JLPT N5 Kanji List - All 112 Characters You Need To Know

JLPT N5 Kanji List - All 112 Characters You Need To Know

If you've set your sights on acing the JLPT N5 exam, one thing's for sure - getting a firm grip on kanji is non-negotiable. Don't worry, though; we're here to make your journey smoother with our comprehensive guide to all kanji characters you need to conquer for the test.

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JLPT N5 - What's the Big Deal?

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the gold standard of Japanese language proficiency, recognized worldwide. As the first significant milestone in this journey, the JLPT N5 test is your ticket to showcasing your growing command of the language. By mastering the JLPT N5 kanji, you'll not only be prepared for the exam but also have a solid foundation to engage with basic Japanese texts and conversations.

In JLPT N5, kanji holds its own. The test assesses your ability to understand and use the kanji in various contexts. Moreover, understanding kanji opens up a world of vocabulary, boosting your reading comprehension and communication skills. So, mastering these characters is a giant leap toward a top-notch JLPT N5 score.

 

How Many Kanji For JLPT N5?

You'll be disappointed, but there's no official answer. The JLPT official organizers do not say how many kanji will be in the test, or which ones. But usually, it's around 80 to 100 kanji. 

In our JLPT N5 Kanji list below, we've included 112 kanji characters. Why 112 and not 80 or 100? Well, as we mentioned the JLPT doesn't mention which kanji will be included. Some kanji can be included in a year, not in the next one. And vice-versa.

With 112 kanji, you should be covered for all eventualities. 

All kanjis included in the list are beginner-level, and you will find them in a lot of very common vocabulary words. Actually after learning all these 112 kanji, you should be able to read around 30% of all Japanese texts!

 

The Twin Pillars of Kanji: Onyomi and Kunyomi readings

Each kanji character has two types of readings: Onyomi (Chinese-based) and Kunyomi (Japanese-based).

1. Onyomi reading

Onyomi refers to the Chinese-based readings of kanji characters. These readings were adopted from the original Chinese pronunciations when the characters were introduced to Japan. Onyomi readings are used when kanji characters appear together.

Example:

  • 休日 --> きゅうじつ = holiday
  • 電車 --> でんしゃ-->  = train

2. Kunyomi reading

Kunyomi refers to the native Japanese readings of kanji characters. These readings are used when kanji characters appear on their own (or with hiragana).

In the Kunyomi column in the table below, the hiragana characters in brackets stay as hiragana, whereas the rest of the word is usually written in kanji.

Example:

  • ひと(つ) --> 一つ = one thing
  • た(べる) --> 食べる = to eat

 

Hacks for Kanji Memorization

We're not going to lie... Learning kanji will take time. But it's doable. Repetition and consistency are key when learning kanji characters. Here are some helpful tips:

  1. Consistent Practice: Make kanji practice a daily habit. The more you see and use these characters, the more they will stick. Try to have them in front of your eyes as often as possible.
  2. Flashcards: Flashcards are great to test your memorization of kanji meanings and readings.
  3. Writing Practice: Nowadays with technology all around us, learning how to write kanji is not an obligation anymore. But writing kanji by hand can help solidify your memory.

 

The JLPT N5 Kanji Poster

Before we jump into the complete list below, I want to show you our N5 Kanji Poster.

On Hirakan (this website) we create products to help you learn and remember Japanese easily. This is a passion project run by myself (Yann) and Ryo, Japanese designer.

The JLPT N5 Kanji Poster is a product I really wish I had when I was started studying Japanese. It contains all the 112 kanji needed for JLPT N5. It would have saved me so much headaches, learning kanji only to forget them the day after. At least with this poster, you'll have them constantly in front of your eyes so that you can keep reviewing them and stop forgetting them.

The design looks great too (thanks to Ryo) so it will feel like a real piece of decoration rather than a classroom poster.

Click here to check the N5 Kanji Poster

kanji jlpt N5 poster with 112 kanji with English meaning, and onyomi and kunyomi readings

 

Your JLPT N5 Kanji Playbook

Finally, what you've been waiting for. Here are the 112 kanji you need to learn for the JLPT N5.

We've arranged the kanji list by category, making it easier to group and remember characters with related meanings.

