人 (ひと) --; way of doing
- 片仮名かたかなkatakana
- ～月～がつmonth of year
- 学校がっこうa school
- カップカップcup
- 家庭かていhome; family
- 角かどcorner (e.g., desk, pavement)
- かばんかばんbag, basket
- 花瓶かびん(flower) vase
- かぶるかぶるto wear, to put on (e.g., a hat on the head)
- 紙かみpaper
- カメラカメラcamera
- 火曜日かようびTuesday
- 辛いからいhot and spicy; salty
- 体からだbody; health
- 借りるかりるto borrow, to owe
- ～がる～がるfeel
- 軽いかるいlight, non-serious, minor
- カレーカレーcurry (abbr. for curry and rice)
- カレンダーカレンダーcalendar
- 川; 河かわriver
- ～側～がわ~ side
- 可愛いかわいいcute, adorable
- 漢字かんじkanji; Chinese character
- 木きtree, wood, timber
- 黄色きいろyellow (noun)
- 黄色いきいろいyellow (adjective)
- 消えるきえるto vanish, to disappear
- 聞くきくto hear, to listen, to ask
- 北きたnorth
- ギターギターguitar
- 汚いきたないdirty, unclean, filthy
- 喫茶店きっさてんcafé
- 切手きってpostal (postage) stamps
- 切符きっぷa ticket
- 昨日きのうyesterday
- 九きゅうnine
- 牛肉ぎゅうにくbeef
- 牛乳ぎゅうにゅうmilk
- 今日きょうtoday, this day
- 教室きょうしつclassroom
- 兄弟きょうだいsiblings (humble), brothers and sisters
- 去年きょねんlast year
- 嫌いきらいdislike
- 切るきるto cut; to hang up (a phone)
- 着るきるto put on (clothes above your waist); to wear
- 綺麗きれいpretty, clean, tidy
- キロ; キログラムキロ; キログラム(abbr.) kilo (kilogram)
- キロ; キロメートルキロ; キロメートル(abbr.) kilo (kilometer)
- 銀行ぎんこうbank
- 金曜日きんようびFriday
- 九くnine
- 薬くすりmedicine
- 下さいください(with te-form verb) please do for me
- 果物くだものfruit
- 口くちjob opening; mouth
- 靴くつshoes, footwear
- 靴下くつしたsocks
- 国くにcountry; place of origin
- 曇りくもりcloudiness, cloudy weather
- 曇るくもるto become cloudy, to become dim
- 暗いくらいdark, gloomy
- ～くらい; ぐらい～くらい; ぐらいapproximate (quantity)
- クラスクラスa class
- グラムグラムgram
- 来るくるto come
- 車くるまcar, vehicle
- 黒くろblack (noun)
- 黒いくろいblack; dark (adjective)
- 警官けいかんpolice officer
- 今朝けさthis morning
- 消すけすto erase, to delete, to turn off power
- 結構けっこうsplendid; enough, tolerably
- 結婚けっこん (する)marriage (get married)
- 月曜日げつようびMonday
- 玄関げんかんentrance (to a house or a building)
- 元気げんきhealth(y), energetic
- ～個～こcounter for small items (e.g., fruits, cups)
- 五ごfive
- ～語～ごword, language
- 公園こうえんa park
- 交差点こうさてんintersection
- 紅茶こうちゃblack tea
- 交番こうばんpolice box
- 声こえvoice
- コートコートcoat; court (e.g., tennis)
- コーヒーコーヒーcoffee
- ここここhere, this place
- 午後ごごafternoon, P.M.
- 九日ここのかnine days; ninth day of the month
- 九つここのつnine things
- 午前ごぜんmorning, A.M.
