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JLPT N5 Kanji List: 80 Essential Japanese Characters for Beginners

Japanese-Language
by Morris Servaessen | 4 Mar 2023 JLPT N5 Kanji List: 80 Essential Japanese Characters for Beginners

Here are the kanji for each JLPT level:

  • N5 - 80 kanji
  • N4 - 160 kanji
  • N3 - 200 kanji
  • N2 - 1,000 kanji
  • N1 - 2,000 kanji

Here are the first 80 JLPT N5 level kanji including English meaning:

Kanji English Kunyomi Onyomi
human, personhitoJIN, NIN
onehito(tsu), hitoICHI, ITSU
twofuta(tsu), futaNI
threemi(tsu), miSAN
day, sun, japanhi, kaJITSU, NICHI
fouryot(tsu), yo(tsu), yo, yonSHI
fiveitsu(tsu)GO
sixmut(tsu), mu(tsu), mu, muiROKU
sevennan(tsu), nana, nanoSHICHI
eightyat(tsu), ya(tsu), ya, yōHACHI
ninekokono(tsu), kokonoKYŪ, KU
tentō, toJŪ, JI
yen, circlemaru(i)EN
hundredmomoHYAKU, BYAKU, PYAKU
thousandchiSEN
month, moontsukiGATSU, GETSU
fire, flamehi, hoKA
water, aquamizuSUI
tree, woodki, koMOKU, BOKU
money, metal, goldkane, kanaKIN, KON
ground, soiltsuchiDO, TO
main, bookmotoHON
large, bigō(kii), ōi(ni)DAI, TAI
small, littlechii(sai), ko, oSHŌ
middle, ChinanakaCHŪ
rain, rainfallame, amaU
lower, descendshita, moto, shimo, sa(geru), o(rosu), kuda(su), sa(garu), o(riru), kuda(ru), kuda(saru)KA, GE
upper, ascendue, kami, uwa, a(geru), a(garu), nobo(ru), nobo(seru), nobo(su)JŌ, SHŌ
riverkawaSEN
mountainyamaSAN
rice field, farm fieldtaDEN
life, law, studenti(kiru), i(kasu), u(mareru), ha(yasu), ha(eru), name, kiSEI, SHŌ
annual, yeartoshiNEN
ahead, beforesaki, saki(nzuru)SEN
enter, outsidehai(ru), i(ru), i(reru)NYŪ
depart, put outda(su), de(ru)SHUTSU, SUI
mouth, openingkuchiKŌ, KU
eye, pointme, maMOKU, BOKU
earsmimiJI
hand, manualte, saSHU
foot, sufficientashi, ta(ru), ta(riru), ta(su)SOKU
recess, vacationyasu(mu), yasu(meru), yasu(maseru)KYŪ
seeing, lookingmi(ru), mi(seru)KEN
left-sidehidariSA
right-sidemigiU, YŪ
stone, rockishiSEKI, SHAKU, KOKU
evening, night timeSEKI
surname, namenaMEI, MYŌ
strength forcechikaraRYOKU, RIKI
masculine, manhoodotokoDAN, NAN
woman, femaleonna, neJO, NYO, NYŪ
children, littlekoSHI
study, scholarmana(bu)GAKU
letter, districtazaJI
literacy, writingsfumi, ayaBUN, MON
school, proofreading-
stand-up, buildta(tsu), ta(teru)RITSU, RYŪ
woods, grovehayashiRIN
forest, thicketmoriSHIN
bambootakeCHIKU
vehicle, wheelkurumaSHA
feelings, spirit-KI, KE
sky, emptysora, a(keru), a(ku), kara
heavename, amaTEN
townmachiCHŌ
village, hamletmuraSON
whiteshiro(i), shiraHAKU, BYAKU
redaka(i), aka(rameru)SEKI, SHAKU
blue, unripeao(i), aoSEI, SHŌ
shellfishkai-
threaditoSHI
early, prematurehaya(i), haya(meru)SŌ, SA
grasskusa
flower, blossomhanaKA
correct, precisetada(shii), tada(su), masa(ni)SEI, SHŌ
doginuKEN
king, monarch-Ō
sphere, jeweltamaGYOKU
sound, noiseoto, neON, IN
insectmushiCHŪ