N5 is the entry-level JLPT exam — roughly 800 words total. These 100 are the ones you’ll encounter constantly. Click any Japanese word to hear it.
→ Take the Vocab Quiz
People & Pronouns#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 私 | watashi | I, me |
| あなた | anata | you (use sparingly — see phrases) |
| 彼 | kare | he / boyfriend |
| 彼女 | kanojo | she / girlfriend |
| みんな | minna | everyone |
| 人 | hito | person |
| 友達 | tomodachi | friend |
| 先生 | sensei | teacher |
| 学生 | gakusei | student |
Time#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今日 | kyou | today |
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | kinou | yesterday |
| 朝 | asa | morning |
| 昼 | hiru | daytime / noon |
| 夜 | yoru | night |
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| 毎朝 | maiasa | every morning |
| 来週 | raishuu | next week |
| 先週 | senshuu | last week |
| 来年 | rainen | next year |
Places#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 家 | ie | house / home |
| 学校 | gakkou | school |
| 病院 | byouin | hospital |
| 駅 | eki | station |
| 店 | mise | shop / restaurant |
| 図書館 | toshokan | library |
| 郵便局 | yuubinkyoku | post office |
| 銀行 | ginkou | bank |
| 右 | migi | right |
| 左 | hidari | left |
| 前 | mae | in front / before |
| 後ろ | ushiro | behind |
Food & Drink#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| ご飯 | gohan | rice / meal |
| 水 | mizu | water |
| お茶 | ocha | tea |
| コーヒー | kōhī | coffee |
| 卵 | tamago | egg |
| 肉 | niku | meat |
| 魚 | sakana | fish |
| 野菜 | yasai | vegetables |
| 果物 | kudamono | fruit |
Common Adjectives#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 大きい | ookii | big |
| 小さい | chiisai | small |
| 新しい | atarashii | new |
| 古い | furui | old (things) |
| 高い | takai | expensive / tall |
| 安い | yasui | cheap |
| おいしい | oishii | delicious |
| まずい | mazui | bad-tasting |
| 暑い | atsui | hot (weather) |
| 寒い | samui | cold (weather) |
| 難しい | muzukashii | difficult |
| やさしい | yasashii | easy / kind |
| 楽しい | tanoshii | fun / enjoyable |
| 忙しい | isogashii | busy |
Essential Verbs#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| います | imasu | to exist (living things) |
| あります | arimasu | to exist (objects) |
| 行きます | ikimasu | to go |
| 来ます | kimasu | to come |
| 帰ります | kaerimasu | to return home |
| 食べます | tabemasu | to eat |
| 飲みます | nomimasu | to drink |
| 見ます | mimasu | to see / watch |
| 聞きます | kikimasu | to listen / ask |
| 読みます | yomimasu | to read |
| 書きます | kakimasu | to write |
| 話します | hanashimasu | to speak / talk |
| 買います | kaimasu | to buy |
| 使います | tsukaimasu | to use |
| 分かります | wakarimasu | to understand |
| 起きます | okimasu | to wake up |
| 寝ます | nemasu | to sleep |
| 勉強します | benkyou shimasu | to study |
Things & Objects#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 本 | hon | book |
| 新聞 | shinbun | newspaper |
| 電話 | denwa | telephone |
| 車 | kuruma | car |
| 電車 | densha | train |
| お金 | okane | money |
| かばん | kaban | bag |
| 眼鏡 | megane | glasses |
| 時計 | tokei | watch / clock |
Ready to test yourself? → Vocab Quiz
A Japanese word is shown — pick the correct English meaning.
Start Quiz ▶ Question 1 of 10 ? Click to hear it