JLPT N5 Kanji Study Guide

Complete kanji study list for JLPT N5. Master all kanji patterns required for the N5 exam.

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103 kanji
一
one; one radical (no.1)
ON イチKUN ひと～、ひと・ つ
1 strokes
七
seven
ON シチKUN なな、なな・つ 、なの
2 strokes
万
10,000; ten thousand
ON マン
3 strokes
三
three
ON サンKUN みっ・つ、み・ つ
3 strokes
上
above; up
ON ショウ、ジョ ウKUN あ・がる、あ・ げる、うえ、う わ～
3 strokes
下
below; descend;; inferior; low
ON カ、ゲKUN さ・がる、さ・ げる、した、く だ・さる
3 strokes
中
center; in; inside; middle
ON チュウKUN うち、なか
4 strokes
九
nine
ON キュウ、クKUN ここの、ここの ・つ
2 strokes
二
two; two radical (no. 7)
ON ニKUN ふた・つ
2 strokes
五
five
ON ゴKUN いつ、いつ・つ
4 strokes
人
person
ON ジン、ニンKUN ～と、～り、ひ と
2 strokes
今
now
ON コンKUN いま
4 strokes
休
day off; rest; retire
ON キュウKUN やす・む
6 strokes
会
association; join; meet; meeting
ON カイKUN あ・う
6 strokes
何
what
ON カKUN なに、なん
7 strokes
先
ahead; before; future; previous
ON センKUN さき
6 strokes
入
enter; insert
ON ニュウKUN い・る、い・れ る、はい・る
2 strokes
八
eight; eight radical (no. 12)
ON ハチKUN や、やっ・つ、 や・つ、よう
2 strokes
六
six
ON ロクKUN む、むい、むっ ・つ、む・つ
4 strokes
円
circle; round; yen
ON エンKUN まる・い
4 strokes
出
come out; exit; go out; leave; protrude; put out
ON シュツKUN だ・す、で・る
5 strokes
分
degree; know; understand; minute of time; part
ON フン、ブンKUN わ・かる、わ・ かれる、わ・け る
4 strokes
前
before; in front
ON ゼンKUN まえ
9 strokes
北
north
ON ホクKUN きた
5 strokes
十
ten
ON ジュウ、ジュ ッKUN とお
2 strokes
千
thousand
ON セン
3 strokes
午
11AM-1PM; noon; seventh sign of Chinese zodiac; sign of the horse
ON ゴ
4 strokes
半
half; middle; odd number; part-; semi-
ON ハンKUN なか・ば
5 strokes
南
south
ON ナンKUN みなみ
9 strokes
友
friend
ON ユウKUN とも
4 strokes
口
mouth
ON ク、コウKUN くち
3 strokes
古
old
ON コKUN ふる・い
5 strokes
右
right
ON ウ、ユウKUN みぎ
5 strokes
名
distinguished; name
ON ミョウ、メイKUN な
6 strokes
四
four
ON シKUN よん、よっ・つ 、よ・つ
5 strokes
国
country
ON コクKUN くに
8 strokes
土
earth; ground; soil
ON ト、ドKUN つち
3 strokes
外
outside
ON ガイKUN そと、はず・す 、はず・れる、 ほか
5 strokes
多
frequent; many; much
ON タKUN おお・い
6 strokes
大
big; large
ON タイ、ダイKUN おお・きい
3 strokes
天
heavens; imperial; sky
ON テンKUN あめ
4 strokes
女
female; woman
ON ジョKUN おんな
3 strokes
子
child
ON シ、スKUN こ
3 strokes
学
learning; science; study
ON ガクKUN まな・ぶ
8 strokes
安
cheap; contented; low; peaceful; quiet; relax; rested
ON アンKUN やす・い
6 strokes
小
little; small
ON ショウKUN ちい・さい
3 strokes
少
few; little
ON ショウKUN すく・ない、す こ・し
4 strokes
山
mountain
ON サンKUN やま
3 strokes
川
river
ON センKUN かわ
3 strokes
左
left
ON サ、シャKUN ひだり
5 strokes
年
year
ON ネンKUN とし
6 strokes
店
shop; store
ON テンKUN みせ
8 strokes
後
back; behind; later
ON コウ、ゴKUN あと、うし・ろ
9 strokes
手
hand
ON シュ、ズKUN て、た
4 strokes
新
new
ON シンKUN あたら・しい、 あら・た
13 strokes
日
counter for days; day; Japan; sun
ON ジツ、ニチKUN か、び、ひ
4 strokes
時
hour; time
ON ジKUN どき、とき
10 strokes
書
write
ON ショKUN か・く
10 strokes
月
month; moon
ON ガツ、ゲツKUN つき
4 strokes
木
tree; wood
ON ボク、モクKUN き
4 strokes
本
