The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is the best-known Japanese exam. It has 5 levels, from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). If you are starting Japanese, N5 is your first goal. This JLPT N5 guide covers the exam format, what to study, kanji and grammar, and a 12-week study plan.
Prefer Hindi? यह पोस्ट हिंदी में पढ़ें.
Dates, fees and registration details change each year, so always check the official JLPT site. This year’s December exam is covered in JLPT December 2026: date and 8-week plan.
What is JLPT N5?
N5 tests whether you can understand and read very basic Japanese: short sentences written in hiragana, katakana and a few simple kanji, and slow, clear everyday conversation. In most countries the test is held twice a year, usually in July and December.
Exam format (N5)
| Section | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 25 minutes |
| Grammar + Reading | 50 minutes |
| Listening | 30 minutes |
| Total | about 105 minutes |
The total score is 180: 120 for language knowledge (vocabulary, grammar, reading) and 60 for listening. To pass you need both a total score and a minimum score in each section. The format can change, so always look at the official sample questions.
What to study for N5
- Hiragana and katakana: both, fully. Start with the hiragana chart.
- Kanji: roughly 100.
- Vocabulary: roughly 800 basic words (family, time, food, places, everyday verbs).
- Grammar: see below.
The JLPT no longer publishes official word or kanji lists, so the numbers above are commonly cited estimates, not official figures.
Essential N5 grammar
- Particles: は, が, を, に, で, へ, と, の, も, か
- Polite forms: です, ます, ません, ました, ませんでした
- Adjectives: い-adjectives and な-adjectives
- Existence: あります (things) and います (living beings)
- 〜たい (want to), 〜ください (please), 〜ましょう (let’s), 〜ています (is doing)
- Counting, time, dates and days
5 easy sentences
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| これは本です。 | Kore wa hon desu. | This is a book. |
| 私は学生です。 | Watashi wa gakusei desu. | I am a student. |
| 毎日日本語を勉強します。 | Mainichi nihongo o benkyou shimasu. | I study Japanese every day. |
| 駅はどこですか。 | Eki wa doko desu ka? | Where is the station? |
| これをください。 | Kore o kudasai. | Please give me this. |
Beginner kanji: 12 examples
| Kanji | Readings | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 日 | nichi / hi | day, sun |
| 月 | getsu / tsuki | moon, month |
| 火 | ka / hi | fire |
| 水 | sui / mizu | water |
| 木 | moku / ki | tree |
| 金 | kin / kane | gold, money |
| 土 | do / tsuchi | earth |
| 山 | san / yama | mountain |
| 川 | kawa | river |
| 人 | jin / hito | person |
| 大 | dai / ookii | big |
| 小 | shou / chiisai | small |
A nice bonus: the days of the week are built from these kanji. Monday = 月曜日 (getsuyoubi), Tuesday = 火曜日 (kayoubi), Wednesday = 水曜日 (suiyoubi), Thursday = 木曜日 (mokuyoubi), Friday = 金曜日 (kin’youbi), Saturday = 土曜日 (doyoubi), Sunday = 日曜日 (nichiyoubi).
A 12-week study plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hiragana (all 46 + dakuten) |
| 2 | Katakana, and Japanese numbers |
| 3 | Time, dates, days of the week + 30 words |
| 4 | Sentences (です/ます), particles は and を |
| 5 | に, で, へ, と and verb forms (present / past) |
| 6 | Adjectives (い/な), あります and います |
| 7 | 〜たい, 〜ください, 〜ましょう + 100 words |
| 8 | 30 kanji (days, numbers, nature) |
| 9 | 30 more kanji + 〜ています |
| 10 | Reading short texts and listening practice |
| 11 | Solve the official sample papers |
| 12 | Review weak areas, rest, then the exam |
Tip for listening: hear 10 minutes of Japanese audio daily and repeat aloud. Reading alone does not improve listening.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours does N5 take?
A commonly cited rough range is 150 to 300 hours, depending on your practice and background. At 45 minutes a day that works out to around 4 to 6 months.
Does passing N5 get you a job or visa?
N5 is a beginner level. Jobs and visa categories often ask for N4 or higher, so check the rules of your goal first.
Is N5 easy for Hindi speakers?
Grammar-wise, yes. See Is Japanese Hard for Hindi Speakers?.
Related reading
- How to Learn Japanese from Scratch
- Hiragana Chart
- Japanese Office Phrases
- JLPT December 2026 Study Plan
Keep going with Japanese
LearnLingo’s Japanese course (Early Access) is explained in English or Hindi. The free part covers hiragana, katakana, basic grammar (Grammar I) and everyday vocabulary and conversation. Premium unlocks the later units: Grammar II, reading and kanji foundations, conversation and listening, and workplace Japanese.
Premium starts at ₹799/month or $9.99/month (3 months: ₹1,999 or $24.99; 12 months: ₹6,499 or $79.99). Payment is by UPI and Premium is activated manually within a few hours; the pricing page shows the current steps. Try the free units first and upgrade only if you like them.
Prefer Hindi explanations? See Japanese Foundations (Hindi) or the Premium plans.