N5 is the first JLPT level. On paper it looks easy: 'basic level,' 'for beginners.' Then you discover that 40% of candidates don't pass. Not because it's hard, but because they prepare the wrong way. This guide shows you how to do it right.
What N5 Actually Tests
N5 evaluates three areas: language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar), reading, and listening. There's no written or oral production. You just need to understand, not produce.
| Area | What It Includes | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | ~800 words, ~100 kanji | 25% |
| Grammar | Basic forms, particles, conjugations | 25% |
| Reading | Short texts, signs, simple emails | 25% |
| Listening | Daily conversations, announcements | 25% |
The 100 N5 Kanji: They're Not Optional
Many think: 'It's only 100, I'll study them the last week.' Fatal mistake. N5 kanji appear everywhere in the exam: in grammar questions, in reading passages, in listening transcriptions.
It's not enough to recognize them. You need to read them in context, with both readings (on'yomi and kun'yomi). If you see 日 in 日曜日 and don't know it reads 'nichi,' you've got a problem.
N5 Grammar: The Basics You Must Master
- Particles: は, が, を, に, で, へ, と, も, の, か
- Verb forms: present, past, negative, て-form
- Adjectives: い-adjectives and な-adjectives, basic conjugations
- Structures: から/ので (cause), たい (want), ている (ongoing action)
- Counters: 個, 人, 本, 枚, 匹, 台, 冊
You don't need to know everything perfectly. You need to know enough to grasp the general meaning. N5 doesn't seek perfection, it seeks basic comprehension.
The Most Common Mistake: Ignoring Listening
Most candidates study vocabulary and grammar, then show up to the exam having never done serious listening practice. Result: they understand written questions, but audio destroys them.
N5 listening isn't as slow as you think. And you can't rewind. If you miss a key word, you miss the question. Solution: listen to Japanese every day, even just 10 minutes.
Realistic Study Plan (3-4 Months)
Assuming 30-45 minutes daily, here's how to distribute time:
- Month 1: Hiragana, katakana, first 30 kanji, basic grammar
- Month 2: Next 40 kanji, everyday vocabulary, more grammar
- Month 3: Final 30 kanji, reading practice, intensive listening
- Month 4: Mock exams, review weak points, consolidation
Essential Resources
You don't need to buy 10 books. You need a few resources used well:
- An app with spaced repetition for kanji (like Kanjidon)
- An N5 grammar book (Minna no Nihongo or Genki)
- Official mock exams (JLPT.jp publishes some for free)
- Podcasts or videos in simple Japanese for listening
Exam Day: What to Expect
The exam lasts about 2 hours. First the vocabulary/grammar and reading section (50 minutes), then listening (30 minutes). You can't go back between sections.
Practical tip: don't get stuck on one question. If you don't know the answer in 30 seconds, mark the most likely one and move on. Better to answer everything than leave blanks.
Why Kanjidon Is Perfect for N5
Kanjidon has all 100 N5 kanji organized with spaced repetition. You don't study randomly: you study exactly what you're about to forget, when you're about to forget it.
Plus, quizzes force you to produce answers without hints. Exactly like the exam. No surprises on test day.
The Bottom Line
N5 isn't hard. It's just the first step. But if you approach it the right way, you build habits that will carry you to N1. If you approach it wrong, you build frustration that will make you quit at N4. Choose your starting method wisely.