- 答えるこたえるto answer, to reply
- こちらこちらthis person (polite); this way (polite)
- こっちこっちthis person; this direction
- コップコップa tumbler; a glass
- 今年ことしthis year
- 言葉ことばlanguage; word(s)
- 子供こどもchild(ren)
- このこのthis
- 御飯ごはんrice (cooked); meal
- コピーするコピーするto copy
- 困るこまるto be bothered, to have difficulty
- これこれthis one
- ～ころ; ～ごろ～ころ; ～ごろabout, toward, approximately (time)
- 今月こんげつthis month
- 今週こんしゅうthis week
- こんなこんなsuch, like this
- 今晩こんばんtonight, this evening
さsa97 words
- さあさあcome now, well
- ～歳～さい~ years old
- 財布さいふwallet
- 魚さかなfish
- 先さきfuture; recent, previous
- 咲くさくto bloom
- 作文さくぶんessay; composition
- 差すさすto raise (stretch out) hands, to raise (e.g., umbrella)
- ～冊～さつcounter for books
- 雑誌ざっしmagazine, journal
- 砂糖さとうsugar
- 寒いさむいcold (in reference to weather)
- さ来年さらいねんyear after next
- ～さん～さんMr. ~, Ms. ~
- 三さんthree
- 散歩さんぽ (する)walk, stroll
- 四しfour
- ～時～じ~ o'clock (time)
- 塩しおsalt
- しかししかしhowever; but
- 時間じかんtime
- ～時間～じかん~ hours
- 仕事しごとwork, job, occupation, employment
- 辞書じしょdictionary
- 静かしずかquiet, calm
- 下したunder, below, beneath
- 七しちseven
- 質問しつもんquestion, inquiry
- 自転車じてんしゃbicycle
- 自動車じどうしゃautomobile
- 死ぬしぬto die
- 字引じびきdictionary
- 自分じぶんmyself, oneself
- 閉まるしまるto close, to be closed
- 閉めるしめるto close, to shut
- 締めるしめるto tie, to fasten, to tighten
- じゃ; じゃあじゃ; じゃあwell, well then
- 写真しゃしんa picture; a photograph
- シャツシャツshirt
- シャワーシャワーshower
- 十じゅうten
- ～中～じゅうduring, while
- ～週間～しゅうかん~ weeks
- 授業じゅぎょうa class (of school)
- 宿題しゅくだいhomework
- 上手じょうずbe good at, skillful
- 丈夫じょうぶstrong, solid, durable
- 醤油しょうゆsoy sauce
- 食堂しょくどうcafeteria, dining hall
- 知るしるto know, to understand
- 白しろwhite (noun)
- 白いしろいwhite (adjective)
- ～人～じんcounter for people
- 新聞しんぶんnewspaper
- 水曜日すいようびWednesday
- 吸うすうto breathe in, to suck
- スカートスカートskirt
- 好きすきliking, fondness, love
- ～すぎ～すぎpast; to exceed, ~ too much
- 少ないすくないa little; a few
- すぐにすぐにimmediately, soon
- 少しすこしlittle, few
- 涼しいすずしいcool, refreshing (in reference to weather)
- ～ずつ～ずつat a time
- ストーブストーブheater (lit: stove)
- スプーンスプーンspoon
- スポーツスポーツsport(s)
- ズボンズボンtrousers
- 住むすむto reside, to live in
- するするto do, to try; to wear small items (e.g., necktie, watch, etc.)
- 座るすわるto sit
- 背せい(one's) height, stature
- 生徒せいとstudent; pupil
- セーターセーターsweater
- 石鹸せっけんsoap
- 背広せびろmen's suit
- 狭いせまいnarrow; not spacious
- ゼロゼロzero
- 千せんthousand
- 先月せんげつlast month
- 先週せんしゅうlast week
- 先生せんせいteacher, professor; master
- 洗濯せんたくwashing, laundry
- 全部ぜんぶall, entire, whole
- そう; そうですそう; そうですyes; appears, to be the case
- 掃除そうじ (する)cleaning, sweeping
- そうして; そしてそうして; そしてand, like that
- そこそこthat place, there; bottom, sole
- そちらそちらover there
- そっちそっちover there
- 外そとoutside, exterior
- そのそのthat
- そばそばnear, close, beside; Japanese traditional buckwheat noodle
- 空そらsky
- それそれthat one
- それからそれからand then, after that
- それではそれではin that situation, well then...
