JLPT N5 Complete Syllabus: Vocabulary, Kanji, Grammar & Study Plan
A practical JLPT N5 learning map covering scripts, vocabulary, kanji, grammar, reading, listening, scoring and a 12-week preparation plan.
By SJLA JLPT Faculty · Published · Updated
Quick Answer
JLPT N5 checks whether you can understand some basic Japanese. You should be able to read common expressions written in hiragana, katakana and basic kanji, and understand short, slowly spoken conversations from daily life and classroom situations. The JLPT does not publish a fixed official vocabulary or kanji list, so treat any “complete list” as a study guide, not an official syllabus.
What to Study
| Area | N5 preparation target |
|---|---|
| Scripts | Read and write hiragana and katakana automatically |
| Vocabulary | Daily actions, people, time, places, food, study and basic adjectives |
| Kanji | High-frequency numbers, days, people, directions, school and daily-life characters |
| Grammar | Basic sentence order, particles, verb/adjective forms and questions |
| Reading | Notices, short messages and simple passages |
| Listening | Short classroom and daily conversations spoken slowly |
Core Grammar Map
- です / ではありません / でした
- は, が, を, に, へ, で, と, も, の, から, まで
- これ・それ・あれ and この・その・あの
- あります / います
- Verb ます, ません, ました, ませんでした
- て-form requests and basic connections
- Adjective present and past forms
- 〜たい, 〜ましょう, 〜ませんか
- Counters, time and frequency expressions
- Basic comparisons and reasons
12-Week Plan
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Kana, pronunciation and survival phrases |
| 3–5 | Core vocabulary, particles and present/past forms |
| 6–8 | Kanji groups, て-form, adjectives and short reading |
| 9–10 | Listening patterns and timed section practice |
| 11 | Full mock, error log and weak-section repair |
| 12 | Light review, sleep and exam-day preparation |
Passing Rules
N5 uses a 0–180 scaled total. Official rules require at least 80 overall, at least 38 in Language Knowledge/Reading, and at least 19 in Listening. Missing a section means failure, and a strong total cannot rescue a section below its minimum.
Study Method
- Review vocabulary with a sentence, not translation alone.
- Handwrite kanji while reading it aloud.
- Shadow short audio daily.
- Read something timed every week.
- Keep an error notebook by reason: word, grammar, reading speed or listening.
Official Sources
- N5 ability description: jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html
- Passing and sectional scores: jlpt.jp/e/guideline/results.html
- Official sample materials: jlpt.jp/e/samples/sampleindex.html