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: 年 (nen, toshi) – year 年 Readings: ネン (Onyomi), とし (Kunyomi) Meaning: year The kanji 年 means “year.” It’s used in expressing age, years on the calendar, and time-related expressions like 去年 (last year), 来年 (next year), and 一年 (one year). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 干 (dry) Strokes […]
JLPT N5 Kanji: 二 (ni) – two 二 Readings: ニ (Onyomi), ふた (Kunyomi) Meaning: two The kanji 二 means “two.” It is one of the basic numbers in Japanese and appears in many words such as 二人 (two people), 二月 (February), and 二日 (second day). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 二 (two)
JLPT N5 Kanji: 耳 (mimi, ji) – ear 耳 Readings: ジ (Onyomi), みみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: ear The kanji 耳 means “ear” and is used in basic body part vocabulary, listening-related words, and compound words like 耳鼻科 (ear, nose, and throat department). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 耳 (ear) Strokes 6 JLPT Level
JLPT N5 Kanji: 日 (hi, nichi/jitsu) – sun, day 日 Readings: ニチ・ジツ (Onyomi), ひ・び・か (Kunyomi) Meaning: sun, day The kanji 日 is used for “sun” and “day.” It appears in the names of the days of the week (like 日曜日 – Sunday), country names (日本 – Japan), and dates (一日 – first day). View JLPT
JLPT N5 Kanji: 一 (ichi) – one 一 Readings: イチ・イツ (Onyomi), ひと (Kunyomi) Meaning: one The kanji 一 is the simplest kanji in Japanese. It means “one” and appears in countless daily expressions, numbers, and compound words such as 一人 (one person), 一月 (January), and 一日 (one day). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details
JLPT N5 Kanji: 入 (iru, nyuu) – enter 入 Readings: ニュウ (Onyomi), い(る)・はい(る)・い(れる) (Kunyomi) Meaning: to enter, insert The kanji 入 means “to enter” or “to insert.” It’s commonly seen in verbs like 入る (to enter), 入れる (to put in), and compounds like 入学 (school admission). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 入
JLPT N5 Kanji: 人 (hito, jin/nin) – person 人 Readings: ジン・ニン (Onyomi), ひと (Kunyomi) Meaning: person, human The kanji 人 means “person” and is used in many essential words like 日本人 (Japanese person), 一人 (one person), and 人口 (population). It’s one of the most fundamental kanji in Japanese. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details
JLPT N5 Kanji: 月 (tsuki, getsu/gatsu) – moon, month 月 Readings: ゲツ・ガツ (Onyomi), つき (Kunyomi) Meaning: moon, month The kanji 月 means “moon” or “month.” It appears in every month name (一月, 二月…) and in words like 月曜日 (Monday), 今月 (this month), and 満月 (full moon). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 月
JLPT N5 Kanji: 語 (go, kataru) – language, word 語 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi), かた(る)・かた(らう) (Kunyomi) Meaning: word, language, to talk The kanji 語 means “language” or “word” and is often used in words like 日本語 (Japanese language), 英語 (English), and 語る (to talk/speak). It’s one of the most useful kanji for learners of Japanese. View
JLPT N5 Kanji: 魚 (sakana, gyo) – fish 魚 Readings: ギョ (Onyomi), さかな・うお (Kunyomi) Meaning: fish The kanji 魚 means “fish” and appears in words related to seafood, fishing, and marine life. It’s very common in Japanese menus, supermarkets, and animal names. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 魚 (fish) Strokes 11 JLPT
JLPT N5 Kanji: 五 (go) – five 五 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi), いつ (Kunyomi) Meaning: five 五 means “five” and is one of the first numbers students learn in Japanese. It appears in numbers, dates, and counters such as 五時 (5 o’clock), 五人 (five people), and 五月 (May). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical
JLPT N5 Kanji: 言 (i, gen) – say 言 Readings: ゲン・ゴン (Onyomi), い(う) / こと (Kunyomi) Meaning: say, word, speech The kanji 言 means “to say” or “word,” and it is very commonly used in verbs and nouns such as 言う (to say), 言葉 (word), and 伝言 (message). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details
JLPT N5 Kanji: 外 (soto, gai) – outside 外 Readings: ガイ・ゲ (Onyomi), そと・ほか・はず (Kunyomi) Meaning: outside, other, remove The kanji 外 means “outside” and appears frequently in daily Japanese. It is used in words like 外国 (foreign country), 外出 (going out), and 外 (outside). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 夕 (evening) +
JLPT N5 Kanji: 午 (go) – noon 午 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi) Meaning: noon The kanji 午 means “noon” and appears in many common time expressions such as 午前 (AM), 午後 (PM), and 正午 (exact noon). It’s essential for telling time in Japanese. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 干 (dry) Strokes 4 JLPT
JLPT N5 Kanji: 南 (minami, nan) – south 南 Readings: ナン (Onyomi), みなみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: south 南 means “south” and is used when talking about directions, locations, or places. You will find it in words like 南口 (south exit), 南風 (southern wind), and 東南アジア (Southeast Asia). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 十
JLPT N5 Kanji: 男 (otoko, dan) – man 男 Readings: ダン・ナン (Onyomi), おとこ (Kunyomi) Meaning: man, male 男 means “man” or “male” and is used to describe gender or male individuals. You’ll often see it in words like 男の人 (man), 男子 (boy), and 男性 (male). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical 田 (rice
JLPT N5 Kanji: 目 (me, moku) – eye 目 Readings: モク・ボク (Onyomi), め / ま (Kunyomi) Meaning: eye, look, viewpoint 目 means “eye” and is used in many daily expressions and compound words related to vision, sequence, or perspective — such as 目 (eye), 一日目 (first day), or 目上 (one’s superior). View JLPT N5 Kanji
JLPT N5 Kanji: 毎 (mai) – every 毎 Readings: マイ (Onyomi) Meaning: every 毎 means “every” and is used in many everyday expressions such as 毎日 (every day), 毎週 (every week), and 毎月 (every month). It is an essential kanji for expressing regularity and routine in Japanese. View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details Radical
JLPT N5 Kanji: 木 (ki, moku) – tree, wood 木 Readings: モク・ボク (Onyomi), き / こ (Kunyomi) Meaning: tree, wood The kanji 木 means “tree” or “wood” and is one of the most common nature-related characters in Japanese. It’s used in words like 木曜日 (Thursday), 木材 (lumber), and 木 (tree). View JLPT N5 Kanji List
JLPT N5 Kanji: 母 (haha, bo) – mother 母 Readings: ボ (Onyomi), はは / かあ (Kunyomi) Meaning: mother The kanji 母 means “mother” and is frequently used in family-related words. It appears in casual and formal expressions such as はは (my mother), お母さん (mother), and 母語 (mother tongue). View JLPT N5 Kanji List Kanji Details