たta106 words
- ～台～だいcounter for vehicles; machines
- 大学だいがくcollege; university
- 大使館たいしかんembassy
- 大丈夫だいじょうぶIt's ok (all right); No need to worry
- 大好きだいすきvery like-able, like very much
- 大切たいせつimportant
- 台所だいどころkitchen
- 大変たいへんvery; difficult, hard
- 高いたかいtall, high; expensive
- 沢山たくさんmany, much
- タクシータクシーtaxi
- ～だけ～だけonly ~, just ~, as ~
- 出すだすto take (something) out; to hand in (something)
- ～たち～たちplural suffix
- 立つたつto stand up
- たてたてlength, height
- 建物たてものbuilding
- 楽しいたのしいenjoyable, fun
- 頼むたのむto request, to ask (a favor)
- たばこたばこtobacco, cigarettes
- 多分たぶんperhaps, probably, maybe
- 食べ物たべものfood
- 食べるたべるto eat
- 卵たまごegg
- 誰だれwho
- 誰かだれかsomeone
- 誕生日たんじょうびbirthday
- 段々だんだんgradually, by degrees
- 小さいちいさいsmall, little
- 小さなちいさなsmall, little
- 近いちかいnear, close by, short
- 違うちがうto be different; to differ
- 近くちかくnearby; in the neighborhood
- 地下鉄ちかてつunderground train, subway
- 地図ちずa map
- 父ちち(my) father
- 茶色ちゃいろbrown (noun)
- 茶碗ちゃわんrice bowl
- ～中～ちゅうduring, while ~ing
- 丁度ちょうどjust, right, exactly
- ちょっとちょっとa little, somewhat; just a little, somewhat
- 一日ついたちone day; first day of the month
- 使うつかうto use
- 疲れるつかれるto get (become) tired; to become fatigued
- 次つぎnext
- 着くつくto arrive at, to reach
- 机つくえdesk
- 作るつくるto make, to create
- つけるつけるto turn on (e.g., a light); to take
- 勤めるつとめるto work (for)
- つまらないつまらないboring, dull; insignificant
- 冷たいつめたいcold (things, people)
- 強いつよいstrong, powerful
- 手てhand
- テープテープtape
- テーブルテーブルtable
- テープレコーダーテープレコーダーtape recorder
- 出かけるでかけるto go out; to depart
- 手紙てがみletter
- できるできるto be able to (to accomplish)
- 出口でぐちan exit
- テストテストtest
- ではではthen, well, so
- デパートデパート(abbr.) department store
- でもでもbut, however
- 出るでるto appear, to leave
- テレビテレビtelevision, TV
- 天気てんきweather
- 電気でんきelectricity, (electric) light
- 電車でんしゃelectric train
- 電話でんわa telephone
- 戸とdoor (Japanese style)
- ～度～どcounter for occurrences; ~ degree
- ドアドアdoor (Western style)
- トイレトイレbathroom; toilet
- どうどうhow, in what way
- どうしてどうしてwhy, for what reason
- どうぞどうぞplease, kindly, by all means
- 動物どうぶつanimal
- どうもどうもThank you; somehow
- 十(〜を) とおten (~)
- 遠いとおいfar (away), distant
- 十日とおかten days; tenth day of the month
- ～時～ときat the time of ~
- 時々ときどきsometimes
- 時計とけいa watch; a clock
- どこどこwhere, what place
- 所ところplace
- 年としyear, age
- 図書館としょかんlibrary
- どちらどちらwhich (one) (way); where (polite)
- どっちどっちwhich one, which way
- とてもとてもvery (much), greatly, exceedingly
- どなたどなたwho
- 隣となりnext to, next door to
- どのどのwhich
- 飛ぶとぶto fly, to hop
- 止まるとまるto come to a halt
- 友達ともだちfriend
- 土曜日どようびSaturday
- 鳥とりchicken (lit., bird)
- 鶏肉とりにくchicken meat
- 取るとるto take (a class); to get (a grade)
- 撮るとるto take (a photo), to make (a film)
- どれどれwhich one
- どんなどんなwhat, what kind of
なna40 words
- ないないthere isn't, doesn't have
- ナイフナイフknife
- 中なかinside, middle, among
- 長いながいlong, lengthy
- 鳴くなくto make sound (animal)
- 無くすなくすto lose something
- なぜなぜwhy (same as どうして)
- 夏なつsummer
- 夏休みなつやすみsummer vacation
- ～など～などet cetera
- 七つななつseven things
- 七日なのかseven days; seventh day (of the month)
- 名前なまえname
- 習うならうto learn
- 並ぶならぶto line up, to stand in a line (v.i.)
