JLPT N5 Kanji List – All 120 Kanji You Need To Know

みなさんこんにちは！

So, Want to master the JLPT N5 Kanji? 

Well, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll dive into the JLPT N5 kanji list and share everything you need to know to pass the JLPT N5 exam. 

Ready? 

Let’s get started!

But wait,

Before I give you the JLPT N5 kanji list, let me answer a common question: 

How many Kanji do you ACTUALLY need to learn to pass the N5 exam?

Well, for the JLPT N5, you only need to know around 120 basic kanji. This includes very common kanji like numbers, simple verbs, adjectives, and frequently used nouns. 

NOTE: The JLPT does not officially provide a comprehensive list of kanji that will appear on the test. Therefore, it is impossible to guarantee which kanji will or will not be included. Our kanji study lists are compiled from past exam data and cross-referenced with various available kanji lists related to the JLPT.

Understanding Some Key Kanji Concepts

Before learning kanji, there are a few key things you should know to make your study much smoother. 

• Stroke order: This is just the order in which you write the strokes of a kanji. For example, the kanji 本 (book) has five strokes, and writing them in the right order helps you write neatly and remember the character better. In the list below, I have linked each kanji to its kanji stroke diagram page. So, if you tap or click on the Kanji you want to see Stroke diagram, you will reach to the page like this:

• Radicals: Think of these as the root of kanji. For example, the kanji 木 (tree) is a radical that shows up in other kanji like 森 (forest) and 林 (woods). Once you know this radical, you’ll start to notice it in other characters, which makes them easier to recognize.

• Onyomi: This is the reading based on the original Chinese pronunciation. So, for 学 (study), the onyomi reading is “gaku,” like in 学校 (gakkou), which means “school.”

• Kunyomi: This is the native Japanese reading. For the kanji 学, the kunyomi reading is “manabu,” which means “to study” or “to learn.”

Kanji in the JLPT Exam

Kanji-related questions in the JLPT exam are designed to test your ability to recognize, read, and sometimes infer meanings in context. Here’s a breakdown of how kanji questions typically appear:

1. Kanji Recognition

You’ll see a word written in kanji, and the question will ask you to choose the correct reading (in hiragana) from multiple choices.

Example:

大きい ビル ですね。

1. おきい
2. おおきい
3. だいきい
4. あたらしい

(Answer: 2, おおきい)

2. Kanji Replacement

You may encounter a question where a word written in hiragana needs to be replaced with the correct kanji.

Example:

ほんは　テーブルの　うえ　に　あります。

1. 土
2. 下
3. 上
4. 外

(Answer: 3, 上)

JLPT N5 Kanji Complete List

Now the wait is over.

Here is the complete list of JLPT N5 Kanji you will need to learn. 

To make your learning journey more manageable, fun and easy, I have divided the Kanjis into eight different categories. 

Think of it as breaking down a big task into bite-sized pieces—it’s so much better this way, right?

You can practice one category per day, per week, or whatever schedule works best for you. 

JLPT N5 Kanji For Number

Kanji for numbers are the easiest and basic Kanji characters to learn. This list below has covered all the number related Kanji you need to remember. 

JLPT N5 Kanji For Days Of The Week

The list below has covered kanji for Monday – Sunday. These ones are actually pretty easy to remember! If you use Japanese watches that show Days or if you have a Japanese calendar, you’re probably already familiar with these kanji since they’re used every day.   

JLPT N5 Kanji For People

If you have already remembered the above kanji, it’s time to level up your learning! Let’s dive into some kanji related to people. This list includes characters for common words you use every day, like “I,” “Boy,” “Girl,” “Mother,” “Father,” and more. 

Congratulations! You have already learned about 40 Kanji characters. Now let’s dive into more complex words. がんばりましょう。。。。

JLPT N5 Kanji For Things

Ready to describe the world around you? These kanji are for things you encounter in daily life, like “book,” “car,” “river,” and more. 

Hope you’re enjoying your kanji journey so far! Always keep in mind that these are the easiest kanji to learn, but there’s still so much more ahead. So, let’s not get tired and keep moving forward! 

