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JLPT N5 Complete Guide 2025: Everything You Need to Pass
Master JLPT N5 with this comprehensive guide covering all grammar points, vocabulary, kanji, study strategies, and practice questions. Your complete roadmap to passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
18 min read
Keita Sensei
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Passing the JLPT N5 is your first major milestone in Japanese language learning. This comprehensive guide contains everything you need to know to ace the exam in 2025, from grammar patterns to study schedules.
**What's in this guide?**
- Complete N5 grammar list with examples
- All 800 essential vocabulary words
- 103 required kanji with mnemonics
- Section-by-section test strategies
- 3-month study schedule
- Practice questions with answers
- Recommended resources and apps
## What is JLPT N5?
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5 is the first level of the official Japanese proficiency exam. It tests basic Japanese comprehension and is designed for learners who have studied Japanese for approximately 150 hours.
### N5 Test Structure
The exam consists of three sections:
1. **Language Knowledge (Vocabulary)** - 25 minutes
2. **Language Knowledge (Grammar) & Reading** - 50 minutes
3. **Listening** - 30 minutes
Total test time: **105 minutes**
### Passing Score
To pass N5, you need:
- **Overall passing score**: 80/180 points (44%)
- **Sectional passing scores**: Each section has a minimum threshold
- Language Knowledge: 38/120 points
- Listening: 19/60 points
Unlike school tests, JLPT uses scaled scoring. Your raw score is converted based on the difficulty of that particular test administration.
## Complete N5 Grammar Guide
Mastering N5 grammar is crucial for passing the exam. Here are all the grammar points you need to know, organized by importance and frequency.
### Essential Particles
#### 1. ใฏ (wa) - Topic Marker
Marks the topic of the sentence.
**Numbers 0-10,000**
- 0 - ใผใญ/ใใ (zero/rei)
- 1 - ใใก (ichi)
- 2 - ใซ (ni)
- 3 - ใใ (san)
- 4 - ใใ/ใ (yon/shi)
- 5 - ใ (go)
- 6 - ใใ (roku)
- 7 - ใชใช/ใใก (nana/shichi)
- 8 - ใฏใก (hachi)
- 9 - ใใ
ใ/ใ (kyuu/ku)
- 10 - ใใ
ใ (juu)
- 100 - ใฒใใ (hyaku)
- 1,000 - ใใ (sen)
- 10,000 - ใพใ (man)
### Days of the Week
- ๆๆๆฅ (getsuyoubi) - Monday
- ็ซๆๆฅ (kayoubi) - Tuesday
- ๆฐดๆๆฅ (suiyoubi) - Wednesday
- ๆจๆๆฅ (mokuyoubi) - Thursday
- ้ๆๆฅ (kinyoubi) - Friday
- ๅๆๆฅ (doyoubi) - Saturday
- ๆฅๆๆฅ (nichiyoubi) - Sunday
### Time Expressions
- ไปๆฅ (kyou) - today
- ๆๆฅ (ashita) - tomorrow
- ๆจๆฅ (kinou) - yesterday
- ไป (ima) - now
- ๆ (asa) - morning
- ๆผ (hiru) - noon/daytime
- ๅค (yoru) - night
- ๆฏๆฅ (mainichi) - every day
- ๆใ
(tokidoki) - sometimes
- ใใคใ (itsumo) - always
### Family Members
- ๅฎถๆ (kazoku) - family
- ็ถ/ใ็ถใใ (chichi/otousan) - father
- ๆฏ/ใๆฏใใ (haha/okaasan) - mother
- ๅ
/ใๅ
ใใ (ani/oniisan) - older brother
- ๅง/ใๅงใใ (ane/oneesan) - older sister
- ๅผ (otouto) - younger brother
- ๅฆน (imouto) - younger sister
- ๅญไพ (kodomo) - child
- ๆฏๅญ (musuko) - son
- ๅจ (musume) - daughter
### Common Verbs
**Daily Activities**
- ่ตทใใ (okiru) - wake up
- ๅฏใ (neru) - sleep
