How many N5 kanji should I study each day?

Start with three to five new kanji a day and adjust to the number you can still recall during review. A slower pace with daily review is more useful than a large one-time list.

Where can I see readings and examples?

Use the linked N5 kanji chart for readings, meanings, stroke counts, and example vocabulary. This printable page intentionally keeps the study target compact.

Print-ready study tool

Printable JLPT N5 Kanji Checklist

Q: How many kanji should I use for JLPT N5?

This checklist uses a practical 103-kanji beginner study set. The post-2010 JLPT does not publish a fixed kanji list, so it is a useful preparation target rather than an official guarantee.

Q: Can I print this N5 kanji checklist?

Yes. Use Print / Save as PDF in the page header. The print layout removes navigation and places the checkboxes and kanji in a compact three-column grid.

Q: Should I tick a kanji when I can recognise it?

Use a stricter rule: tick it after you can recognise it in a word, know one useful reading, and can distinguish it from close-looking characters.

Q: Do I need to write every N5 kanji?

Handwriting is optional for the JLPT exam, but short writing practice can make character shapes and components easier to remember. Combine it with vocabulary and reading practice.

103 practical beginner kanji, with a clear checkbox for every study target.

This printable JLPT N5 kanji checklist gives you a compact way to track a practical 103-kanji beginner set. Mark a character only after you can recognise it in a word, explain its core meaning, and tell it apart from similar shapes. Use the page on screen or print it as an uncluttered worksheet for regular review.

Sort by stroke count

103practical beginner targets

3–5new kanji per day is a steady start

1 clickto print or save a clean PDF

The JLPT has not published a fixed official N5 kanji list since 2010. This is a practical study set, not a promise that each character will appear on one specific exam.

0 of 103 marked complete

Use the checklist in three short passes

1. RecogniseCan you identify 日, 月, 本, and 人 quickly in a word?

2. ContrastCompare close shapes such as 土 / 士 and 未 / 末 before ticking either one.

3. ApplyLearn one useful word—such as 日本語 or 学校—instead of isolated readings.

For readings, stroke counts, and example vocabulary, keep the complete N5 kanji chart open beside this checklist. Then test your recognition with the five-minute kanji quiz.

5 Common Mistakes with an N5 Kanji Checklist

Ticking a character after seeing it once. Recognition needs a few spaced reviews, not one successful glance.
Studying English meanings alone. Attach each kanji to at least one real Japanese word.
Counting only new items. A review list is more valuable than a growing list of unchecked characters.
Ignoring similar shapes. Put confusing pairs side by side and name their visible difference.
Treating the checklist as an official syllabus. Use it to guide practice, then support it with vocabulary, grammar, and reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many kanji should I use for JLPT N5?

This page uses a practical 103-kanji beginner study set. The post-2010 JLPT does not publish a fixed kanji list, so it is a preparation target rather than an official guarantee.

Can I print this N5 kanji checklist?

Yes. Select Print / Save as PDF. The print layout removes the navigation and keeps the checkboxes compact.

Should I tick a kanji when I can recognise it?

Use a stricter rule: recognise it in a word, know one useful reading, and distinguish it from close-looking characters.

Do I need to write every N5 kanji?

Writing is optional for the exam, but brief handwriting can help you remember character shapes. Pair it with vocabulary and reading practice.

How many N5 kanji should I study daily?

Try three to five new kanji a day, then adjust based on what you can still recall during review.

Where can I find readings and examples?

The N5 kanji chart adds readings, stroke counts, and example vocabulary for the same practical set.

Turn a checklist into usable Japanese

YoruLearn turns individual character targets into spaced-repetition flashcards, vocabulary, grammar drills, and reading practice—so a tick on the page represents something you can actually use.

Join the waitlist Take the N5 practice test