JLPT N5 Vocabulary:
Essential Words for Beginners
A practical category-by-category reference for the
most important words at the beginner level.
What is JLPT N5?
N5 is the entry level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). According to the official JLPT guidelines, N5 tests whether learners can understand basic Japanese — mainly vocabulary and grammar learned in classroom settings, and the ability to read hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji.[1]
The JLPT does not officially publish a fixed vocabulary list. The words covered in N5-level textbooks and practice materials are widely estimated at around 800 words, though this figure varies by source. The categories below represent the core vocabulary domains that consistently appear across official practice tests and leading N5 study materials.
Numbers
Counting in Japanese uses different number words depending on context — pure Japanese numbers (hitotsu, futatsu…) and Sino-Japanese numbers (ichi, ni, san…) are both tested at N5.
| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| いち | ichi | 1 |
| に | ni | 2 |
| さん | san | 3 |
| し / よん | shi / yon | 4 |
| ご | go | 5 |
| ろく | roku | 6 |
| なな / しち | nana / shichi | 7 |
| はち | hachi | 8 |
| きゅう / く | kyuu / ku | 9 |
| じゅう | juu | 10 |
| ひゃく | hyaku | 100 |
| せん | sen | 1,000 |
Time Expressions
| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| いま | ima | now |
| きょう | kyou | today |
| あした | ashita | tomorrow |
| きのう | kinou | yesterday |
| まいにち | mainichi | every day |
| あさ | asa | morning |
| ひる | hiru | daytime / noon |
| よる | yoru | night |
| なんじ | nanji | what time? |
| ことし | kotoshi | this year |
Family
| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| ちち | chichi | father (own) |
| はは | haha | mother (own) |
| あに | ani | older brother (own) |
| あね | ane | older sister (own) |
| おとうと | otouto | younger brother |
| いもうと | imouto | younger sister |
| こども | kodomo | child |
| かぞく | kazoku | family |
Note on family vocabulary: Japanese uses different words depending on whether you are referring to your own family or someone else's. For example, your own father is chichi (ちち), while someone else's father is otousan (おとうさん). N5 tests both forms.
Food & Drink
| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| ごはん | gohan | rice / meal |
| みず | mizu | water |
| おちゃ | ocha | tea |
| パン | pan | bread |
| たまご | tamago | egg |
| にく | niku | meat |
| さかな | sakana | fish |
| やさい | yasai | vegetables |
| くだもの | kudamono | fruit |
| のみもの | nomimono | drink / beverage |
Places
| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| うち / いえ | uchi / ie | home / house |
| がっこう | gakkou | school |
| えき | eki | station |
| みせ | mise | shop / store |
| びょういん | byouin | hospital |
| ぎんこう | ginkou | bank |
| こうえん | kouen | park |
| としょかん | toshokan | library |
Essential Verbs
| Hiragana (dictionary form) | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| たべる | taberu | to eat |
| のむ | nomu | to drink |
| いく | iku | to go |
| くる | kuru | to come |
| みる | miru | to see / watch |
| きく | kiku | to listen / ask |
| はなす | hanasu | to speak |
| よむ | yomu | to read |
| かく | kaku | to write |
| する | suru | to do |
| ある | aru | to exist (non-living) |
| いる | iru | to exist (living) |
ある vs いる: Both mean "to exist" or "to be," but they are not interchangeable. Aru (ある) is used for inanimate objects and plants. Iru (いる) is used for people and animals. This distinction is essential for N5.
Common Adjectives
| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| おおきい | ookii | big / large |
| ちいさい | chiisai | small |
| たかい | takai | tall / expensive |
| やすい | yasui | cheap / inexpensive |
| あたらしい | atarashii | new |
| ふるい | furui | old (for objects) |
| いい / よい | ii / yoi | good |
| わるい | warui | bad |
| あつい | atsui | hot |
| さむい | samui | cold (weather) |
How to Study N5 Vocabulary Effectively
Memorizing a word list alone is rarely enough. Research on vocabulary acquisition consistently shows that words are retained best when encountered in multiple contexts and reviewed at spaced intervals.[2] Here are three practical approaches:
1. Learn words in sentences, not isolation.
Instead of memorizing "たべる = to eat," try "まいにち ごはんをたべる" (I eat rice every day). Sentence context activates more of your brain and creates stronger memory traces.
2. Use spaced repetition.
Apps like Anki let you review words at increasing intervals — right before you would forget them. This dramatically improves long-term retention with minimal study time.
3. Reinforce through play.
Ayatoki's N4 mode features vocabulary that overlaps with upper N5 level words. Guessing hiragana words daily puts your passive vocabulary to active use — reinforcing what you've studied in a low-pressure way.
References
- JLPT Official Website. "N1–N5: Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level." jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html
- Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.