- 並べるならべるto put (things) side by side; to line up
- なるなるto become
- 何～なん～what sort of ~
- 何なん; なにwhat
- 二にtwo
- にぎやかにぎやかbustling, busy
- 肉にくmeat
- 西にしwest
- ～日～にち~ day of the month, for ~ days
- 日曜日にちようびSunday
- 荷物にもつluggage; baggage
- ニュースニュースnews
- 庭にわgarden
- ～人～にんcounter for people
- 脱ぐぬぐto take off (clothes)
- 温いぬるいlukewarm
- ネクタイネクタイtie, necktie
- 猫ねこcat
- 寝るねるto sleep; to go to sleep
- ～年～ねん~ years
- ノートノートnotebook
- 登るのぼるto climb
- 飲み物のみものdrink, beverage
- 飲むのむto drink
- 乗るのるto get on, to ride in, to board
はha97 words
- 歯はtooth
- パーティーパーティーa party
- はいはいyes
- ～杯～はいcounter for cupfuls
- 灰皿はいざらashtray
- 入るはいるto enter, to contain, to hold
- 葉書はがきpostcard
- はくはくto put on (items below your waist)
- 箱はこbox
- 橋はしbridge
- 箸はしchopsticks
- 始まるはじまる(something) begins
- 初め; 始めはじめbeginning, start
- 初めてはじめてfor the first time
- 走るはしるto run
- バスバスbus; bath
- バターバターbutter
- 二十歳はたち20 years old
- 働くはたらくto work
- 八はちeight
- 二十日はつかtwenty days, twentieth (day of the month)
- 花はなflower
- 鼻はなnose
- 話はなしtalk (chat), story
- 話すはなすto speak
- 母はは(my) mother
- 早いはやいearly
- 速いはやいfast, quick
- 春はるspring
- 貼るはるto post; to paste
- 晴れはれclear (sunny) weather
- 晴れるはれるto be sunny
- 半はんhalf (e.g., にじはん | half-past two)
- 晩ばんevening
- ～番～ばん~st; ~th best
- パンパンbread
- ハンカチハンカチhandkerchief
- 番号ばんごうnumber, series of digits
- 晩御飯ばんごはんdinner, evening meal
- 半分はんぶんhalf
- 東ひがしeast
- ～匹～ひきcounter for small animals
- 引くひくto pull, to draw; subtract
- 弾くひくto play (a string instrument or piano)
- 低いひくいshort, low
- 飛行機ひこうきairplane
- 左ひだりleft hand side
- 人ひとman, person
- 一つひとつone thing
- 一月ひとつきone month
- 一人ひとりone person
- 暇ひまfree time, leisure
- 百ひゃくhundred
- 病院びょういんhospital
- 病気びょうきillness; sickness
- 平仮名ひらがなhiragana
- 昼ひるnoon, daytime
- 昼御飯ひるごはんlunch, midday meal
- 広いひろいspacious; wide
- フィルムフィルムfilm (roll of)
- 封筒ふうとうenvelope
- プールプールswimming pool
- フォークフォークfork
- 吹くふくto blow (wind, etc.)
- 服ふくclothes
- 二つふたつtwo things
- 豚肉ぶたにくpork
- 二人ふたりtwo people
- 二日ふつかtwo days; second day of the month
- 太いふといfat, thick
- 冬ふゆwinter
- 降るふるto precipitate, to fall (e.g., rain, snow, etc.)
- 古いふるいold (in reference to objects, not people), aged, ancient
- ～分～ふん~ minutes
- 文章ぶんしょうsentence, text
- ページページa page
- 下手へたunskillful, poor
- ベッドベッドbed
- ペットペットpet
- 部屋へやa room
- 辺へんarea, vicinity
- ペンペンpen
- 勉強べんきょう (する)study
- 便利べんりconvenient, handy
- 帽子ぼうしhat; cap
- ボールペンボールペンball-point pen
- 外ほかother, the rest
- ポケットポケットpocket
- 欲しいほしいto want, in need of
- ポストポストmailbox; post, position
- 細いほそいthin, slender, fine
- ボタンボタンbutton
- ホテルホテルhotel
- 本ほんbook
- ～本～ほんcounter for long cylindrical things
- 本棚ほんだなbookshelf
- 本当ほんとうreal, true
まma52 words
- ～枚～まいcounter for flat things
- 毎朝まいあさevery morning
- 毎月まいげつ; まいつきevery month, monthly
- 毎週まいしゅうevery week
- 毎日まいにちevery day
- 毎年まいねん; まいとしevery year, yearly, annually
- 毎晩まいばんevery night
- 前まえbefore, in front
- ～前～まえin front of ~
- 曲るまがるto turn, to bend
- まずいまずいterrible (in reference to food), unappetizing, unpleasant (taste)
- またまたand; furthermore
- まだまだyet, still, besides
- 町まちtown; city
- 待つまつto wait
- まっすぐまっすぐstraight (ahead), direct
- マッチマッチmatch
- 窓まどwindow
- 丸い; 円いまるいround, circular
- 万まんten thousand
- 万年筆まんねんひつfountain pen
- 磨くみがくto brush (teeth); to polish
- 右みぎright hand side
- 短いみじかいshort (length)
- 水みずwater
- 店みせstore, shop
- 見せるみせるto show, to display
- 道みちroad, street; way, directions
- 三日みっかthree days, third day of the month
- 三つみっつthree things
