JLPT N5
Writing Practice
N5 is the beginner foundation for Japanese writing. Start with the two N5 lists, learn essential kanji, write useful vocabulary, and build a calm daily practice routine — one step at a time.
Looking for the JLPT N5 lists?
Start with the two core N5 resources: the kanji list and the vocabulary list. Use them to explore meanings, readings, example words, and writing practice before choosing a workbook.
JLPT N5 Kanji List
Explore essential beginner kanji with meanings, readings, example words, and stroke animation support.
JLPT N5 Vocabulary List
Browse useful beginner vocabulary with Japanese, readings, meanings, word types, and writing support.
About these lists: JLPT N5 does not have one fixed official public kanji or vocabulary canon. These lists are practical study guides based on common JLPT resources, beginner usage, frequency, and didactic selection. They are not official test specifications.
What is JLPT N5?
JLPT N5 is the first and most beginner-friendly level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. It focuses on basic vocabulary, simple grammar, hiragana, katakana, and a small set of essential kanji used in everyday beginner Japanese.
On Japanese Writing Practice, N5 is used as a practical writing path. The goal is not only to recognize beginner Japanese, but to write kana, kanji, and useful words by hand.
Japanese Writing Practice is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official JLPT organizers. JLPT levels are used here only as a structure for organizing study materials.
What N5 writing practice includes
N5 gives beginners a realistic first target. Instead of facing thousands of characters and words at once, you practice a focused beginner set.
Hiragana and katakana support reading, pronunciation, particles, and beginner writing.
Around 100 beginner kanji for numbers, days, people, places, school, time, and basic verbs.
Useful beginner words for daily life, simple situations, and JLPT N5 reading.
Short example sentences help you see how words and kanji appear in context.
Small writing sessions help move Japanese from recognition to recall.
Kanji and vocabulary work together
Kanji give you the building blocks. Vocabulary shows you how those building blocks are actually used.
- 日本にほんJapan
- 日曜日にちようびSunday
- 毎日まいにちevery day
- 学校がっこうschool
- 学生がくせいstudent
- 大学だいがくuniversity
- 日本人にほんじんJapanese person
- 一人ひとりone person
- 大人おとなadult
Key takeaway: readings make more sense when you meet kanji inside real words.
N5 study resources
Explore the N5 writing path before choosing a workbook. Start with the lists, then move to the writing systems and free sample pages.
N5 Kanji List
Beginner kanji with meanings, readings, example words, and stroke animation support.
N5 Vocabulary List
Useful beginner words with readings, meanings, word types, and writing support.
Free N5 Sample Pages
Printable sample pages, practice sheets, and beginner writing resources.
Kanji Method
Learn how kanji work through components, radicals, stroke order, and word clusters.
Hiragana Chart
The basic phonetic script used for grammar endings, particles, and native Japanese words.
Katakana Chart
The script used for loanwords, names, sounds, emphasis, and many modern words.
Before you start N5 writing practice
You do not need to know everything before you begin, but N5 writing becomes much easier if you are learning the kana alongside kanji and vocabulary.
Hiragana
The basic phonetic script used for grammar endings, particles, and native Japanese words.
Katakana
The script used for loanwords, names, sounds, emphasis, and many modern words.
Basic Japanese Sounds
Kana help you connect written Japanese to pronunciation before you add kanji.
About our N5 lists
A note on how these lists are built and what they can — and cannot — promise.
There is no single official public list of every kanji, vocabulary word, or grammar point that can appear on the JLPT N5. Japanese Writing Practice uses JLPT levels as a practical study structure, but the lists are independently prepared study guides.
The selection is based on common JLPT learning resources, beginner usage, frequency, and didactic value. The goal is to help learners practice useful beginner Japanese writing, not to guarantee exact test coverage.
A simple 20-minute N5 writing routine
A calm routine beats long, irregular sessions. Twenty focused minutes a day is enough to build momentum.
- 1Review kana3 minutes
Read or write a few hiragana and katakana characters to warm up.
- 2Write 3–5 kanji7 minutes
Use stroke order, meaning, and one or two common words for each character.
- 3Attach words immediately5 minutes
Write real N5 words that use the kanji you just practiced.
- 4Cover and recall3 minutes
Cover the answers and try to remember meanings or readings from memory.
- 5Write one short sentence2 minutes
Use one word in a simple Japanese sentence or copy an example sentence carefully.
Which N5 workbook should I use?
Both workbooks support the same beginner path, but they focus on different parts of writing practice.
Choose the Kanji Workbook if…
You want to understand and write the 100 essential JLPT N5 kanji with stroke order, common words, related kanji, and practice exercises.
Choose the Vocabulary Workbook if…
You want more word-based writing practice for useful beginner vocabulary, readings, meanings, and example phrases.
Use both together if…
You want the strongest N5 writing foundation: kanji structure plus the words you actually need.
Available N5 writing workbooks
JLPT N5 Kanji Writing Workbook
Learn the 100 essential JLPT N5 kanji through meaning, readings, stroke order, common words, example sentences, related kanji, and guided writing practice.
- 100 essential N5 kanji
- Stroke order diagrams
- Guided writing grids
- Common words and example sentences
- Related kanji connections
- Reading and recall exercises
JLPT N5 Vocabulary Writing Workbook
Practice beginner JLPT vocabulary by writing useful words, readings, meanings, and example phrases.
- N5 vocabulary writing practice
- Word-focused practice pages
- Readings and meanings
- Beginner-friendly examples
- Companion to the Kanji Workbook
- Great for daily handwriting sessions
Continue learning Japanese writing
Kanji Made Understandable
Learn how kanji work through meaning, components, radicals, stroke order, and word clusters.