Hello, Japanese learners! Let’s talk about the JLPT! The JLPT, or the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, is a standardized test of Japanese proficiency overseen by the Japanese Foundation. The test is comprised of five levels, ranging from N5 to N1, with N1 being the most difficult.
But this test doesn’t have to be daunting. We want to help you learn all the necessary vocabulary you need to know in order to ace the test!
Let’s take a look at some great study strategies and then a list of some of the essential vocab for the N5.
How to Study Vocabulary
When preparing for the JLPT N5, mastering the required vocabulary is essential. Here are some effective strategies to enhance your vocabulary study.
- Flashcards and Repetition: Flashcards might seem old-fashioned, but they are a tried and true method of studying vocabulary. If you don’t want to make paper flashcards, there are plenty of apps that can help, some with premade lists for the JLPT levels!
- Vocabulary Lists: Organize vocabulary into thematic lists or by parts of speech to help with memorization. This approach helps you grasp related words and their usage patterns.
Learn the Kanji
Kanji, are an integral part of the Japanese writing system, and one that shouldn’t be skipped in your studies. For the JLPT N5, it is important to recognize and understand basic kanji. Here’s how to approach learning kanji effectively:
- Stroke Order: Pay attention to the correct stroke order when writing kanji. You may think writing isn’t necessary for a test that doesn’t have a writing portion, but writing the kanji not only helps you memorize them more effectively, it also can help you recognize them more easily on the test.
- Radical Analysis: Break down kanji into radicals, which are smaller components with their own meanings. Understanding radicals can really help you tell the difference between related kanji, and understanding how some kanji connect.
- Mnemonics: Create vivid mental images or stories that associate kanji characters with their meanings, find some online, or make up your own! Mnemonic devices really help make memorization more enjoyable and efficient.
Use Words in Context
Merely memorizing vocabulary lists can be insufficient for practical language use. To really think about the meaning and usage of words, you have to see them in context. So don’t forget to read native materials, or example sentences with these words so you know exactly how they are used.
List of JLPT N5 Words
Now onto the list of words for the N5! This list is not comprehensive, but it is a great start to learning all the vocabulary you will need to know to pass the JLPT.
Greetings and Polite Expressions:
- ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu): thank you
- お願いします (onegaishimasu): please, I request
- はい (hai): yes
- いいえ (iie): no
- どうも (doumo): thanks
- どうぞ (douzo): please, feel free
- すみません (sumimasen): excuse me, I’m sorry
- おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu): good morning
- こんにちは (konnichiwa): hello, good afternoon
- こんばんは (konbanwa): good evening
- さようなら (sayonara): goodbye
- おやすみなさい (oyasumi nasai): good night
- お疲れ様です (otsukaresama desu): thank you for your hard work
Numbers and Counting:
- 一 (ichi): one
- 二 (ni): two
- 三 (san): three
- 四 (shi, yon): four
- 五 (go): five
- 六 (roku): six
- 七 (shichi, nana): seven
- 八 (hachi): eight
- 九 (kyuu): nine
- 十 (juu): ten
Days, Months, and Time:
- 朝 (asa): morning
- 昼 (hiru): noon
- 夜 (yoru): evening, night
- 今日 (kyou): today
- 明日 (ashita): tomorrow
- 昨日 (kinou): yesterday
- 今週 (konshuu): this week
- 先週 (senshuu): last week
- 来週 (raishuu): next week
- 月曜日 (getsuyoubi): Monday
- 火曜日 (kayoubi): Tuesday
- 水曜日 (suiyoubi): Wednesday
- 木曜日 (mokuyoubi): Thursday
- 金曜日 (kin’youbi): Friday
- 土曜日 (doyoubi): Saturday
- 日曜日 (nichiyoubi): Sunday
- 一日 (tsuitachi): first day of the month
Family and Relationships:
- 兄 (ani): older brother
- 姉 (ane): older sister
- 妹 (imouto): younger sister
- 弟 (otouto): younger brother
- 父 (chichi): father
- 母 (haha): mother
- 家族 (kazoku): family
- 兄弟 (kyoudai): siblings, brothers and sisters
Colors and Descriptions:
- 赤/赤い (aka/akai): red
- 青い (aoi): blue