- 緑みどりgreen
- 皆さんみなさんall of you, everyone
- 南みなみSouth
- 耳みみear
- 見るみるto see, to look
- みんなみんなall, everyone, everybody
- 六日むいかsix days; sixth day of month
- 向こうむこうbeyond, over there
- 難しいむずかしいdifficult
- 六つむっつsix things
- 村むらvillage
- 目めeye(s)
- メートルメートルmeter
- 眼鏡めがねeye glasses
- もうもうalready; again
- 木曜日もくようびThursday
- もしもしもしもしHello? (used on the phone)
- 持つもつto hold, to carry; to possess
- もっともっとmore
- 物ものthing (concrete object)
- 門もんgate
- 問題もんだいa problem
やya27 words
- ～屋～や~ shop
- 八百屋やおやgreengrocer
- 野菜やさいvegetable
- 易しいやさしいeasy, plain, simple
- 安いやすいinexpensive; cheap (things)
- 休みやすみholiday; day off
- 休むやすむto rest, to have a break, to get time off
- 八つやっつeight things
- 山やまmountain
- やるやるto do; to give (to pets, parents, siblings, etc.)
- 夕方ゆうがたlate afternoon (typically just before dinner time), evening
- 夕飯ゆうはんdinner, supper, evening meal
- 郵便局ゆうびんきょくpost office
- 昨夜ゆうべlast night
- 有名ゆうめいfamous
- 雪ゆきsnow
- ゆっくりとゆっくりとslowly, at ease
- 八日ようかeight days; eighth day of the month
- 洋服ようふくWestern-style clothes
- よくよくfrequently, often (much); well, skillfully
- 横よこbeside; side
- 四日よっかfour days; fourth day of the month
- 四つよっつfour things
- 呼ぶよぶto call (one's name); to invite
- 読むよむto read
- 夜よるevening, night
- 弱いよわいweak
らra17 words
- 来月らいげつnext month
- 来週らいしゅうnext week
- 来年らいねんnext year
- ラジオラジオradio
- ラジオカセラジオカセradio cassette player
- りっぱりっぱsplendid, fine
- 留学生りゅうがくせいinternational student
- 両親りょうしんparents (lit., both parents)
- 料理りょうりcooking; cuisine
- 旅行りょこうtravel, trip
- 零れいzero, nought
- 冷蔵庫れいぞうこrefrigerator
- レコードレコードrecord
- レストランレストランrestaurant
- 練習れんしゅう (する)(to) practice
- 廊下ろうかcorridor
- 六ろくsix
わwa9 words
- ワイシャツワイシャツshirt (lit: white shirt), business shirt
- 若いわかいyoung
- 分かるわかるto understand
- 忘れるわすれるto forget
- 私わたくしI (formal), myself, private affairs
- 私わたしI, myself
- 渡すわたすto hand (something) over (v.t.); to get across
- 渡るわたるto cross over, to go across
- 悪いわるいbad, sinful; inferior
Questions about N5 vocabulary
- How many words do you need for JLPT N5?
- Around 800 is the figure usually quoted, and this list holds 718. There is no exact number, because the examiners do not publish one — see below.
- Is there an official JLPT N5 vocabulary list?
- No. The organisers published word lists for the old four-level exam, but discontinued them when the test was revised in 2010, and have not published one since. Every list you will find, including this one, is reconstructed from past papers and dictionary data.
- What order is this list in?
- Gojūon — the order a Japanese dictionary uses, by reading rather than by English spelling. Loanwords written in katakana are filed under the same row as their hiragana reading, so アパート sits in あ.
- Do I need to know the kanji as well as the reading?
- N5 expects roughly 100 kanji, far fewer than the words listed here. Many N5 words are written in kana in practice, so the reading is the part to learn first; the kanji column is here for when you meet the word written out.
- What is the difference between N5 and N4?
- N5 is the entry level of the five. N4 roughly doubles the vocabulary expected and adds the kanji to go with it, so the jump is mostly one of volume rather than of difficulty in kind.
Readings and meanings are derived from JMdict/EDICT by the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, used under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is shared under the same licence.