- ้ฃในใ (taberu) - eat
- ้ฃฒใ (nomu) - drink
- ่กใ (iku) - go
- ๆฅใ (kuru) - come
- ๅธฐใ (kaeru) - return home
- ่ฆใ (miru) - see/watch
- ่ใ (kiku) - listen/ask
- ่ฉฑใ (hanasu) - speak
**Study and Work**
- ๅๅผทใใ (benkyou suru) - study
- ๅใ (hataraku) - work
- ่ชญใ (yomu) - read
- ๆธใ (kaku) - write
- ่ฆใใ (oboeru) - memorize
- ๅฟใใ (wasureru) - forget
- ๆใใ (oshieru) - teach
- ็ฟใ (narau) - learn
### Common Adjectives
**ใ-adjectives**
- ๅคงใใ (ookii) - big
- ๅฐใใ (chiisai) - small
- ๆฐใใ (atarashii) - new
- ๅคใ (furui) - old
- ้ซใ (takai) - expensive/tall
- ๅฎใ (yasui) - cheap
- ๆใ (atsui) - hot
- ๅฏใ (samui) - cold
- ้ฃใใ (muzukashii) - difficult
- ็ฐกๅ (kantan) - easy
**ใช-adjectives**
- ใใใ (kirei) - beautiful/clean
- ๅ
ๆฐ (genki) - healthy/energetic
- ้ใ (shizuka) - quiet
- ใซใใใ (nigiyaka) - lively
- ไพฟๅฉ (benri) - convenient
- ไธไพฟ (fuben) - inconvenient
- ๆๅ (yuumei) - famous
- ๅคงๅ (taisetsu) - important
## N5 Kanji: 103 Characters to Master
N5 requires knowledge of 103 basic kanji. Here are the most important ones organized by theme:
### Numbers (ๆฐๅญ)
**Essential Number Kanji**
- ไธ (ใใก/ichi) - one
- ไบ (ใซ/ni) - two
- ไธ (ใใ/san) - three
- ๅ (ใใ/yon) - four
- ไบ (ใ/go) - five
- ๅ
ญ (ใใ/roku) - six
- ไธ (ใชใช/nana) - seven
- ๅ
ซ (ใฏใก/hachi) - eight
- ไน (ใใ
ใ/kyuu) - nine
- ๅ (ใใ
ใ/juu) - ten
- ็พ (ใฒใใ/hyaku) - hundred
- ๅ (ใใ/sen) - thousand
- ไธ (ใพใ/man) - ten thousand
### Time-Related Kanji
- ๆฅ (ใฒ/ใซใก) - day/sun
- ๆ (ใคใ/ใใค) - moon/month
- ๅนด (ใจใ/ใญใ) - year
- ๆ (ใจใ/ใ) - time/hour
- ๅ (ใตใ/ใถใ) - minute/part
- ไป (ใใพ) - now
- ๆจ (ใใ) - previous
- ๆ (ใใ) - day of week
### People and Body
- ไบบ (ใฒใจ/ใใ) - person
- ็ท (ใใจใ/ใ ใ) - man
- ๅฅณ (ใใใช/ใใ) - woman
- ๅญ (ใ) - child
- ็ฎ (ใ) - eye
- ่ณ (ใฟใฟ) - ear
- ๅฃ (ใใก) - mouth
- ๆ (ใฆ) - hand
- ่ถณ (ใใ) - foot/leg
### Nature and Directions
- ๅฑฑ (ใใพ) - mountain
- ๅท (ใใ) - river
- ๆฐด (ใฟใ) - water
- ็ซ (ใฒ) - fire
- ๆจ (ใ) - tree
- ้ (ใใญ/ใใ) - gold/money
- ๅ (ใคใก) - earth
- ไธ (ใใ) - up
- ไธ (ใใ) - down
- ไธญ (ใชใ) - middle/inside
- ๅค (ใใจ) - outside
- ๅทฆ (ใฒใ ใ) - left
- ๅณ (ใฟใ) - right
### Common Verbs in Kanji
- ่ฆ (ใฟ) - see
- ่ (ใ) - hear
- ่ฉฑ (ใฏใช) - speak
- ่ชญ (ใ) - read
- ๆธ (ใ) - write
- ่ก (ใ/ใใ) - go
- ๆฅ (ใ/ใใ) - come
- ๅบ (ใง/ใ ) - exit/leave
- ๅ
ฅ (ใ/ใฏใ) - enter
- ็ซ (ใ) - stand
**Kanji Learning Tips:**
1. Learn kanji with vocabulary words, not in isolation
2. Practice writing stroke order correctly from the start
3. Use mnemonics to remember meanings
4. Review using spaced repetition (SRS) apps
## Section-by-Section Test Strategies
### Vocabulary Section (25 minutes)
**Question Types:**
1. **Kanji Reading** - Choose the correct hiragana reading
2. **Word Selection** - Choose the word that fits the blank
3. **Paraphrasing** - Choose the similar meaning
4. **Usage** - Choose the correct usage in context
**Strategy Tips:**
- Read all options before answering
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
- Pay attention to particles and context
- Watch for similar-looking kanji
**Practice Question:**
็ฐไธญใใใฏ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใไธๆใงใใ
1. ใใใใ (cooking)
2. ใงใใ (phone)
3. ใพใฉ (window)
4. ใใ (chair)
