Master advanced Japanese grammar with our comprehensive JLPT N5 Kanji guides. Includes detailed explanations, native-level examples, and practice exercises to help you succeed in the JLPT N5 exam.
JLPT N5 Kanji: 書 (sho, kaku) – to write / book 書 Readings: ショ (Onyomi), かく (Kunyomi) Meaning: to write, book, document The kanji 書 is used in many everyday Japanese words related to writing, books, and documents. It appears in 書く (to write), 図書館 (library), and 書店 (bookstore). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji […]
JLPT N5 Kanji: 手 (te, shu) – hand 手 Readings: シュ (Onyomi), て (Kunyomi) Meaning: hand The kanji 手 appears in many common words related to physical actions, skills, or body parts like 手紙 (letter), 上手 (skillful), and 下手 (unskilled). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 手 (hand) Strokes 4 JLPT Level N5
JLPT N5 Kanji: 時 (ji, toki) – time / hour 時 Readings: ジ (Onyomi), とき (Kunyomi) Meaning: time, hour, moment 時 is one of the most essential kanji for telling time. It appears in 時間 (じかん – time/duration), 一時 (いちじ – 1 o’clock), and other time-related expressions. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical
JLPT N5 Kanji: 話 (wa, hanasu) – to speak / talk / story 話 Readings: ワ (Onyomi), はなす・はなし (Kunyomi) Meaning: to talk, to speak, conversation, story 話 is used in many everyday words like 話す (to speak), 電話 (telephone), and 会話 (conversation). It combines 言 (words) and 舌 (tongue), symbolizing speaking. View JLPT N5 Kanji
JLPT N5 Kanji: 土 (do, tsuchi) – earth / soil / ground 土 Readings: ド・ト (Onyomi), つち (Kunyomi) Meaning: earth, soil, ground, Saturday The kanji 土 represents “earth” or “soil”. It is also used in the word for Saturday (土曜日 – どようび). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 土 (earth) Strokes 3 JLPT
JLPT N5 Kanji: 少 (shou, sukuna(i), sukoshi) – few / little 少 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), すくない・すこし (Kunyomi) Meaning: few, little, a small amount The kanji 少 is used to describe small amounts or few in quantity. It appears in words like 少ない (few), 少し (a little), and 少年 (boy). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji
JLPT N5 Kanji: 天 (ten, ama) – heaven / sky 天 Readings: テン (Onyomi), あま・あめ (Kunyomi) Meaning: heaven, sky, weather The kanji 天 is used for “sky” and “heaven.” It appears in many common words such as 天気 (weather), 天国 (heaven), and 天才 (genius). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 大 (big) Strokes
JLPT N5 Kanji: 千 (sen, chi) – thousand 千 Readings: セン (Onyomi), ち (Kunyomi – rare) Meaning: thousand 千 means “thousand.” It appears in numbers, currency, and expressions such as 千円 (1000 yen), 千人 (1000 people). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 十 (ten) Strokes 3 JLPT Level N5 Grade 1st Grade Readings
JLPT N5 Kanji: 七 (shichi, nana) – seven 七 Readings: シチ (Onyomi), なな・なの (Kunyomi) Meaning: seven 七 is the kanji for the number “seven.” It’s used in dates, counting, and many daily expressions in Japanese. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 一 (one) Strokes 2 JLPT Level N5 Grade 1st Grade Readings Onyomi
JLPT N5 Kanji: 十 (juu, too) – ten 十 Readings: ジュウ・ジッ (Onyomi), とお (Kunyomi) Meaning: ten 十 is the kanji for “ten.” It’s extremely common and appears in numbers, dates, age, and many compound words. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 十 (ten) Strokes 2 JLPT Level N5 Grade 1st Grade Readings Onyomi
JLPT N5 Kanji: 西 (nishi, sei) – west 西 Readings: セイ・サイ (Onyomi), にし (Kunyomi) Meaning: west 西 means “west,” one of the basic cardinal direction kanji. It is used frequently in place names, directions, and cultural references. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 襾 (cover) Strokes 6 JLPT Level N5 Grade 2nd Grade
JLPT N5 Kanji: 新 (shin, atarashii) – new 新 Readings: シン (Onyomi), あたらしい・あらた (Kunyomi) Meaning: new, fresh The kanji 新 means “new.” It’s very common in daily Japanese, found in words like 新聞 (newspaper), 新しい (new), and 新年 (new year). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 斤 (axe) Strokes 13 JLPT Level N5
JLPT N5 Kanji: 三 (san, mittsu) – three 三 Readings: サン (Onyomi), みっつ (Kunyomi) Meaning: three 三 means “three” and is one of the most basic number kanji. It’s easy to recognize with its three horizontal strokes. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 一 (one) Strokes 3 JLPT Level N5 Grade 1st Grade
JLPT N5 Kanji: 左 (hidari, sa) – left 左 Readings: サ (Onyomi), ひだり (Kunyomi) Meaning: left 左 means “left” as in the left side or left direction. It’s often used in daily directions and maps, like 左に曲がる (turn left). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 工 (work) Strokes 5 JLPT Level N5 Grade
JLPT N5 Kanji: 山 (yama, san) – mountain 山 Readings: サン (Onyomi), やま (Kunyomi) Meaning: mountain 山 is a simple and very common kanji that means “mountain.” It’s found in many place names like 富士山 (Mount Fuji) and in nature-related vocabulary. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 山 (mountain) Strokes 3 JLPT Level
JLPT N5 Kanji: 生 (sei, shou, ikiru) – life, birth 生 Readings: セイ・ショウ (Onyomi), いきる・うまれる・なま (Kunyomi) Meaning: life, to live, to be born, raw The kanji 生 is a highly versatile character. It appears in many words related to life, birth, living, and raw things. It’s one of the most frequently used kanji in beginner-level
JLPT N5 Kanji: 国 (kuni, koku) – country 国 Readings: コク (Onyomi), くに (Kunyomi) Meaning: country The kanji 国 means “country” or “nation.” It’s used in words like 日本国 (Japan), 外国 (foreign country), and 国語 (national language). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 囗 (enclosure) Strokes 8 JLPT Level N5 Grade 2nd Grade
JLPT N5 Kanji: 父 (chichi, fu) – father 父 Readings: フ (Onyomi), ちち (Kunyomi) Meaning: father The kanji 父 means “father.” It’s often used in words like 父 (one’s own father), お父さん (someone else’s father), and 父親 (male parent). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 父 (father) Strokes 4 JLPT Level N5 Grade
JLPT N5 Kanji: 分 (bun, fun, wakaru) – minute, part, understand 分 Readings: ブン・フン・ブ (Onyomi), わかる (Kunyomi) Meaning: minute, part, to understand The kanji 分 has multiple meanings. It’s commonly used to express time (like 五分 – five minutes), amounts, and also the verb “to understand” (わかる). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical
JLPT N5 Kanji: 女 (onna, jo) – woman 女 Readings: ジョ・ニョ・ニョウ (Onyomi), おんな・め (Kunyomi) Meaning: woman, female The kanji 女 represents a woman or female. It appears in many words related to gender, family, and roles in society such as 女の人 (woman), 女子 (girl), and 彼女 (she/her). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical
