Kanji (漢字) are logographic characters adopted from Chinese writing, introduced to Japan in the 4th–5th century CE. Modern everyday Japanese uses around 2,000 Jōyō kanji, but JLPT N5 covers just 112 — enough to read basic signs, menus, and simple sentences. Each character carries meaning and has multiple readings: on'yomi (derived from Chinese pronunciation) and kun'yomi (native Japanese readings). Click any card to hear its primary reading.
N5 vocabulary across thematic categories — the complete N5 word list. Words are grouped by topic and include reading, meaning, and word type. Click any Japanese word to hear it, use the filters to narrow your study, and mark words as known with the ✓ button to track your progress.
Japanese grammar works very differently from European languages: verbs always come at the end of the sentence, particles (は, が, に, で, を…) mark the grammatical role of each word, and politeness level changes the verb form entirely. These N5 core patterns are the skeleton of the language. Master them and every new word you learn has a place to slot into. Click any example sentence to hear it pronounced.
All four express "if/when" but with different nuances. This cluster is the most common source of errors at N4. Click any Japanese to hear it.
| Conditional | Nuance | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| と | Natural / automatic consequence. "Whenever A, B always follows." | Plain form + と | 右に行くと、駅があります。 If you go right, there is a station. |
| 〜ば | Hypothetical / general condition. Focus on the condition being met. Often suggests something is not yet true. | Verb: え-stem + ば. い-adj: い→ければ. な-adj / noun: なら | 早く起きれば、間に合います。 If you wake up early, you'll make it. |
| 〜たら | Sequential / completed condition. "After A happens, then B." Most versatile — works for past events, one-time conditions, and suggestions. | た-form + ら | 家に帰ったら、手紙がありました。 When I got home, there was a letter. |
| なら | Topic-based. "If it is the case that A (as you say / as I assume)…" Responds to new information. | Noun / plain form + なら | 日本に行くなら、京都にも行ってください。 If you're going to Japan, please also visit Kyoto. |
Use と for physics/geography (turn right → there is a station).
Use たら when the first action must complete before the second happens.
Use なら when reacting to something just said or assumed.
Use ば for abstract/hypothetical conditions, especially with advice.
Keigo (敬語) is the system of speech levels. At N5/N4 you need the contrast between plain (dictionary) form and ます/です polite form, plus a handful of fixed respectful phrases. Click any Japanese to hear it.
| Plain form | Polite (ます) form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| たべる | たべます | eat |
| のむ | のみます | drink |
| いく | いきます | go |
| する | します | do |
| くる | きます | come |
| いる | います | exist (animate) |
| ある | あります | exist (inanimate) |
| わかる | わかります | understand |
| Expression | Reading | Use |
|---|---|---|
| いただきます | itadakimasu | Said before eating (lit. "I humbly receive") |
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisousama deshita | Said after eating (lit. "It was a feast") |
| おねがいします | onegai shimasu | Please (requesting a favour) |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / I'm sorry |
| よろしくおねがいします | yoroshiku onegai shimasu | Nice to meet you / Best regards |
| おじゃまします | ojama shimasu | Said when entering someone's home |
These expressions all interact with numbers and counters. Click any example to hear it.
| Expression | Meaning | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜後 〜ご / あと | after ~ / in ~ (from now) | time counter + 後 | 三時間後に会いましょう。 Let's meet in three hours. |
| 〜前 〜まえ | before ~ / ~ ago | time counter + 前 | 日本に行く前に勉強しました。 I studied before going to Japan. |
| 〜間 〜あいだ / かん | for (a duration) / while ~ | time counter + 間 (かん) or verb-て form + いる間に | 三年間日本に住んでいました。 I lived in Japan for three years. |
| 〜ごろ | around ~ (approximate time) | time + ごろ | 五時ごろに帰ります。 I'll go home around five o'clock. |
| 〜から | from ~ (start point) | time / place + から | 九時から始まります。 It starts from nine o'clock. |
| 〜まで | until ~ / up to ~ | time / place + まで | 十時まで勉強します。 I'll study until ten o'clock. |
JLPT N5 is the entry-level Japanese Language Proficiency Test, recognised by universities and employers worldwide. The exam covers four sections: Vocabulary (もじ・ごい), Grammar (ぶんぽう), Reading (どっかい), and Listening (ちょうかい). These mock questions are structured to match the real exam format — work through each section, then review the full explanations.
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