Hiragana (平仮名) is the foundational syllabary of Japanese, developed in the 9th century from simplified Chinese characters. Originally used for informal writing and poetry at the Heian court, hiragana today is the backbone of everyday Japanese — every native word, grammatical particle, and verb ending is written in it. All 46 characters map to a fixed sound, making it a purely phonetic script with no exceptions. Master these before anything else.
Katakana (片仮名) was developed alongside hiragana by Buddhist monks who abbreviated kanji strokes for use as reading annotations. It shares the same 46 sounds as hiragana but uses sharper, more angular forms. Today it is used for foreign loanwords (コーヒー — coffee, テレビ — television, アメリカ — America), scientific and technical terms, onomatopoeia, and for emphasis — much like italics in English. The sounds are identical to hiragana, so once you know one script the other comes quickly.
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 100 — 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.
884 N5 vocabulary words across 23 thematic categories — the complete N5 word list. Words are grouped by topic (greetings, family, food, transport, and more) 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 23 core N5 patterns — particles, basic tenses, adjective types, て-form uses, and sentence-final structures — 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.
Japanese numbers use two overlapping systems: Sino-Japanese numerals borrowed from Chinese (いち, に, さん...) and native Japanese counting words used for everyday objects (ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ...). Beyond the base numbers, Japanese requires counters — small words attached to numbers that change depending on what is being counted: 一本 for long thin objects, 一枚 for flat things, 一匹 for small animals, 一人・二人 for people. Counters are heavily tested at N5 and come up constantly in everyday conversation.
Reading (どっかい) is one of the four JLPT N5 exam sections and the skill that pays dividends at every level. At N5, passages are short — notices, postcards, simple descriptions — written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. Use the furigana toggle to challenge yourself without reading aids, then answer the comprehension questions. Building a reading habit now, even with simple texts, is the single most effective thing you can do for long-term Japanese progress.
はじめまして。わたしの なまえは 田中 けんじです。
わたしは がくせいです。まいにち がっこうに いきます。
がっこうは 九じに はじまります。
わたしは にほんごと えいごを べんきょうします。
すきな たべものは すしです。まいしゅう 火曜日に すしを たべます。
Nice to meet you. My name is Kenji Tanaka.
I am a student. I go to school every day.
School starts at 9 o'clock.
I study Japanese and English.
My favourite food is sushi. I eat sushi every Tuesday.
Comprehension questions
きのう、わたしは ともだちと まちへ いきました。
でんしゃで いきました。えきから あるいて 五ふんです。
まず、おおきい みせで ふくを かいました。
それから、カフェで コーヒーを 三ばい のみました。
よるは レストランで ばんごはんを たべました。とても おいしかったです。
Yesterday, I went to town with a friend.
We went by train. It is a 5-minute walk from the station.
First, I bought some clothes at a large shop.
After that, I drank three cups of coffee at a café.
In the evening, I ate dinner at a restaurant. It was very delicious.
Comprehension questions
としょかん の おしらせ
・まいにち 九じから 六じまで あいています。
・どようびと にちようびは 五じに しまります。
・ほんは 三さつ まで かりられます。
・かりた ほんは 二しゅうかんで かえしてください。
Comprehension questions
こんしゅうの どようびに わたしは かぞくと こうえんへ いきます。
こうえんは いえから でんしゃで 十ぷんです。
こうえんで おべんとうを たべます。おかあさんが つくります。
ごごは こうえんの ちかくの みせで アイスクリームを かいます。
にちようびは うちで テレビを みます。はやく ねます。
Library Notice
The library is open every day from 9:00 to 6:00.
On Saturdays and Sundays, it closes at 5:00.
You can borrow up to 3 books.
Please return borrowed books within 2 weeks.
Comprehension questions
From: やまだ さくら
さとうさん、こんにちは。
らいしゅうの 金曜日に いっしょに えいがを みませんか。
えいがかんは えきの まえに あります。
えいがは 六じに はじまります。
えいがの まえに、カフェで コーヒーを のみましょう。
どうぞ よろしく おねがいします。
This Saturday I will go to the park with my family.
The park is a 10-minute train journey from home.
We will eat a packed lunch in the park. My mother will make it.
In the afternoon, we will buy ice cream at a shop near the park.
On Sunday I will watch TV at home. I will go to bed early.
Comprehension questions
たなかさんへ
おげんきですか。わたしは いま オーストラリアに すんでいます。
まいにち うみで およいでいます。てんきは とても あつくて、まいにち 三十どいじょう あります。
しごとは むずかしいですが、どうりょうは しんせつです。
らいねんの はるに にほんに かえります。そのとき ぜひ あいましょう。
では、おからだに きをつけて。 やまもと けんた より
To Mr/Ms Sato, hello.