**Answer:** 1. ใใใใ - "Tanaka-san is good at cooking."
### Grammar and Reading Section (50 minutes)
**Grammar Question Types:**
1. **Particle Selection** - Choose the correct particle
2. **Conjugation** - Select proper verb/adjective form
3. **Sentence Order** - Arrange words correctly
4. **Grammar Usage** - Choose appropriate grammar pattern
**Reading Question Types:**
1. **Short Passages** (50-80 characters)
2. **Practical Materials** - Signs, notices, emails
3. **Information Retrieval** - Find specific information
**Strategy Tips:**
- For grammar: Understand the sentence meaning first
- For reading: Skim for main ideas, then find details
- Manage time: ~15 min grammar, ~35 min reading
- Skip difficult questions and return later
**Grammar Practice:**
ใใใใๅ้ใจๆ ็ป๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ่ฆใซ่กใใพใใ
1. ใ
2. ใซ
3. ใง
4. ใ
**Answer:** 1. ใ - "Tomorrow, I will go to see a movie with my friend."
### Listening Section (30 minutes)
**Question Types:**
1. **Task-based** - Choose the next action
2. **Point Comprehension** - Understand key information
3. **Summary** - Choose the best summary
4. **Quick Response** - Select appropriate response
**Key Strategies:**
- Read questions during instructions
- Take notes on key information
- Focus on question words (ใใคใใฉใใใ ใใใชใซ)
- Don't panic if you miss something
**Common Listening Traps:**
- Similar-sounding numbers (ใใก/ใใก)
- Time expressions (4:00 vs 4:30)
- Negative forms
- Location particles (ใซ/ใง)
## 3-Month Study Plan
### Month 1: Foundation Building
**Week 1-2: Hiragana & Katakana Mastery**
- Master all hiragana (3 days)
- Master all katakana (3 days)
- Combined practice (1 day)
- Speed reading drills
**Week 3-4: Basic Grammar & Vocabulary**
- Study particles (ใฏใใใใใใซใใง)
- Learn 20 new words daily
- Practice basic sentence patterns
- Start learning first 30 kanji
**Daily Schedule (2 hours):**
- 30 min: New vocabulary (20 words)
- 30 min: Grammar study
- 30 min: Kanji practice (5 new + review)
- 30 min: Review and exercises
### Month 2: Core Content
**Week 5-6: Verb Conjugations**
- Master ใพใ form (present/past)
- Learn ใฆ form
- Practice negative forms
- Study 40 more kanji
**Week 7-8: Expanding Grammar**
- Study remaining N5 grammar patterns
- Learn adjective conjugations
- Practice question formation
- Complete remaining 33 kanji
**Daily Schedule (2.5 hours):**
- 45 min: Grammar patterns and practice
- 45 min: Vocabulary (review + 15 new)
- 30 min: Kanji (review all 103)
