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JLPT N5 Vocabulary by Category

Category clusters help learners connect words to usage domains.

Study JLPT N5 vocabulary by category so each word connects to a real situation instead of floating alone in a memorized list. Grouping verbs, people words, time words, places, food, and daily-life nouns makes review faster, improves recall during reading, and gives you a much cleaner weekly rotation plan for spaced repetition.

Core beginner words like 行く, 来る, 食べる, 水, and 学校 are easier to keep when you review them inside a category instead of as isolated flashcards.

Category Vocabulary Reference

Core table

CategoryKanjiKanaMeaning
Core verbsto go
Core verbsto come
Core verbsto eat
Core verbsto drink
Core verbsto see
Core verbsto read
Core verbsto write
Core verbsto speak
PeopleI
Peoplefriend
Peoplefamily
Peopleteacher
Peoplestudent
Peoplefather
Peoplemother
Peoplechild
Timetoday
Timetomorrow
Timeyesterday
Timemorning
Timedaytime
Timenight
Timeevery day
Timetime/hour
Placesschool
Placesstation
Placeshome
Placesshop
Placescompany
Placeslibrary
Placesbank
Placespark
Foodrice/meal
Foodwater
Foodtea
Foodcoffee
Foodmeat
Foodfish
Foodvegetables
Foodfruit
Numbersone
Numberstwo
Numbersthree
Numbersfour
Numbersfive
Numberssix
Numbersseven
Numberseight
Numbersnine
Numbersten
Adjectivesbig
Adjectivessmall
Adjectivesnew
Adjectivesold
Adjectivesexpensive/high
Adjectivescheap
Adjectivesearly/fast
Adjectivesdifficult
Questionwhat
Questionwho
Questionwhere
Questionwhen
Questionwhy
Questionhow
Questionwhich
Questionhow much
Classroomgrammar
Classroomword
Classroomkanji
Classroomhomework
Classroomexam
Classroomquestion
Classroomanswer
Classroomclassroom

Use this with the main vocab list.

How to Use This Page

Daily routine

How to Turn Vocabulary Categories into N5 Sentences

CategoryUseful frameExample
People___ は学生です田中さんは学生です。
Places___ へ行きます学校へ行きます。
Food___ を食べますパンを食べます。
Time___ に起きます七時に起きます。
Adjectives___ は大きいですこの家は大きいです。

Category study reduces cognitive load, but exam questions mix categories. After learning ten related words, place them into two or three reusable sentence frames and then mix them with older categories. This produces stronger recall than rereading a themed list.

Use the complete N5 vocabulary list for coverage and the N5 reading practice page to meet the same words in context.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these errors

FAQ

Is this different from the main list?

Yes, this page organizes words by topic for practical drilling.

How many per category?

Start with 10-15 and expand gradually.

Can I skip some categories?

Do not skip core categories for JLPT prep.

How often to rotate categories?

Weekly rotation works well.

Next Step in YoruLearn

Continue with app practice

After category work, move into mock tests and reading passages.

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