Would you like to go and see a film together next Friday?
The cinema is in front of the station.
The film starts at 6 o'clock.
Before the film, let's have coffee at a café.
Thank you very much.
Comprehension questions
さくらレストラン — ランチメニュー
| りょうり | ねだん |
|---|---|
| ラーメン | ８００えん |
| カレーライス | ７５０えん |
| さけのていしょく | １，２００えん |
| やさいいため | ６５０えん |
・ランチタイムは 十一じから 二じまでです。
・ドリンクは プラス 百五十えんです。
・もちかえりは できません。
Dear Tanaka,
How are you? I am living in Australia now.
I swim in the sea every day. The weather is very hot — over 30 degrees every day.
Work is difficult, but my colleagues are kind.
I will return to Japan next spring. Let's meet then.
Take care of yourself. From Kenta Yamamoto.
Comprehension questions
わたしの いちにちを しょうかいします。
まいあさ 六じはんに おきます。シャワーを あびて、あさごはんを たべます。
七じ 四十五ふんに うちを でます。でんしゃで かいしゃに いきます。
しごとは 九じから 六じまでです。ひるやすみに ともだちと ひるごはんを たべます。
よるは うちで テレビを みたり、ほんを よんだり します。十一じごろ ねます。
Sakura Restaurant — Lunch Menu
Ramen: ¥800
Curry and rice: ¥750
Grilled salmon set meal: ¥1,200
Stir-fried vegetables: ¥650
Lunch time is from 11:00 to 14:00.
Drinks are an additional ¥150.
Takeaway is not available.
Comprehension questions
アパートの おしらせ
・ゴミは かようびと きんようびの あさ 八じまでに だしてください。
・じてんしゃは していの ばしょに とめてください。
・よる 十じ いこうは おおきい こえで はなさないでください。
・もんだいが あるときは かんりにんに れんらくしてください。
でんわ：０３－１２３４－５６７８（ごぜん 九じ〜ごご 六じ）
Let me introduce my day.
I wake up at 6:30 every morning. I shower and have breakfast.
I leave the house at 7:45. I go to the office by train.
Work is from 9:00 to 18:00. I eat lunch with a friend during the lunch break.
In the evenings, I watch TV and read books at home. I go to sleep at around 11:00.
Comprehension questions
にほんには 四つの きせつが あります。はる、なつ、あき、そして ふゆです。
はるは 三月から 五月ごろです。さくらが さいて、とても きれいです。
なつは あつくて むしあつい です。かいしゃいんは 八月に なつやすみが あります。
あきは すずしくて、こうようが きれいです。たべものも おいしい きせつです。
ふゆは さむくて、ほっかいどうでは たくさん ゆきが ふります。
Apartment Notice
Please put out your rubbish by 8:00 on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Please park bicycles in the designated area.
Please do not talk loudly after 10:00 at night.
If there is a problem, please contact the building manager.
Phone: 03-1234-5678 (9am–6pm)
Comprehension questions
わたしの しゅみは りょうりです。まいしゅう 土曜日に あたらしい りょうりを つくります。
せんしゅうは にほんりょうりを つくりました。すしと みそしるを つくりましたが、むずかしかったです。
りょうりの ほんを 三さつ もっています。インターネットでも レシピを しらべます。
いつか にほんに いって、りょうりきょうしつに かよいたいです。
Japan has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Spring is from around March to May. Cherry blossoms bloom and it is very beautiful.
Summer is hot and humid. Office workers have a summer holiday in August.
Autumn is cool and the autumn leaves are beautiful. It is also a season with delicious food.
Winter is cold, and in Hokkaido it snows a lot.
Comprehension questions
スポーツセンター りようあんない
・りようじかん：ごぜん 九じ〜よる 九じ
・ていきゅうび：月曜日
・りようりょう：おとな 五百えん、こども 二百えん
・プールは べつりょうきん：プラス 三百えん
・はじめての かたは かいいんとうろくが ひつようです。
Sports Centre — Visitor Information
Opening hours: 9am – 9pm
Closed on: Mondays
Entry fee: Adults ¥500, Children ¥200
Pool is an additional charge: +¥300
First-time visitors must register for membership.
My hobby is cooking. I make a new dish every Saturday.
Last week I made Japanese food. I made sushi and miso soup, but it was difficult.
I have three recipe books. I also look up recipes on the internet.
One day I would like to go to Japan and attend a cooking class.
