Complete Guide to JLPT N5 Kanji: Master All Essential Characters
The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N5 level is the most basic level of the Japanese language, and mastering kanji at this level is crucial for your language journey. In this post, we'll cover all the essential kanji you need to know for the JLPT N5, along with their meanings, readings, and example sentences. Whether you're preparing for the JLPT or just starting out, this guide will help you get a strong foundation in kanji.
What is Kanji?
Kanji are Chinese characters adopted into the Japanese writing system. Unlike hiragana and katakana, which represent sounds, kanji characters carry meanings and are often used in combination with other kanji or kana to form words. At the N5 level, you'll encounter around 100 basic kanji characters, many of which are commonly used in daily life.
JLPT N5 Kanji List with Readings and Meanings
Here is a breakdown of the most important kanji you need to know for the N5 exam, grouped by themes.
1. Numbers
- 一 (いち, ichi) - One
- Example: 一人 (ひとり, hitori) - One person
- 二 (に, ni) - Two
- Example: 二日 (ふつか, futsuka) - Two days, the second day
- 三 (さん, san) - Three
- Example: 三時 (さんじ, sanji) - Three o'clock
- 四 (し / よん, shi / yon) - Four
- Example: 四月 (しがつ, shigatsu) - April
- 五 (ご, go) - Five
- Example: 五分 (ごふん, gofun) - Five minutes
- 六 (ろく, roku) - Six
- Example: 六人 (ろくにん, rokunin) - Six people
- 七 (しち / なな, shichi / nana) - Seven
- Example: 七時 (しちじ, shichiji) - Seven o'clock
- 八 (はち, hachi) - Eight
- Example: 八日 (ようか, youka) - Eight days, the eighth day
- 九 (きゅう / く, kyuu / ku) - Nine
- Example: 九時 (くじ, kuji) - Nine o'clock
- 十 (じゅう, juu) - Ten
- Example: 十分 (じゅっぷん, juppun) - Ten minutes
2. Time and Days
- 日 (にち / ひ, nichi / hi) - Day, Sun
- Example: 日本 (にほん, Nihon) - Japan
- 月 (げつ / つき, getsu / tsuki) - Month, Moon
- Example: 月曜日 (げつようび, getsuyoubi) - Monday
- 年 (ねん / とし, nen / toshi) - Year
- Example: 一年 (いちねん, ichinen) - One year
- 時 (じ, ji) - Time, Hour
- Example: 時間 (じかん, jikan) - Time, Hours
- 分 (ふん / ぶん, fun / bun) - Minute, Divide
- Example: 五分 (ごふん, gofun) - Five minutes
3. People and Directions
- 人 (ひと / にん / じん, hito / nin / jin) - Person
- Example: 日本人 (にほんじん, nihonjin) - Japanese person
- 男 (おとこ, otoko) - Man
- Example: 男の子 (おとこのこ, otokonoko) - Boy
- 女 (おんな, onna) - Woman
- Example: 女の子 (おんなのこ, onnanoko) - Girl
- 上 (うえ, ue) - Above, Up
- Example: 上がる (あがる, agaru) - To go up
- 下 (した, shita) - Below, Down
- Example: 下がる (さがる, sagaru) - To go down
- 左 (ひだり, hidari) - Left
- Example: 左手 (ひだりて, hidarite) - Left hand
- 右 (みぎ, migi) - Right
- Example: 右手 (みぎて, migite) - Right hand
4. Nature and Elements
- 水 (みず, mizu) - Water
- Example: 水曜日 (すいようび, suiyoubi) - Wednesday
- 火 (ひ, hi) - Fire
- Example: 火曜日 (かようび, kayoubi) - Tuesday
- 木 (き, ki) - Tree
- Example: 木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyoubi) - Thursday
- 山 (やま, yama) - Mountain
- Example: 富士山 (ふじさん, Fujisan) - Mt. Fuji
- 川 (かわ, kawa) - River
- Example: 川 (かわ, kawa) - River
5. Common Verbs
- 行 (いく, iku) - To go
- Example: 行きます (いきます, ikimasu) - I go
- 見 (みる, miru) - To see, Look
- Example: 見ます (みます, mimasu) - I see
- 食 (たべる, taberu) - To eat
- Example: 食べます (たべます, tabemasu) - I eat
- 飲 (のむ, nomu) - To drink
- Example: 飲みます (のみます, nomimasu) - I drink
- 書 (かく, kaku) - To write
- Example: 書きます (かきます, kakimasu) - I write
6. Places
- 校 (こう, kou) - School
- Example: 学校 (がっこう, gakkou) - School
- 店 (みせ, mise) - Shop, Store
- Example: 店員 (てんいん, tenin) - Shop clerk
- 駅 (えき, eki) - Station
- Example: 駅前 (えきまえ, ekimae) - In front of the station
- 町 (まち, machi) - Town
- Example: 町中 (まちなか, machinaka) - In town
- 国 (くに, kuni) - Country
- Example: 外国 (がいこく, gaikoku) - Foreign country
- Example: 学校 (がっこう, gakkou) - School
- Example: 店員 (てんいん, tenin) - Shop clerk
- Example: 駅前 (えきまえ, ekimae) - In front of the station
- Example: 町中 (まちなか, machinaka) - In town
- Example: 外国 (がいこく, gaikoku) - Foreign country
7. Directions and Positions
- 中 (なか, naka) - Inside, Middle
- Example: 中学校 (ちゅうがっこう, chuugakkou) - Junior high school
- 外 (そと, soto) - Outside
- Example: 外国 (がいこく, gaikoku) - Foreign country
- 前 (まえ, mae) - Front, Before
- Example: 午前 (ごぜん, gozen) - A.M.