Plus, we've included Onyomi and Kunyomi readings along with vocabulary for each character to give you a well-rounded understanding:

 

Kanji related to Numbers

Kanji Meaning Onyomi Kunyomi Vocabulary
一 One いち
ichi		 ひと(つ)
hito(tsu)		 一人
hitori
(one person, alone)
二 Two に
ni		 ふた(つ)
futa(tsu)		 二人
futari
(two people)
三 Three さん
san		 み(っつ)
mi(ttsu)		 三日
mikka
(3rd day of the month)
四 Four し
shi		 よ(っつ), よん
yo(ttsu), yon		 四日
yokka
(4th day of the month)
五 Five ご
go		 いつ(つ)
itsu(tsu)		 五日
itsuka
(5th day of the month)
六 Six ろく
roku		 む(っつ)、むい
mu(ttsu), mui		 六日
muika
(6th day of the month)
七 Seven しち
shichi		 なな(つ), なな
nana(tsu), nana		 七日
nanoka
(7th day of the month)
八 Eight はち
hachi		 や(っつ), よう
ya(ttsu), you		 八日
youka
(8th day of the month)
九 Nine きゅう, く
kyuu, ku		 ここの(つ)
kokono(tsu)		 九日
kokonoka
(9th day of the month)
十 Ten じゅう
juu		 とう, とお
tou, too		 十日
tooka
(10th day of the month)
百 Hundred ひゃく
hyaku		 — 百円
hyakuen
(100 yen)
五 Five ご
go		 いつ(つ)
itsu(tsu)		 五日
itsuka
(5th day of the month)
千 Thousand せん
sen		 ち
chi		 千円、千葉県
senen, chibaken
(1,000 yen), (Chiba prefecture)
万 Ten thousand まん
man		 — 一万円、万年筆
ichimanen, mannenpitsu
(10,000 yen), (fountain pen)
億 Hundred-million おく
oku		 ー 一億円
ichiokuen
(100,000,000 yen)

 

 

Kanji related to Time 

Kanji Meaning Onyomi Kunyomi Vocabulary
日 Day, sun にち, じつ
nichi, jitsu		 ひ, か
hi, ka		 日曜日、休日
nichiyoubi, kyuujitsu
(Sunday), (holiday)
週 Week しゅう
shuu		 — 来週、週末
raishuu, shuumatsu
(next week), (weekend)
月 Month, moon げつ, がつ
getsu, gatsu		 つき
tsuki		 月、月曜日
tsuki, getsuyoubi
(moon), (Monday)
年 Year ねん
nen		 とし
toshi		 今年、去年
kotoshi, kyonen
(this year), (last year)
時 Time, hour じ
ji		 とき
toki		 何時、時々
nanji, tokidoki
(what time), (sometimes)
間 Interval かん
kan		 あいだ, ま
aida, ma		 時間
jikan
(time)
分 Minute, part, understand ぶん, ふん, ぶ
bun, fun, bu		 わ(かる)
wa(karu)		 ２分、 自分、 分かる
nifun, jibun, wakaru
(two minutes), (oneself), (to understand)
午 Noon ご
go		 ご 午前
gozen
(morning, A.M.)
前 Before ぜん
zen		 まえ
mae		 前回、駅前
zenkai, ekimae
(last time), (front of the station)
後 After ご, こう
go, kou		 あと, うし
ato, ushi		 後で、後ろ
atode, ushiro
(after), (behind)
今 Now こん
kon		 いま
ima		 今回、今
konkai, ima
(this time), (now)
先 Previous せん
sen		 さき
saki		 先週、先生
senshuu, sensei
(last week), (teacher)
来 Next, come らい
rai		 く(る)
ku(ru)		 来月、来る
raigetsu, kuru
(next month), (to come)
毎 Every まい
mai		 ごと
goto		 毎日
mainichi
(every day)

 

 

