Reading target
Build a beginner foundation
Recognize basic characters in short, predictable sentences and common signs without stopping at every word.
All levels
JLPT N54 lessons80 kanji
Beginner foundation
JLPT N5 kanji
Build recognition through numbers, time, people, places, and everyday expressions.
Your course
Choose your next lesson.
Start with one useful word for each character, then add readings as they appear in real vocabulary.
A transparent note: the JLPT does not publish an official kanji list. This is Kanji Academy's curated study sequence by estimated level. Read the official JLPT FAQ.
Complete Curated JLPT N5 Kanji List
Browse all 80 unique characters in this study collection, grouped by lesson with a primary reading and English meaning. Repeated characters appear once at their first lesson.
The JLPT does not publish an official kanji list. This is Kanji Academy's curated study sequence, not an official test specification. See the official JLPT FAQ.
JLPT N5 Lesson 120 unique characters
- 一いちone
- 二にtwo
- 三さんthree
- 四よんfour
- 五ごfive
- 六ろくsix
- 七ななseven
- 八はちeight
- 九きゅうnine
- 十じゅうten
- 百ひゃくhundred
- 千せんthousand
- 万まんten thousand
- 円えんyen; circle
- 日ひday; sun
- 月つきmonth; moon
- 年としyear
- 時ときtime; hour
- 分ふんminute; part
- 半はんhalf
JLPT N5 Lesson 220 unique characters
- 人ひとperson
- 子こchild
- 女おんなwoman; female
- 男おとこman; male
- 父ちちfather
- 母ははmother
- 友ともfriend
- 先さきahead; previous
- 生せいlife; birth
- 学がくstudy; learning
- 校こうschool
- 本ほんbook; origin; main
- 書かくwrite
- 読よむread
- 聞きくhear; listen; ask
- 話はなすtalk; speak
- 語ごlanguage; word
- 名なname
- 国くにcountry
- 毎まいevery
JLPT N5 Lesson 320 unique characters
- 上うえabove; up
- 下したbelow; down
- 中なかinside; middle
- 外そとoutside
- 前まえfront; before
- 後あとafter; behind
- 間あいだbetween; interval
- 右みぎright
- 左ひだりleft
- 入はいるenter; put in
- 出でるexit; go out; put out
- 行いくgo; carry out
- 来くるcome
- 見みるsee; look; show
- 休やすむrest; day off
- 大おおきいbig; large
- 小ちいさいsmall; little
- 長ながいlong; leader
- 高たかいhigh; tall; expensive
- 何なにwhat; which
JLPT N5 Lesson 420 unique characters
- 山やまmountain
- 川かわriver
- 水みずwater
- 火ひfire
- 木きtree; wood
- 土つちsoil; earth
- 天てんheaven; sky
- 気きspirit; mood; air
- 雨あめrain
- 東ひがしeast
- 西にしwest
- 南みなみsouth
- 北きたnorth
- 金かねgold; money
- 白しろwhite
- 車くるまcar; vehicle
- 電でんelectricity
- 今いまnow
- 午ごnoon
- 食たべるeat; food
JLPT N5 study guide
How to study this JLPT N5 kanji list
Build fast recognition of high-frequency characters used in numbers, dates, people, places, directions, and simple daily expressions. The goal is not isolated memorization: connect each character to words you can recognize in a short sentence.
Reading strategy
Learn readings through words
Start with one useful word for each kanji, then add another word when it introduces a different common reading.
Progress check
Know when to progress
Move toward N4 when you can recall the core meaning, recognize the reading inside familiar vocabulary, and understand the example without relying on romaji.
Common JLPT N5 kanji questions
How many kanji are in this JLPT N5 collection?
This curated collection contains 80 unique characters across 4 lessons, supported by 241 vocabulary entries. Counts refer to Kanji Academy's study collection, not an official JLPT requirement.
Is there an official JLPT N5 kanji list?
No. The JLPT does not publish a definitive vocabulary, kanji, or grammar list. This page is a transparent, curated study sequence aligned with the reading ability described for JLPT N5; it should be used alongside grammar, vocabulary, listening, and full reading practice.
Should I memorize every reading for each kanji?
Usually not at once. Learn the reading used in a common word, connect it to a meaning and example sentence, and add another reading when you meet it in useful vocabulary. This makes recall more practical and reduces confusion between isolated readings.