JLPT N5 is the entry level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test — the first milestone for many beginners. The JLPT does not publish an official kanji list for each level, so this page organizes 80 commonly studied beginner kanji that are often used for N5 preparation. These kanji give you a foundation for reading simple sentences, everyday signs, and basic menus in Japanese.
The kanji are grouped by topic so you can study them in a logical order. Each entry shows the meaning, common readings, and an example word to help you remember the kanji in context.
New to kanji? Start with our Beginner Guide, or learn how on’yomi and kun’yomi readings work before using the list.
How to Use This N5 Kanji Guide
- Browse by category — pick a topic that interests you. Numbers and Time are good first choices.
- Check the readings — each kanji has two types:
On’yomi (音読み) is the Chinese-derived pronunciation, shown in KATAKANA.
Kun’yomi (訓読み) is the native Japanese reading, shown in hiragana. - Study the example word — seeing a kanji inside a real word is more memorable than drilling it alone.
- Open each lesson page — tap a large kanji character to see its individual meaning, readings, and usage page.
Note on readings: Many kanji have more than one reading. This list shows the most common ones. Full details are on each kanji’s lesson page.
Recommended Study Order for N5 Kanji
You do not need to memorize all 80 kanji at once. These categories are arranged so that earlier groups give you the most immediate payoff — numbers show up everywhere, and time words unlock calendars and schedules.
- Numbers and money — 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, 十, 百, 千, 円. These appear on price tags, receipts, and menus from day one.
- Time and calendar — 日, 月, 年, 夕, 早. Days of the week use kanji for the sun, moon, fire, water, wood, gold, and earth.
- People and body — 人, 女, 男, 子, 口, 手, 足, 目, 耳. These underpin many compound words you will encounter early.
- Nature and places — 雨, 火, 花, 山, 水, 木, 川, 田, 村, 町. Many are picture-like in origin, which makes them easier to remember visually.
- Directions and signs — 上, 下, 左, 右, 中. These appear on signs, maps, and instructions constantly.
- School and study — 学, 校, 生, 先, 字, 文, 本. Useful immediately if you are studying in a classroom setting.
- Everyday words — 気, 休, 大, 小, 入, 出, 力, 名, 車. These fill in the gaps and help you start reading real sentences.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Trying to memorize all readings before learning words. Each kanji can have multiple on’yomi and kun’yomi readings. Focus on one or two readings attached to a real word — the rest will come naturally through vocabulary.
- Confusing similar-looking kanji: 日 and 目. 日 (sun / day) has four strokes and two horizontal lines inside. 目 (eye) has five strokes and three — it looks like an eye with eyelashes.
- Confusing 木, 本, and 休. 木 is a tree. 本 adds a stroke at the base — the root, meaning “origin” or “book.” 休 pairs the person radical 人 with a tree 木 — a person resting under a tree — meaning “rest.”
- Learning 月 only as “moon” and missing “month.” In everyday use 月 almost always means month or appears in days of the week (月曜日, Monday). Practice both meanings from the start.
- Memorizing kanji without example words. Pair each character with at least one real word: learn 水 as 水曜日 (Wednesday) or 水道 (running water), not just as “water.”
JLPT N5 Kanji by Category
Numbers (数)
Time (時間)
People and Body (人・体)
Nature (自然)
Directions and Position (方向・位置)
School and Study (学校・勉強)
Everyday Words and Concepts (日常)
Study Tips for Beginners
- Start with Numbers and Time. These appear on signs, menus, and timetables immediately.
- Prioritize kun’yomi for standalone words. Words like 山 (やま) and 川 (かわ) use the native Japanese reading. Learn on’yomi when you see the kanji paired with another in a compound word.
- Anchor each kanji to one example word. Rather than memorizing 火 alone, remember 花火 (はなび, fireworks). Context is a better hook than raw repetition.
- Write by hand, even a few times. Copying a kanji out by hand helps its shape stick, and each lesson page lists the stroke count so you can check that nothing is missing.
- Review in small daily sets. Ten kanji per session, reviewed the next morning, builds retention faster than cramming all 80 at once.