JLPT N5 Kanji List: Printable Tracker, Stroke Finder and Mini-Test

All 103 N5 Kanji: Complete Chart

Meanings, readings, strokes, and example vocabulary

These 103 entries are the complete JLPT N5 kanji set. In YoruLearn, users practice writing these kanji with guided stroke-order feedback and track progress over time.

Continue with guided handwriting practice or see all kanji in context in the N5 vocabulary list.

Best Order to Study N5 Kanji

Phase 1 (weeks 1–2): Numbers and time — highest vocabulary payoff

Start with 一・二・三・四・五・六・七・八・九・十・百・千・万 (numbers) and 日・月・年・時・今・毎・半・午 (time words). These 21 kanji unlock dozens of N5 vocabulary items immediately: dates, times, amounts, and common expressions. You will use them in every practice sentence from day one.

Phase 2 (weeks 3–4): Core action and people kanji

人・生・行・来・食・見・書・読・話・聞・学・出・入・休 — these appear in the highest-frequency N5 verbs and phrases. Knowing 食 lets you read 食べる (eat) and 食堂 (cafeteria). Knowing 行 unlocks 行く (go), 旅行 (travel), and 銀行 (bank). Vocabulary multiplies faster when you prioritize these.

Phase 3 (weeks 5–6): Place, direction, and size

上・下・左・右・東・西・南・北・前・後・中・外・大・小・長・高・安・新・古・早 — these adjectives and directional kanji appear throughout N5 reading passages and listening scripts. Many double as vocabulary items themselves (大きい・小さい・高い・安い・新しい・古い).

Phase 4 (weeks 7–8): Nature, body, and remaining kanji

山・川・水・火・木・天・空・海・花・魚・肉・犬・鳥・石・田・林・森・口・目・耳・手・足・力・門・立 — these are commonly included in beginner preparation sets and useful vocabulary. Learn them after the higher-frequency number, time, action, and direction groups.

Common Kanji Study Mistakes

What slows N5 kanji progress

• Memorizing shape only, without a real word. Connect 電 to useful words such as 電車 (train) and 電話 (phone). A vocabulary anchor makes the character easier to recognize in context.
• Skipping active recall. Writing is optional for the JLPT, but tracing or reproducing a character can help you notice its components and stroke order. See the kanji practice app for guided writing.
• Reviewing only once. Revisit difficult kanji over increasing intervals and adjust the schedule when recall becomes unreliable. Consistent review matters more than one fixed timetable.
• Trying to learn all readings at once. Each kanji can have 3–8 listed readings. At N5, focus on the 1–2 readings that appear in actual N5 vocabulary. Learn the rest when you encounter them in higher-level words.
• Studying kanji separately from vocabulary. If your kanji study and vocabulary study are completely separate sessions, you are doubling your workload. Learn each kanji through vocabulary words — then you are doing both at once.

FAQ

How many kanji are on the JLPT N5 list?

This page uses a practical 103-kanji beginner study set with meanings, onyomi, kunyomi, stroke counts, and example vocabulary. The official JLPT does not publish a fixed post-2010 list, so 103 is a common preparation target rather than an official guaranteed number.

Do I need to learn both onyomi and kunyomi for N5?

Focus on the reading that appears in actual N5 vocabulary words, not all listed readings. For 日, learn nichi (as in 毎日 mainichi) and hi (as in 今日 kyou) because both appear in N5 words. The example word column on this page shows which reading to prioritize for each kanji.

Is handwriting practice required to pass JLPT N5?

The N5 test uses multiple-choice questions, so handwriting is not required. Writing can still help you notice components and stroke order, but it should support—not replace—vocabulary, reading, and repeated recognition practice.

How many new kanji should I study per day?

Start with about five new kanji per day, then change the pace based on recall. If older characters are becoming unreliable, reduce new material and spend more time reviewing words that use the kanji.

What is the best order to learn N5 kanji?

Start with kanji that unlock the most N5 vocabulary immediately: numbers (一〜十・百・千・万), time words (日・月・年・時・今・毎), and core action kanji (行・来・食・見・書・読・話・聞). These appear in the most N5 sentences. Leave lower-frequency kanji like 鳥・林・森・門 for the final study phase.

How do I stop confusing similar-looking kanji?

Write the confusing pair side-by-side and label exactly which stroke differs. Example: 土 (soil, 3 strokes) vs 士 (samurai, 3 strokes) — the difference is which horizontal stroke is longer. Then practice both immediately inside real vocabulary: 土曜日 (Saturday) vs 武士 (warrior). Context anchors the visual difference far faster than abstract comparison.

Next Step in YoruLearn

Practice writing and tracking in the app

After reviewing this reference table, the fastest path to N5 kanji mastery is writing practice with immediate feedback and spaced repetition tracking. YoruLearn's guided handwriting mode shows correct stroke order and tracks which kanji you need to review.

Sources and Editorial Notes

This page is a practical preparation chart, not an official test specification. The JLPT organizers stopped publishing fixed vocabulary, kanji, and grammar lists after the 2010 revision, so responsible N5 lists are study estimates built from beginner scope and preparation practice.

• Official Worldwide JLPT FAQ
• Japan Foundation: Irodori Japanese for Life in Japan
• YoruLearn editorial method and corrections policy

Continue Your N5 Path