- 黒い (kuroi): black
- 白い (shiroi): white
- 緑 (midori): green
- 茶色 (chairo): light brown
- 明るい (akarui): bright, colorful
- 暗い (kurai): dark, gloomy
Food and Drinks:
- 朝ご飯 (asagohan): breakfast
- 昼ご飯 (hirugohan): lunch, midday meal
- 晩ご飯 (bangohan): dinner
- 飲物 (nomimono): drink, beverage
- 食べ物 (tabemono): food
- お茶 (ocha): tea
- 砂糖 (satou): sugar
- 果物 (kudamono): fruit
- 肉 (niku): flesh, meat
- 魚 (sakana): fish
Locations and Directions:
- あそこ (asoko): there, over there
- ここ (koko): here
- そこ (soko): there
- 来る (kuru): to come
- 行く (iku): to go
- 上 (ue): above, up, over
- 下 (shita): below, down, under
- 前 (mae): front, ahead, previous
- 後ろ (ushiro): back, behind, rear
- 右 (migi): right, right hand side
- 左 (hidari): left, left hand side
- 中 (naka): inside, in, among
Transportation:
- 自動車 (jidousha): automobile
- 電車 (densha): train, electric train
- 駅 (eki): station
- 車 (kuruma): car, automobile
- 乗る (noru): to get on (train, plane, bus, ship)
- 歩く (aruku): to walk
- 飛行機 (hikouki): aeroplane, airplane
- 自転車 (jitensha): bicycle
- バス (basu): bus
- タクシー (takushii): taxi
Weather:
- 晴れる (hareru): to clear up
- 雨 (ame): rain
- 雪 (yuki): snow
- 風 (kaze): wind, breeze
- 曇り (kumori): cloudiness, cloudy weather
- 夏 (natsu): summer
- 冬 (fuyu): winter
- 春 (haru): spring, springtime
- 秋 (aki): autumn
- 暑い (atsui): hot (weather)
- 寒い (samui): cold
Clothing:
- 帽子 (boushi): hat, cap
- 靴 (kutsu): shoes, boots
- 靴下 (kutsushita): socks
- 上着 (uwagi): coat, jacket
- セーター (seetaa): sweater, jumper
- スカート (sukaato): skirt
- ズボン (zubon): trousers, pants
- パンツ (pantsu): underwear
Actions and Verbs:
- 浴びる (abiru): to take a shower
- あげる (ageru): to give
- 開ける (akeru): to open
- 開く (aku): to open
- 洗う (arau): to wash
- 歩く (aruku): to walk
- 朝ご飯 (asagohan): breakfast
- 頭 (atama): head
- 聞く (kiku): to hear, to listen
- 話す (hanasu): to talk, to speak
- 休む (yasumu): to be absent, to take a day off
- 遊ぶ (asobu): to play
- 働く (hataraku): to work
- 出す (dasu): to take out
- 出る (deru): to leave, to exit
- 出口 (deguchi): exit, gateway
- 出かける (dekakeru): to go out
- 走る (hashiru): to run
- 巻く (maku): to roll, to wind up
- 泳ぐ (oyogu): to swim
- 読む (yomu): to read
- 書く (kaku): to write, to compose
- 寝る (neru): to go to bed
- 見る (miru): to see, to look, to watch
- 買う (kau): to buy, to purchase
- 使う (tsukau): to use, to make use of
- 着る (kiru): to wear, to put on
- 勉強 (benkyou): study, diligence
Objects:
- 本 (hon): book
- 鉛筆 (enpitsu): pencil
- ペン (pen): pen
- 机 (tsukue): desk
- 椅子 (isu): chair
- テーブル (teeburu): table
- ドア (doa): door
- 窓 (mado): window
- 鍵 (kagi): key
- 電話 (denwa): telephone
- 時計 (tokei): clock, watch
- メガネ (megane): glasses
- カメラ (kamera): camera
- 傘 (kasa): umbrella
- バッグ (baggu): bag
- 手紙 (tegami): letter
Adjectives:
- 大きい (ookii): big, large
- 小さい (chiisai): small, little
- 新しい (atarashii): new
- 古い (furui): old
- 綺麗な (kirei na): beautiful, clean
- 汚い (kitanai): dirty
- 高い (takai): high, tall, expensive
- 安い (yasui): cheap, inexpensive
- 難しい (muzukashii): difficult
- 易しい (yasashii): easy
- 暗い (kurai): dark
- 明るい (akarui): bright
- 忙しい (isogashii): busy
- 静かな (shizuka na): quiet
- 美味しい (oishii): delicious
- まずい (mazui): bad-tasting
- 面白い (omoshiroi): interesting, amusing
- 退屈な (taikutsu na): boring
- 元気な (genki na): lively, energetic
Adverbs:
- 早く (hayaku): quickly, early
- ゆっくり (yukkuri): slowly, leisurely
- もう (mou): already, anymore
- まだ (mada): still, yet
- いつも (itsumo): always
- とても (totemo): very, extremely
- ちょっと (chotto): a little, a bit
- よく (yoku): often, well
- 全然 (zenzen): not at all, completely
- どうして (doushite): why
- どこ (doko): where
- どれ (dore): which (one)
- なぜ (naze): why
- いつ (itsu): when
- だけ (dake): only
- だいぶ (daibu): considerably, fairly
- もっと (motto): more
Places:
- 家 (ie): house, residence
- 学校 (gakkou): school
- 病院 (byouin): hospital
- 銀行 (ginkou): bank
- 公園 (kouen): park
- 郵便局 (yuubinkyoku): post office
- 映画館 (eigakan): movie theater, cinema
- スーパーマーケット (suupaamaaketto): supermarket
- レストラン (resutoran): restaurant
- ホテル (hoteru): hotel
- 図書館 (toshokan): library
With this list of vocabulary words, and the tips to study and use them effectively, you will be well on your way to mastering the JLPT level N5!