Comprehension questions
Real-world Japanese scenarios — navigating a train station, ordering at a restaurant, visiting a clinic, making introductions. Each scripted dialogue shows vocabulary, grammar patterns, and politeness levels working together in everyday context. At N5, focus on the core phrases you would use as a visitor to Japan: buying things, asking for directions, telling the time, and handling simple social exchanges. Click any speech bubble to hear it pronounced.
Japanese verbs are conjugated based on the verb group — not the subject — so once you know a verb's group you can form any tense mechanically. Group 1 (う-verbs / godan) end in various う-column sounds; Group 2 (る-verbs / ichidan) end in る; and there are two irregulars: する (to do) and くる (to come). The て-form is especially important: it forms requests (〜てください), connects sequential actions, expresses ongoing states (〜ている), and much more. Click any Japanese form to hear it pronounced.
e.g.
か·き·く·け·こ — dictionary form ends in く, negative stem uses か, polite stem uses き, te-form uses い+てExample verbs (click to hear)
Full conjugation — のむ (to drink)
| Form | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | のむ | nomu | drink (plain) |
| Polite present | のみます | nomimasu | drink (polite) |
| Polite negative | のみません | nomimasen | don't drink |
| Polite past | のみました | nomimashita | drank |
| Past negative | のみませんでした | nomimasen deshita | didn't drink |
| Te-form | のんで | nonde | drinking / please drink |
| Negative plain | のまない | nomanai | don't drink (casual) |
| Volitional | のもう | nomou | let's drink |
| Want to | のみたいです | nomitai desu | want to drink |
| Ongoing | のんでいます | nonde imasu | am drinking |
Conjugation — いく (to go) · note irregular te-form
| Form | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | いく | iku | go (plain) |
| Polite present | いきます | ikimasu | go (polite) |
| Polite negative | いきません | ikimasen | don't go |
| Polite past | いきました | ikimashita | went |
| Te-form | いって ⚠ | itte | irregular! (not いいて) |
| Want to | いきたいです | ikitai desu | want to go |
| Volitional | いこう | ikou | let's go |
る and add the ending directly.たべる → stem
たべ → たべます · たべません · たべて · たべない⚠ Tricky: Some verbs ending in る are actually Group 1 (e.g. かえる·はいる·はしる). Check the dictionary!
Example verbs
Full conjugation — たべる (to eat)
| Form | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | たべる | taberu | eat (plain) |
| Polite present | たべます | tabemasu | eat (polite) |
| Polite negative | たべません | tabemasen | don't eat |
| Polite past | たべました | tabemashita | ate |
| Past negative | たべませんでした | tabemasen deshita | didn't eat |
| Te-form | たべて | tabete | eating / please eat |
| Negative plain | たべない | tabenai | don't eat (casual) |
| Volitional | たべよう | tabeyou | let's eat |
| Want to | たべたいです | tabetai desu | want to eat |
| Ongoing | たべています | tabete imasu | am eating |
| Please do | たべてください | tabete kudasai | please eat |
| Please don't | たべないでください | tabenaide kudasai | please don't eat |
Conjugation — する (to do)
| Form | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | する | suru | do (plain) |
| Polite present | します | shimasu | do (polite) |
| Polite negative | しません | shimasen | don't do |
| Polite past | しました | shimashita | did |
| Past negative | しませんでした | shimasen deshita | didn't do |
| Te-form | して | shite | doing / please do |
| Negative plain | しない | shinai | don't do (casual) |
| Volitional | しよう | shiyou | let's do |
| Want to | したいです | shitai desu | want to do |
| Ongoing | しています | shite imasu | am doing |
Conjugation — くる (to come)
| Form | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | くる | kuru | come (plain) |
| Polite present | きます | kimasu | come (polite) |
| Polite negative | きません | kimasen | don't come |
| Polite past | きました | kimashita | came |
| Past negative | きませんでした | kimasen deshita | didn't come |
| Te-form | きて | kite | coming / please come |
| Negative plain | こない | konai | don't come (casual) |
| Volitional | こよう | koyou | let's come |
| Want to | きたいです | kitai desu | want to come |
Common する compounds
たべ
Group 3 (irregular): memorise these two
する → して | くる → きて
Group 1 (godan) — 5 rules based on the final syllable:
| Ends in | Te-form change | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| く | く → いて | かく (write) | かいて |
| ぐ | ぐ → いで | およぐ (swim) | およいで |
| す | す → して | はなす (speak) | はなして |
| つ · る · う | → って | まつ (wait) | まって |
| ぬ · ぶ · む | → んで | のむ (drink) | のんで |
| いく (exception) | → いって ⚠ | いく (go) | いって |
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). Passing N5 demonstrates you can read hiragana and katakana, understand basic kanji, and handle everyday phrases and simple sentences. These mock questions are structured to match the real exam format — work through each section, then review the full explanations.
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