Kanji related to People, Places, & Things

Kanji Meaning Onyomi Kunyomi Vocabulary
人 Person じん, にん
jin, nin		 ひと
hito		 アメリカ人、外人
amerikajin, gaijin
(American person), (foreigner)
男 Man だん, なん
dan, nan		 おとこ
otoko		 男の子、男性
otokonoko, dansei
(boy), (male)
女 Woman じょ
jo		 おんな
onna		 女の子、女性
onnanoko, josei
(girl), (female)
子 Child し
shi		 こ
ko		 子供、菓子屋
kodomo, kashiya
(child), (kashiya)
母 Mother ぼ
bo		 はは
haha		 母
haha
(mother)
父 Father ふ
fu		 ちち
chichi		 父
chichi
(father)
友 Friend ゆう
yuu		 とも
tomo		 友達
tomodachi
(friend)
本 Book, Origin ほん
hon		 もと
moto		 日本、本当
nihon, hontou
(Japan), (reality)
気 Spirit き
ki		 — 元気
genki
(lively, fine)
生 Life せい, しょう
sei, shou		 い(きる), う(まれる)
i(kiru), u(mareru)		 生徒、生きる
seito, ikiru
(pupil), (to live)
車 Car しゃ
sha		 くるま
kuruma		 車、電車
kuruma, densha
(car), (train)
語 Language ご
go		 かた(る)
kata(ru)		 英語、日本語
eigo, nihongo
(English), (Japanese)
耳 Ear じ
ji		 みみ
mimi		 耳
mimi
(ear)
手 Hand しゅ
shu		 て
te		 手紙、選手
tegami, senshu
(letter), (athlete)
足 Foot そく
soku		 あし、た(す)
ashi, ta(su)		 足
ashi
(foot)
目 Eye もく
moku		 め
me		 目
me
(eye)
口 Mouth こう
kou		 くち
kuchi		 入り口
iriguchi
(entrance)
店 Shop てん
ten		 みせ
mise		 喫茶店
kissaten
(coffee shop)
駅 Station えき
eki		 — 駅弁
ekiben
(station bento)
道 Street どう
dou		 みち
michi		 道、道具
michi, dougu
(road), (tool)
国 Country こく
koku		 くに
kuni		 国、外国
kuni, gaikoku
(country), (foreign)
学 Study がく
gaku		 まな(ぶ)
mana(bu)		 大学、学ぶ
daigaku, manabu
(university), (to learn)
校 School こう
kou		 — 学校
gakkou
(school)
名 Name めい, みょう
mei, myou		 な
na		 名前
namae
(name)
円 Yen, circle えん
en		 まる(い)
maru(i)		 円い
marui
(round)
半 Half はん
han		 なか(ば)
naka(ba)		 半分
hanbun
(half)
全 All ぜん
zen		 まった(く), すべて
matta(ku), sube(te)		 全然、全く
zenzen, mattaku
(completely, not at all), (really)
何 What か
ka		 なん, なに
nan, nani		 何、何日
nani, nannichi
(what), (what day)

 

 

Kanji related to Nature & Directions

Kanji Meaning Onyomi Kunyomi Vocabulary
火 Fire か
ka		 ひ
hi		 火、火曜日
hi, kayoubi
(fire), (Tuesday)
水 Water すい
sui		 みず
mizu		 水、水曜日
mizu, suiyoubi
(water), (Wednesday)
木 Tree もく
moku		 き
ki		 木、木曜日
ki, mokuyoubi
(tree), (Thursday)
金 Money, gold きん
kin		 かね
kane		 金、金曜日
kane, kinyoubi
(money), (Friday)
土 Earth ど, to つち
tsuchi		 土地、土曜日
tochi, doyoubi
(land), (Saturday)
海 Sea かい
kai		 うみ
umi		 海、海外
umi, kaigai
(sea), (overseas)
川 River せん
sen		 かわ
kawa		 川
kawa
(river)
山 Mountain さん
san		 やま
yama		 山、富士山
yama, fujisan
(mountain), (Mt Fuji)
花 Flower か
ka		 はな
hana		 花火、花粉症
hanabi, kafunshou
(fireworks), (hay fever)
天 Heaven てん
ten		 あめ, あま
ame, ama		 天気
tenki
(weather)
空 Sky, empty くう
kuu		 そら, あける
sora, a(keru)		 空、空港
sora, kuukou
(sky), (airport)
晴 Sunny せい
sei		 は(れ)
ha(re)		 晴れ
hare
(sunny)
雨 Rain う
u		 あめ
ame		 雨
ame
(rain)
雪 Snow せつ
setsu		 ゆき
yuki		 雪
yuki
(snow)
雲 Cloud うん
un		 くも
kumo		 曇り
kumori
(cloudy)
風 Wind ふう
fuu		 かぜ
kaze		 風、台風
kaze, taifuu
(wind), (taiphoon)
電 Electricity でん
den		 — 電気
denki
(electricity)
外 Outside がい
gai		 そと,はず(れる)
soto, hazu(reru)		 外、外国
soto, gaikoku
(outside), (foreign country)
内 Inside ない
nai		 うち
uchi		 内、車内
uchi, shanai
(inside), (inside the car/train)
上 Above じょう
jou		 うえ, あ(げる)
ue, a(geru)		 上、上手
ue, jouzu
(above), (good at)
下 Below か, げ
ka, ge		 した、く(だる)
shita, ku(daru)		 下、下さい
shita, kudasai
(below), (please)
右 Right ゆう
yuu		 みぎ
migi		 右
migi
(right)
左 Left さ
sa		 ひだり
hidari		 左
hidari
(left)
中 Middle ちゅう, じゅう
chuu, juu		 なか
naka		 中、中学校
naka, chuugakkou
(middle, in), (junior high school)
北 North ほく きた
kita		 北
kita
(north)
西 West せい, さい
sei, sai		 にし
nishi		 西
nishi
(west)
東 East とう
tou		 ひがし
higashi		 東、東京
higashi, toukyou
(East), (Tokyo)
南 South なん
nan		 みなみ
minami		 南
minami
(south)

