JLPT N5 vocabulary: 50 essential words
Fifty core JLPT N5 words (everyday verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs) with readings, meanings and a natural example sentence for each.
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たべる
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- 1食べるたべるto eatVerb (ichidan) · 朝ごはんを食べましたか。 — Did you eat breakfast?
- 2飲むのむto drinkVerb (godan) · 毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。 — I drink coffee every morning.
- 3行くいくto goVerb (godan) · 明日、学校に行きます。 — I’ll go to school tomorrow.
- 4来るくるto comeVerb (irregular) · 友達が家に来ました。 — A friend came to my house.
- 5見るみるto see; to watchVerb (ichidan) · 夜はテレビを見ます。 — I watch TV in the evening.
- 6聞くきくto listen; to askVerb (godan) · 音楽を聞くのが好きです。 — I like listening to music.
- 7読むよむto readVerb (godan) · 電車で本を読みます。 — I read books on the train.
- 8書くかくto writeVerb (godan) · 名前をここに書いてください。 — Please write your name here.
- 9話すはなすto speak; to talkVerb (godan) · 先生と話しました。 — I talked with the teacher.
- 10買うかうto buyVerb (godan) · スーパーで野菜を買いました。 — I bought vegetables at the supermarket.
- 11会うあうto meetVerb (godan) · 駅で友達に会います。 — I’m meeting a friend at the station.
- 12起きるおきるto get up; to wake upVerb (ichidan) · 毎朝六時に起きます。 — I get up at six every morning.
- 13寝るねるto sleep; to go to bedVerb (ichidan) · 昨日は早く寝ました。 — I went to bed early yesterday.
- 14待つまつto waitVerb (godan) · ちょっと待ってください。 — Please wait a moment.
- 15分かるわかるto understandVerb (godan) · この漢字が分かりますか。 — Do you understand this kanji?
- 16学校がっこうschoolNoun · 学校は八時に始まります。 — School starts at eight.
- 17先生せんせいteacherNoun · 山田先生はやさしいです。 — Ms. Yamada, our teacher, is kind.
- 18学生がくせいstudentNoun · 私は大学の学生です。 — I’m a university student.
- 19友達ともだちfriendNoun · 友達と映画を見ました。 — I watched a movie with a friend.
- 20家族かぞくfamilyNoun · 家族は四人です。 — There are four people in my family.
- 21駅えきstationNoun · 駅はどこですか。 — Where is the station?
- 22電車でんしゃtrainNoun · 電車で会社に行きます。 — I go to work by train.
- 23時間じかんtime; hour(s)Noun · 今日は時間がありません。 — I don’t have time today.
- 24今日きょうtodayNoun · 今日はいい天気ですね。 — Nice weather today, isn’t it?
- 25明日あしたtomorrowNoun · 明日は休みです。 — Tomorrow is a day off.
- 26昨日きのうyesterdayNoun · 昨日、デパートに行きました。 — I went to a department store yesterday.
- 27毎日まいにちevery dayNoun; adverb · 毎日日本語を勉強します。 — I study Japanese every day.
- 28天気てんきweatherNoun · 明日の天気はどうですか。 — How will the weather be tomorrow?
- 29部屋へやroomNoun · 私の部屋は狭いです。 — My room is small.
- 30料理りょうりcooking; dish (food)Noun (する verb) · 母の料理はおいしいです。 — My mother’s cooking is delicious.
- 31写真しゃしんphotographNoun · ここで写真を撮ってもいいですか。 — May I take a photo here?
- 32仕事しごとwork; jobNoun · 仕事は何時に終わりますか。 — What time does work finish?
- 33大きいおおきいbigい-adjective · 大きいかばんを買いました。 — I bought a big bag.
- 34小さいちいさいsmallい-adjective · この靴は少し小さいです。 — These shoes are a little small.
- 35新しいあたらしいnewい-adjective · 新しい車がほしいです。 — I want a new car.
- 36古いふるいold (of things)い-adjective · この町には古いお寺があります。 — There’s an old temple in this town.
- 37高いたかいexpensive; high; tallい-adjective · このレストランは高いです。 — This restaurant is expensive.
- 38安いやすいcheapい-adjective · あの店は野菜が安いです。 — Vegetables are cheap at that store.
- 39暑いあついhot (weather)い-adjective · 今日はとても暑いです。 — It’s very hot today.
- 40寒いさむいcold (weather)い-adjective · 冬は寒いです。 — Winter is cold.
- 41おいしいおいしいdeliciousい-adjective · このケーキはおいしいですね。 — This cake is delicious, isn’t it?
- 42好きすきliked; to likeな-adjective · 私は犬が好きです。 — I like dogs.
- 43静かしずかquietな-adjective · 図書館は静かです。 — The library is quiet.
- 44元気げんきhealthy; energeticな-adjective · お元気ですか。 — How are you? (Are you well?)
- 45有名ゆうめいfamousな-adjective · ここは有名な店です。 — This is a famous shop.
- 46上手じょうずskillful; good atな-adjective · 田中さんは歌が上手です。 — Tanaka is good at singing.
- 47よくよくoften; wellAdverb · 週末はよく公園に行きます。 — I often go to the park on weekends.
- 48とてもとてもveryAdverb · この本はとてもおもしろいです。 — This book is very interesting.
- 49いつもいつもalwaysAdverb · 兄はいつも忙しいです。 — My older brother is always busy.
- 50ゆっくりゆっくりslowly; leisurelyAdverb · もう少しゆっくり話してください。 — Please speak a little more slowly.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official JLPT N5 vocabulary list?
No. Since the 2010 revision the JLPT has not published official vocabulary or kanji lists. Level lists like this one follow the older official specifications and widely used study materials.
How many words do I need for N5?
Study guides commonly cite around 800 words for N5. These fifty high-frequency words are a solid first slice.
Why is the reading shown as a hint?
At N5 the goal is linking words to meanings. The hint lets you sound the word out while kanji are still new.
Do I need to know kana first?
Yes. Readings and example sentences use hiragana and katakana, so learn both kana first.
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