JLPT N5 Kanji
About JLPT N5 Kanji
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5 is the beginner level of a globally recognized exam that tests your Japanese language skills. At the N5 level, you are expected to know approximately 100 kanji characters, which are essential for reading and writing basic Japanese.
Kanji are Chinese characters used in Japanese to represent words or ideas. The 103 kanji listed here cover numbers, directions, verbs, adjectives, and more, forming the foundation for everyday communication. Learning these kanji will help you read simple texts, such as signs, menus, and basic sentences.
Tips for Learning Kanji:
- Focus on stroke order: Writing kanji in the correct order helps with memorization and proper form. Check this resource for guidance.
- Learn the readings: Each kanji has On’yomi (Chinese reading) and Kun’yomi (Japanese reading). Some kanji may have multiple readings depending on the context.
- Use mnemonics: Create stories or associations to remember the meaning and readings of each kanji.
- Practice regularly with flashcards on our website.
一
On’yomi: ICHI, ITSU
Kun’yomi: hito(tsu), hito-
Meaning: one
ニ
On’yomi: NI
Kun’yomi: futa(tsu), futa-
Meaning: two
三
On’yomi: SAN
Kun’yomi: mit(tsu), mi-
Meaning: three
四
On’yomi: SHI
Kun’yomi: yo(ttsu), yu(tsu), yo-, yon-
Meaning: four
五
On’yomi: GO
Kun’yomi: itsu(tsu), itsu-
Meaning: five
六
On’yomi: ROKU
Kun’yomi: mutt(su), mu(tsu), mu, mui
Meaning: six
七
On’yomi: SHICHI
Kun’yomi: nana(tsu), nana-, nano-
Meaning: seven
八
On’yomi: HACHI
Kun’yomi: yat(tsu), ya(tsu), ya-, you-
Meaning: eight
九
On’yomi: KYUU, KU
Kun’yomi: kokono(tsu), kokono-
Meaning: nine
十
On’yomi: JUU, JI
Kun’yomi: too, to-
Meaning: ten, cross
百
On’yomi: HYAKU
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: hundred
千
On’yomi: SEN
Kun’yomi: chi
Meaning: thousand
万
On’yomi: MAN, BAN
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: ten thousand, all, many
雨
On’yomi: U
Kun’yomi: ame
Meaning: rain
火
On’yomi: KA
Kun’yomi: hi
Meaning: fire
花
On’yomi: KA
Kun’yomi: hana
Meaning: flower, blossom
気
On’yomi: KI, KE
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: soul, spirit
魚
On’yomi: GYO
Kun’yomi: sakana, uo
Meaning: fish
金
On’yomi: KIN, KON
Kun’yomi: kane
Meaning: gold, metal, money
空
On’yomi: KUU
Kun’yomi: sora, a(keru), kara
Meaning: sky, to become free, empty
月
On’yomi: GETSU, GATSU
Kun’yomi: tsuki
Meaning: month, moon
山
On’yomi: SAN
Kun’yomi: yama
Meaning: mountain
水
On’yomi: SUI
Kun’yomi: mizu
Meaning: water
川
On’yomi: SEN
Kun’yomi: kawa
Meaning: river
天
On’yomi: TEN
Kun’yomi: ame, ama
Meaning: sky
電
On’yomi: DEN
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: electricity
土
On’yomi: DO, TO
Kun’yomi: tsuchi
Meaning: earth, ground
日
On’yomi: NICHI, JITSU
Kun’yomi: hi, -ka
Meaning: day, sun
木
On’yomi: BOKU, MOKU
Kun’yomi: ki, ko
Meaning: tree, wood
口
On’yomi: KOU, KU
Kun’yomi: kuchi
Meaning: mouth
子
On’yomi: SHI, SU
Kun’yomi: ko
Meaning: child
耳
On’yomi: JI
Kun’yomi: mimi
Meaning: ear
手
On’yomi: SHU
Kun’yomi: te
Meaning: hand
女
On’yomi: JO, NYO
Kun’yomi: onna, me
Meaning: woman, female
人
On’yomi: JIN, NIN
Kun’yomi: hito
Meaning: person
生
On’yomi: SEI, SHOU
Kun’yomi: i(kiru), u(mu), ha(yasu), nama, ki
Meaning: to live, to grow, to be born, raw
足
On’yomi: SOKU
Kun’yomi: ashi, ta(riru), ta(su)
Meaning: foot, to be sufficient, to add
男
On’yomi: DAN, NAN
Kun’yomi: otoko
Meaning: man, male
父
On’yomi: FU
Kun’yomi: chichi
Meaning: father
母
On’yomi: BO
Kun’yomi: haha
Meaning: mother
名
On’yomi: MEI, MYOU
Kun’yomi: na
Meaning: name, reputation
目
On’yomi: MOKU
Kun’yomi: me
Meaning: eye
友
On’yomi: YUU
Kun’yomi: tomo
Meaning: friend
右
On’yomi: U, YUU
Kun’yomi: migi
Meaning: right
下
On’yomi: KA, GE
Kun’yomi: shimo, sa(geru), o(rosu), ku(daru)