book; counter for long cylindrical things; origin; real; true
ON ホンKUN もと
5 strokes
来
become; cause; come; due; next
ON ライKUN く・る
7 strokes
東
east
ON トウKUN ひがし
8 strokes
校
correction; exam; printing; proof; school
ON コウ
10 strokes
母
mother
ON ボKUN はは
5 strokes
毎
every
ON マイ
6 strokes
気
air; atmosphere; mind; mood; spirit
ON キ、ケ
6 strokes
水
water
ON スイKUN みず
4 strokes
火
fire
ON カKUN ひ、び
4 strokes
父
father
ON フKUN ちち
4 strokes
生
birth; genuine; life
ON ショウ、セイKUN うま・れる、う ・む、い・かす 、い・きる、い ・ける、なま
5 strokes
男
male
ON ダンKUN おとこ
7 strokes
白
white
ON ハクKUN しろ・い
5 strokes
百
hundred
ON ヒャク、ビャ ク
6 strokes
目
eye; favor; insight; look
ON モクKUN め
5 strokes
社
association; company; firm
ON シャKUN やしろ
7 strokes
空
empty; sky; vacant; vacuum; void
ON クウKUN そら、あ・く、 あ・ける
8 strokes
立
stand up; erect; rise; set up
ON リツKUN た・つ、た・て る
5 strokes
耳
ear
ON ジKUN みみ
6 strokes
聞
ask; hear; listen
ON ブンKUN き・く
14 strokes
花
flower
ON カKUN はな
7 strokes
行
go; act; carry out; line; row
ON ギョウ、コウKUN い・く、おこな ・う、ゆ・く
6 strokes
西
west
ON サイ、セイKUN にし
6 strokes
見
look at; opinion; see; visible
ON ケンKUN み・る、み・せ る
7 strokes
言
say; word
ON ゲン、ゴンKUN い・う、こと
7 strokes
話
tale; talk
ON ワKUN はなし、はな・ す
13 strokes
語
language; speech; word
ON ゴKUN かた・る
14 strokes
読
read
ON ドクKUN よ・む
14 strokes
買
buy
ON バイKUN か・う
12 strokes
足
be sufficient; counter for pairs of footwear; foot; leg
ON ソクKUN あし、た・す、 た・りる
7 strokes
車
car
ON シャKUN くるま
7 strokes
週
week
ON シュウ
11 strokes
道
course; district; journey; moral; road-way; street; teachings
ON トウ、ドウKUN みち
12 strokes
金
gold
ON キンKUN かね
8 strokes
長
leader; long; senior; superior
ON チョウKUN なが・い
8 strokes
間
interval; space
ON カン、ケンKUN あいだ、ま
12 strokes
雨
rain
ON ウKUN あめ
8 strokes
電
electricity
ON デン
13 strokes
食
eat; food
ON ショクKUN た・べる、く・ う
9 strokes
飲
drink; smoke; take
ON インKUN の・む
12 strokes
駅
station
ON エキ
14 strokes
高
expensive; high; tall
ON コウKUN たか・い、たか ・まる、たか・ める
10 strokes
魚
fish
ON ギョKUN さかな
11 strokes

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many kanji do I need to know for JLPT N5?

JLPT N5 requires knowledge of approximately 100 kanji characters. Our complete study list covers all kanji tested on the exam.

What is the best method to learn JLPT N5 kanji?

The most effective approach combines learning kanji by radicals, practicing stroke order, studying readings in context with vocabulary words, and using spaced repetition for long-term retention.

Should I learn kanji readings or meanings first?

Start with meanings to build recognition, then learn the most common readings (on-yomi and kun-yomi) through vocabulary words. Context-based learning is more effective than memorizing isolated readings.

How can I remember JLPT N5 kanji?

Use mnemonics, radical-based learning, and write each kanji multiple times. Study kanji in context through vocabulary and sentences. Regular review with flashcards or spaced repetition is key for retention.