- 後 (うしろ / ご, ushiro / go) - Behind, After
- Example: 後ろ (うしろ, ushiro) - Behind
- 間 (あいだ, aida) - Between, Interval
- Example: 時間 (じかん, jikan) - Time
- Example: 中学校 (ちゅうがっこう, chuugakkou) - Junior high school
- Example: 外国 (がいこく, gaikoku) - Foreign country
- Example: 午前 (ごぜん, gozen) - A.M.
- Example: 後ろ (うしろ, ushiro) - Behind
- Example: 時間 (じかん, jikan) - Time
8. Miscellaneous Kanji
- 天 (てん, ten) - Heaven, Sky
- Example: 天気 (てんき, tenki) - Weather
- 気 (き, ki) - Spirit, Mood
- Example: 元気 (げんき, genki) - Energetic, healthy
- 電 (でん, den) - Electric
- Example: 電話 (でんわ, denwa) - Telephone
- 車 (くるま, kuruma) - Car, Vehicle
- Example: 電車 (でんしゃ, densha) - Train
- 語 (ご, go) - Language, Word
- Example: 日本語 (にほんご, nihongo) - Japanese language
- 書 (しょ, sho) - To write, Document
- Example: 書店 (しょてん, shoten) - Bookstore
- 学 (がく, gaku) - Study, Learning
- Example: 学生 (がくせい, gakusei) - Student
- 生 (せい, sei) - Life, Birth
- Example: 先生 (せんせい, sensei) - Teacher
- Example: 天気 (てんき, tenki) - Weather
- Example: 元気 (げんき, genki) - Energetic, healthy
- Example: 電話 (でんわ, denwa) - Telephone
- Example: 電車 (でんしゃ, densha) - Train
- Example: 日本語 (にほんご, nihongo) - Japanese language
- Example: 書店 (しょてん, shoten) - Bookstore
- Example: 学生 (がくせい, gakusei) - Student
- Example: 先生 (せんせい, sensei) - Teacher
How to Study JLPT N5 Kanji Effectively
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Create Flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to memorize kanji. Write the kanji on one side and its readings and meanings on the other. This method helps reinforce both recognition and recall.
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Practice Reading and Writing: Reading sentences and writing kanji repeatedly will help solidify your knowledge. Try writing sentences that include the kanji you’re learning.
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Use Kanji in Context: It’s important to see kanji in real-world contexts. Read simple Japanese texts like children’s books, news articles, or JLPT practice materials to get familiar with how kanji are used.
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JLPT N5 Kanji Practice Apps: There are several apps available that are tailored for JLPT kanji practice. These include quiz features, stroke order guides, and sample sentences, making your study process interactive and efficient.
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Review Regularly: Regular review is key to retaining kanji knowledge. Make it a habit to go over previously learned kanji every day to ensure they stick in your memory.
Create Flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to memorize kanji. Write the kanji on one side and its readings and meanings on the other. This method helps reinforce both recognition and recall.
Practice Reading and Writing: Reading sentences and writing kanji repeatedly will help solidify your knowledge. Try writing sentences that include the kanji you’re learning.
Use Kanji in Context: It’s important to see kanji in real-world contexts. Read simple Japanese texts like children’s books, news articles, or JLPT practice materials to get familiar with how kanji are used.
JLPT N5 Kanji Practice Apps: There are several apps available that are tailored for JLPT kanji practice. These include quiz features, stroke order guides, and sample sentences, making your study process interactive and efficient.
Review Regularly: Regular review is key to retaining kanji knowledge. Make it a habit to go over previously learned kanji every day to ensure they stick in your memory.
Conclusion
Mastering JLPT N5 kanji is the first step in becoming proficient in Japanese. By learning these 100 basic characters, you’ll have the tools to read simple sentences, understand more complex grammar structures, and expand your vocabulary. Consistent practice and exposure to real-life Japanese will make your kanji learning experience enjoyable and rewarding.
For more detailed study guides and tips for the JLPT N5, check out our reference post at Get Help Online.
This post provides a comprehensive breakdown of the essential kanji for JLPT N5, but don’t forget that kanji learning is a gradual process. Take your time and enjoy the journey of discovering the rich world of Japanese characters!