 

 

Kanji related to Verbs

Kanji Meaning Onyomi Kunyomi Vocabulary
見 See けん
ken		 み(る)
mi(ru)		 見る、見せる
miru, miseru
(to see), (to show)
聞 Hear もん, ぶん
mon, bun		 き(く)
ki(ku)		 聞く
kiku
(to listen, to hear)
書 Write しょ
jo		 か(く)
ka(ku)		 書く、辞書
kaku, jisho
(to write), (dictionary)
言 Say げん
gen		 い(う)
i(u)		 言う
iu
(to say)
話 Talk わ
wa		 はなし, はな(す)
hanashi, hana(su)		 話す、電話
hanasu, denwa
(to talk), (telephone)
読 Read どく
doku		 よ(む)
yo(mu)		 読む
yomu
(to read)
行 Go こう
kou		 い(く), おこな(う)
i(ku), okona(u)		 行く、銀行
iku, ginkou
(to go), (bank)
買 Buy ばい
bai		 か(う)
ka(u)		 買う、買い物
kau, kaimono
(to buy), (shopping)
出 Exit しゅつ
shuu		 で(る), だ(す)
de(ru), da(su)		 出る、出口
deru, deguchi
(to exit), (exit)
入 Enter, put in にゅう
nyuu		 はい(る), い(れる)
hai(ru), i(reru)		 入る、立ち入り禁止
(to enter), (no entry)
食 Eat しょく
shoku		 た(べる)
ta(beru)		 食べる、食事
taberu, shokuji
(to eat), (meal)
飲 Drink いん
in		 の(む)
no(mu)		 飲む、飲み物
nomu, nomimono
(to drink), (beverage)
休 Rest きゅう
kyuu		 やす(む), やす(み)
yasu(mu), yasu(mi)		 休む、休日
yasumu, kyuujitsu
(to rest), (holiday)
会 Meet かい
kai		 あ(う)
a(u)		 会う、会社
au, kaisha
(to meet), (company)

 

 

Kanji related to Adjectives

Kanji Meaning Onyomi Kunyomi Vocabulary
多 A lot た
ta		 おお(い)
oo(i)		 多い、多分
ooi, tabun
(many), (probably)
少 A little しょう
shou		 すこ(し), すく(ない)
suko(shi), suku(nai)		 少し
sukoshi
(a little)
古 Old こ
ko		 ふる(い)
furu(i)		 古い
furui
(old)
新 New しん
shin		 あたら(しい)
atara(shii)		 新しい、新聞
atarashii, shinbun
(new), (newspaper)
大 Big だい, たい
dai, tai		 おお(きい)
oo(kii)		 大きい、大変
ookii, taihen
(big), (very, terribly)
小 Small しょう
shou		 ちい(さい)、こ
chii(sai), ko		 小さい
chiisai
(small)
長 Long, leader ちょう
chou		 なが(い)
naga(i)		 長い、部長
nagai, buchou
(long), (manager)
短 Short たん
tan		 みじか(い)
mijika(i)		 短い
mijikai
(short)
遠 Far えん
en		 とお(い)
too(i)		 遠い
tooi
(far)
近 Near きん, こん
kin, kon		 ちか(い)
chika(i)		 近い、近く
chikai, chikaku
(close), (near)
白 White はく
haku		 しろ, しろ(い)
shiro, shiro(i)		 白い、面白い
shiroi, omoshiroi
(white), (interesting)
黒 Black こく
koku		 くろ、くろ(い)
kuro, kuro(i)		 黒、真っ黒
kuro, makkuro
(black), (pitch black)
高 Expensive, high こう
kou		 たか(い)
taka(i)		 高い
takai
(expensive, tall)
安 Cheap, safety あん
an		 やす(い)
yasu(i)		 安い、安心
yasui, anshin
(cheap), (relief)

 

So there you have it, the complete list of JLPT N5 kanji. Remember, learning kanji is difficult, for sure. But it's also very rewarding. You'll see yourself being to read more and more materials, like manga in Japanese. What was gibberish before will slowly start to make sense and become natural. So don't give up, be consistent, use the resources at hand like our N5 Kanji Poster, and happy studying!

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