Meaning: below, down
外
On’yomi: GAI, GE
Kun’yomi: soto, hoka, hazu(reru), hazu(su)
Meaning: outside, other, disconnect
後
On’yomi: GO, KOU
Kun’yomi: ato, oku(reru), nochi
Meaning: after, later, back, to stay behind
左
On’yomi: SA
Kun’yomi: hidari
Meaning: left
上
On’yomi: SHOU, JOU
Kun’yomi: ue, kami, a(geru), a(garu)
Meaning: above, upper
西
On’yomi: SEI, SAI
Kun’yomi: nishi
Meaning: west
前
On’yomi: ZEN
Kun’yomi: mae
Meaning: before
中
On’yomi: CHUU
Kun’yomi: naka
Meaning: inner, center, between
東
On’yomi: TOU
Kun’yomi: higashi
Meaning: east
南
On’yomi: NAN
Kun’yomi: minami
Meaning: south
北
On’yomi: HOKU
Kun’yomi: kita
Meaning: north
飲
On’yomi: IN
Kun’yomi: no(mu)
Meaning: to drink
会
On’yomi: KAI, E
Kun’yomi: a(u)
Meaning: to meet, to come together, society
学
On’yomi: GAKU
Kun’yomi: mana(bu)
Meaning: school, science, learning
休
On’yomi: KYUU
Kun’yomi: yasu(mu)
Meaning: to rest
見
On’yomi: KEN
Kun’yomi: mi(ru), mi(eru), mi(seru)
Meaning: to see, to be visible, to show
言
On’yomi: GEN, GON
Kun’yomi: i(u)
Meaning: word, to talk
行
On’yomi: KOU
Kun’yomi: i(ku), yu(ku), okona(u)
Meaning: to walk, to go, to do, to carry out
出
On’yomi: SHUTSU
Kun’yomi: da(su), de(ru)
Meaning: to leave, to get out, to take out
書
On’yomi: SHO
Kun’yomi: ka(ku)
Meaning: to write
食
On’yomi: SHOKU
Kun’yomi: ta(beru), ku(ru), ku(rau)
Meaning: to eat
読
On’yomi: DOKU
Kun’yomi: yo(mu)
Meaning: to read
入
On’yomi: NYUU
Kun’yomi: hai(ru), i(ru), i(reru)
Meaning: to enter, to insert
買
On’yomi: BAI
Kun’yomi: ka(u)
Meaning: to buy
分
On’yomi: BUN, BU, FUN
Kun’yomi: wa(keru), wa(kareru), wa(karu)
Meaning: part, minute, to divide, to understand
聞
On’yomi: BUN, MON
Kun’yomi: ki(ku), ki(koeru)
Meaning: to hear, to listen, to ask
来
On’yomi: RAI
Kun’yomi: ku(ru), kita(ru), kita(su)
Meaning: to come
立
On’yomi: RITSU
Kun’yomi: ta(tsu), ta(teru)
Meaning: to stand, to establish
話
On’yomi: WA
Kun’yomi: hanashi, hana(su)
Meaning: speech, to talk, story, conversation
安
On’yomi: AN
Kun’yomi: yasu(i)
Meaning: peace, cheap, safety
古
On’yomi: KO
Kun’yomi: furu(i)
Meaning: old, used
高
On’yomi: KOU
Kun’yomi: taka(i), taka(maru), taka(meru)
Meaning: high, expensive, increase, quantity
小
On’yomi: SHOU
Kun’yomi: chii(sai), ko-, o-
Meaning: small
少
On’yomi: SHOU
Kun’yomi: suko(shi), suku(nai)
Meaning: a little
新
On’yomi: SHIN
Kun’yomi: atara(shii), ara(ta), nii-
Meaning: new
多
On’yomi: TA
Kun’yomi: oo(i)
Meaning: many
大
On’yomi: DAI, TAI
Kun’yomi: ou(kii), oo(i)
Meaning: big, a lot
長
On’yomi: CHOU
Kun’yomi: naga(i)
Meaning: long, leader
白
On’yomi: HAKU, BYAKU
Kun’yomi: shiro(i), shiro
Meaning: white
半
On’yomi: HAN
Kun’yomi: naka(ba)
Meaning: half, middle, semi-
駅
On’yomi: EKI
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: station
円
On’yomi: EN
Kun’yomi: maru(i)
Meaning: circle, Yen, round
何
On’yomi: KA
Kun’yomi: nani
Meaning: what, how many, which
間
On’yomi: KAN, KEN
Kun’yomi: aida
Meaning: time, time span
午
On’yomi: GO
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: noon
語
On’yomi: GO
Kun’yomi: kata(ru), kata(rau)
Meaning: word, to talk
校
On’yomi: KOU
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: school
国
On’yomi: KOKU
Kun’yomi: kuni
Meaning: country
今
On’yomi: KON, KIN
Kun’yomi: ima
Meaning: now
時
On’yomi: JI
Kun’yomi: toki
Meaning: time, hour
車
On’yomi: SHA
Kun’yomi: kuruma
Meaning: car, wheel
社
On’yomi: SHA
Kun’yomi: yashiro
Meaning: shinto shrine, society
週
On’yomi: SHUU
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: week
先
On’yomi: SEN
Kun’yomi: saki
Meaning: before, in future
店
On’yomi: TEN
Kun’yomi: mise
Meaning: shop
道
On’yomi: DOU
Kun’yomi: michi
Meaning: street, path
年
On’yomi: NEN
Kun’yomi: toshi
Meaning: year
本
On’yomi: HON
Kun’yomi: moto
Meaning: book, source, main-
毎
On’yomi: MAI
Kun’yomi: –
Meaning: each, every