JLPT N5 Checklist (Free PDF): Kanji, Grammar and Pass Marks

91Kanji

~700Vocab

125Grammar points

These numbers are our latest estimates that are continuously updated.

The test: 3 papers, 90 minutes

20 min

VocabularyKanji readings, spelling and word meanings

40 min

Grammar and readingSentence patterns, then short passages

30 min

ListeningShort, slow everyday conversations

What it takes to pass

Total to pass80 of 180

Minimum in language and reading38 of 120

Minimum in listening19 of 60

Miss a section minimum and it's a fail, even at an 80+ total score.

The 91 kanji, in groups

Numbers

一いちone二にtwo三さんthree四よんfour五ごfive六ろくsix七ななseven八はちeight九きゅうnine十じゅうten百ひゃくhundred千せんthousand万まん10,000

Days of the week

日ひday月つきmonth火ひfire水みずwater木きtree金かねgold土つちearth

Nature and weather

山やまmountain川かわriver天てんsky気きspirit雨あめrain雷かみなりthunder電でんelectric

Time

年ねんyear時じtime分ふんminute午ごnoon半はんhalf今いまnow毎まいevery先さきahead間あいだinterval

Directions and places

上うえup下したdown中なかmiddle前まえbefore後あとafter外そとoutside右みぎright左ひだりleft東ひがしeast西にしwest南みなみsouth北きたnorth国くにcountry門もんgate

People

人ひとperson子こchild男おとこman女おんなwoman父ちちfather母ははmother友ともfriend名なname王おうking

The body

目めeye耳みみear舌したtongue

Describing things

大おお(きい)big小ちい(さい)small長なが(い)long高たか(い)tall白しろwhite良よ(い)good

Doing things

行い(く)go来く(る)come出で(る)exit入はい(る)enter見み(る)see聞き(く)hear言い(う)say食た(べる)eat飲の(む)drink読よ(む)read書か(く)write話はなしtalk休やす(む)rest

School

学がくstudy校こうschool交こうmix生せいlife本ほんbook語ごlanguage

Other

車くるまcar何なにwhat玉たまjewel円えんyen

Each kanji shows only one of its readings.

The 125 grammar points

1です and は basics

だ・ですじゃない・ではないだった・でしたじゃなかったは (topic)・が (subject)か (question)の (possession)の (noun omission)も

2Particles

を (object)に (destination, place, time)で (place, method)で (with, by)へ (direction)と (and)と (with)か (or)や (things like)から (from)まで (until)

3これ, それ and question words

これそれあれこのそのあのここそこあそこどれどのどこ誰だれなにか・なにも誰だれか・どこか・誰だれも・どこも

4Adjectives

い and な adjectivesい-adjectivesな-adjectivesいい〜くない〜くなかった〜かった (past)い-adjective + nounな-adjective + な + nounい-adjective at the endな-adjective + だ〜くて・〜で〜くて + Badjective + の (the one)〜になる・〜くなる

5Verb forms

る-verbs (dictionary)う-verbs (dictionary)る-verbs (negative)う-verbs (negative)る-verbs (past)う-verbs (past)る-verbs (negative past)う-verbs (negative past)verbs (non-past)するくるがあるがいるがある + nounverb［た・ている］+ nounの (verb nominaliser)

6The て-form

verb + てている (doing)ている (state)ている (repeated)てからverb + て + Bてくださいないでくださいてもいい (even if)てもいい (may)てはいけないまだ〜ていません

7Must, should and let's

なくてはいけないなくてはならないなくちゃ・なきゃたほうがいいないほうがいいましょう〜ましょうかませんかな (don't)

8Likes, wants and plans

好すききらいのがすきのがじょうずのがへたたいつもりだにするverb + にいくへいくたことがあるたり〜たりする

9Giving and receiving

あげるくれるもらう

10Connecting sentences

のでから (because)けど・だけどが (but)けれどもまえにと (quotation)って

11Amounts, time and comparison

だけくらいけっこうたくさんすぎるもうまだverb + までのなかで〜がいちばん〜より〜のほうが

12Sentence endings

ねよでしょうだろう〜んです・のです

Before you go

Bring your test voucher (受験票)It must be a physical, printed copy.Bring photo IDThe original document.Writing utensilsHB (No. 2) pencils, not mechanical, and an eraser.No electronic devicesIf one rings, buzzes, or is seen, even in your bag at a break, you're disqualified.

In the exam room

Sit three papersVocabulary → Grammar and reading → Listening

It's all multiple choiceNever leave one blank. Always guess!

Listening plays onceNo pause, no replay. Stay calm and guess.

No extra time at the endIt ends the second the audio does.

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