JLPT N5 Kanji For Place & Direction

Now, let’s dive into kanji for places and directions. This list includes characters for everyday locations like “station,” “shop,” “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,” etc.

JLPT N5 Kanji For Time

Now, let’s take on kanji for time. This set includes characters for days, hours, and minutes—perfect for talking about when things happen in Japanese, whether it’s morning, night, or a specific time of day.

JLPT N5 Kanji For Verb

Let’s add some action to your vocabulary! This list includes some of the most common action words in Japanese, like “eat,” “go,” “come,” and “see,” etc.

JLPT N5 Kanji For Adjective

And finally, we are at about the end of the list. These kanji are also basic words for describing things in Japanese. This list includes words like “big,” “small,” “high,” “low,” etc.

So, we’ve now gone through all the kanji characters that might appear in the JLPT N5 exam. It’s been a great journey, and I hope you enjoyed learning them as much as I enjoyed guiding you through it.

Similar-Looking Characters

There are many kanji characters that look very similar, and this can sometimes be confusing for beginners. But take this as an advantage since many N5 kanji share common radicals, making it easier to remember their meanings and shapes.

Below are some similar looking kanji characters that shares same radicals you will find in JLPT kanji list: 

Tips For Remember Kanji With Ease

The good news is that learning kanji doesn’t have to be difficult. So here are tips that you can do in order to make it easier and also enjoyable for you too.

Create Visual Associations

Imagine the kanji as a picture or story. For instance, the kanji 木 (ki) for tree appears to be two forked branches representing a tree, The kanji 山 (mountain) looks like three peaks of a mountain.

Break Down Complex Characters

The majority of kanji are composed of smaller parts called radicals. Seeing the meaning behind these radicals will even help you break down more complex characters. For example, the character 時 (toki) for time combines 日 (sun) and 寺 (temple).

Use Repetition and Spaced Practice

Use flashcards to regularly review your kanji or with an app that you can set up like Anki. Reviewing kanji at spaced intervals helps to cement them in your long-term memory.

Group Kanji by Theme

Organize kanji into categories such as numbers, time, or nature. Learning related kanji together makes it easier to remember their meanings and usage.

Engage with Real-Life Material

Expose yourself to kanji in context by reading children’s books, signs, or beginner-friendly Japanese material. Recognizing kanji in real-life scenarios solidifies your knowledge.

Set Small, Achievable Goals

Instead of tackling the entire N5 kanji list at once, focus on learning 5-10 kanji per week. Celebrate your progress to stay motivated.

Bonus: 1-Month Study Plan to Master N5 Kanji

Mastering N5 Kanji can feel overwhelming, but with a well-structured plan, it becomes an achievable and enjoyable goal. Here’s an engaging 1-month guide to help you stay organized and confident as you tackle the N5 kanji list:

Week 1: Basics

• Start with the foundations: learn numbers like 一 (one), 二 (two), 三 (three), and time-related kanji like 日 (sun, day) and 月 (moon, month).
• Focus on writing and recognizing 5 kanji daily to build muscle memory and familiarity.

Week 2: Verbs and Adjectives

• Dive into essential verbs such as 見 (see) and 行 (go) that frequently appear in daily Japanese.
• Add common adjectives like 大 (big) and 小 (small) to your list.
• Practice connecting these kanji to simple words or phrases to reinforce their meaning and usage.

Week 3: Daily Review

• Revisit all the kanji you’ve learned so far to reinforce your memory.
• Practice reading short sentences or paragraphs containing these kanji to enhance your comprehension skills.
• Focus on recognizing kanji in different contexts to solidify their meanings and readings.

Week 4: Testing Yourself

• Challenge yourself with online quizzes or by creating flashcards and custom tests.
• Identify and focus on weak areas to ensure you’re ready for any kanji challenges ahead.
• Celebrate your progress by reflecting on how much you’ve learned in just a month!

Common Questions About N5 Kanji

Good luck on your Japanese learning journey! がんばりましょう.