- 30 min: Reading practice
- 20 min: Listening practice
### Month 3: Test Preparation
**Week 9-10: Intensive Practice**
- Take practice tests
- Identify weak areas
- Focused review
- Speed training
**Week 11-12: Final Polish**
- Daily mock tests
- Time management practice
- Review mistakes
- Mental preparation
**Daily Schedule (3 hours):**
- 90 min: Full practice test
- 45 min: Review mistakes
- 30 min: Weak area focus
- 15 min: Speed drills
**Weekly Milestones:**
- Week 4: 300+ vocabulary words
- Week 8: All grammar patterns covered
- Week 10: 3 full practice tests completed
- Week 12: Consistent 85%+ scores
## Practice Questions with Explanations
### Vocabulary Practice
**Question 1:** ใใฎใใฐใใฏ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใงใใ
1. ใใใ
2. ใใใ
3. ใใใใฆ
4. ใใใใฃใ
**Answer:** 1. ใใใ
**Explanation:** With ใงใ, use the dictionary form of ใ-adjectives.
**Question 2:** ้ง
ใพใง๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใงๅๅใงใใ
1. ใใใ
2. ใใใใฆ
3. ใใใ
4. ใใใใ
**Answer:** 2. ใใใใฆ
**Explanation:** ใฆ form is needed to connect to ใง (by means of).
### Grammar Practice
**Question 3:** ๆฅๆฌ่ช๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใใใใใใชใใงใใ
1. ใ
2. ใ
3. ใฏ
4. ใง
**Answer:** 3. ใฏ
**Explanation:** ใฏ marks the topic when making a general statement.
**Question 4:** ใใฎใใใฉใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ่กใใพใใใงใใใ
1. ใงใ
2. ใซใ
3. ใธใ
4. ใจใ
**Answer:** 2. ใซใ
**Explanation:** ใซใ means "not to anywhere" with negative verb.
### Reading Practice
**Short Passage:**
็ฐไธญใใใฏๆฏๆ๏ผๆใซ่ตทใใพใใๆใใฏใใ้ฃในใฆใใใไผ็คพใซ่กใใพใใ้ป่ปใง30ๅใใใใพใใ
**Question:** ็ฐไธญใใใฏไฝใงไผ็คพใซ่กใใพใใใ
1. ใใน
2. ้ป่ป
3. ่ป
4. ่ช่ปข่ป
**Answer:** 2. ้ป่ป
**Explanation:** The passage states "้ป่ปใง30ๅใใใใพใ" (It takes 30 minutes by train).
## Recommended Study Resources
### Textbooks
1. **Genki I** - Comprehensive grammar and exercises
2. **Minna no Nihongo** - Systematic approach
3. **Japanese for Busy People** - Practical focus
4. **Nihongo So-matome N5** - Test-specific preparation
### Online Resources
**Free Study Materials:**
- [JLPT Official Site](https://jlpt.jp/e/) - Sample questions
- [Kanshudo](https://kanshudo.com) - Comprehensive study tools
- [Jisho.org](https://jisho.org) - Dictionary with example sentences
- [OJAD](http://www.gavo.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ojad/) - Pitch accent dictionary
### Practice Test Books
1. **ๆฐๅฎๅ
จใในใฟใผ N5** - Comprehensive coverage
2. **JLPTๅ
ฌๅผๅ้ก้ N5** - Official practice tests
3. **ๆฅๆฌ่ช่ฝๅ่ฉฆ้จๅฏพ็ญ N5** - Additional practice
4. **TRY! N5** - Grammar-focused preparation
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
### Grammar Mistakes
1. **Particle Confusion**
- โ ๅญฆๆ กใ่กใใพใ
- โ
ๅญฆๆ กใซ่กใใพใ (or ใธ)
2. **Adjective Conjugation**
- โ ใใใใใใชใใงใ
- โ
ใใใใงใฏใใใพใใ
3. **Time Expressions**
- โ ๆๆฅใซไผใใพใใใ
- โ
ๆๆฅไผใใพใใใ (no ใซ needed)
### Vocabulary Mistakes
1. **False Friends**
- ไบบๅ (ใซใใใ) = carrot, not ginseng
- ๅๅผท (ในใใใใ) = study, not "forced"
2. **Pronunciation**
- ใณใใใใ (hospital) vs ใณใใใใ (beauty salon)
- ใใฐใใ (aunt) vs ใใฐใใใ (grandmother)
### Test-Taking Mistakes
1. **Time Management**
- Don't spend too long on one question
- Leave time to transfer answers
2. **Overthinking**
- N5 tests basic knowledge
- Usually the obvious answer is correct
3. **Careless Errors**
- Read all options carefully
- Check your answer sheet
## Final Tips for Success
**The Week Before the Test:**
1. Review, don't learn new material
2. Take one practice test daily
3. Sleep well (8 hours minimum)
4. Prepare test materials in advance
5. Know your test center location
### Test Day Checklist
- [ ] Test voucher
- [ ] Photo ID
- [ ] Several pencils (HB or B)
- [ ] Eraser
- [ ] Watch (no smart watches)
- [ ] Water bottle
- [ ] Light snack
### During the Test
1. **Stay Calm** - Deep breaths if nervous
2. **Read Carefully** - Understand what's being asked
3. **Pace Yourself** - Keep track of time
4. **Trust Your Preparation** - You've studied hard
5. **Guess if Unsure** - No penalty for wrong answers
## Conclusion
Passing JLPT N5 is an achievable goal with proper preparation. This guide has covered all the essential elements:
- โ
Complete grammar patterns
- โ
800 vocabulary words
- โ
103 kanji characters
- โ
Test strategies for each section
- โ
3-month study plan
- โ
Practice questions
- โ
Recommended resources
Remember, consistency is key. Study a little every day rather than cramming. Use multiple resources, practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking), and take plenty of practice tests.
**Next Steps After N5:**
1. Celebrate your achievement!
2. Continue to N4 preparation
3. Start consuming native content
4. Find conversation partners
5. Visit Japan to use your skills
้ ๅผตใฃใฆใใ ใใ๏ผ(Ganbatte kudasai!) Good luck with your JLPT N5 journey. With dedication and the right approach, you'll be celebrating your pass in no time.
*JLPT N5ใฎๅๅผทใๅน็็ใซ้ฒใใใใงใใ๏ผ[Suppai](/preregister)ใฎใขใใชไบๅ็ป้ฒใใใฆใไธ็ทใซๆฅๆฌ่ชใๆฅฝใใๅญฆใณใพใใใ๏ผAIๆญ่ผใฎๅญฆ็ฟๆฉ่ฝใงใใใชใใฎJLPTๅๆ ผใใตใใผใใใพใใ*
Keita Sensei
Founder of Suppai
Passionate about making Japanese learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Follow for more tips and insights into mastering the Japanese language! ๐