Want to start learning Japanese? We got you! Here’s a simple and easy-to-follow JLPT N5 study plan for beginners who want to self-study. Once you get your JLPT N5 certificate through Irodori, you’re one step closer to signing up for FAST OFFER International’s free Japanese classes for N4 up to N3. With that goal in mind, here’s a comprehensive guide to start your language learning journey.
What is JLPT N5?
JLPT N5 is the most basic level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. To pass this level, you must:
- Know all the Hiragana and Katakana characters
- Know at least 100 Kanji characters
- Know basic Japanese grammar and vocabulary
- Comprehend short, slowly spoken Japanese conversations
The test includes both reading and listening components. If you plan to work and live in Japan, passing the JLPT N5 puts you on the right track! How long to study for JLPT N5? It depends on your pacing. Our JLPT N5 study plan for beginners who want to self-study can be completed in about 3 months or more. The important thing is to start!
Ready to self-study for JLPT N5? Follow our beginner guide!
Step 1: Introduction To The Japanese Language and its Grammar Structure
Think of yourself as a child who is learning a whole new language. You must start from the very basics and understand the fundamental Japanese grammar structure and the basic writing system.
Japanese Grammar Structure for Beginners
Unlike English grammar, which usually follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, Japanese grammar is usually Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). For example:
- English (SVO): I eat fish
- Japanese (SOV): I fish eat/ Watashi wa sakana o tabemasu (私は魚を食べます)
Watch this 30-minute video to learn more about the basics of the Japanese language.
Step 2: Learn The Japanese Writing System
There are three scripts that you must learn for JLPT N5: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.
Hiragana (ひらがな) – Hiragana is usually the first writing system that beginners need to self-study to pass JLPT N5. It’s used to write native Japanese words and is comprised of 46 basic characters that can also be combined.
Self-Study Hiragana for JLPT N5
- Print this worksheet and practice writing.
- Learn how to pronounce hiragana with this playlist.
Katakana (カタカナ) – Katakana is used to write loaned foreign words. For example, internet in Japanese is intanetto and is written in Katakana as インターネット. There are about 46 basic Katakana characters. You can easily spot them as they are usually more angular compared to Hiragana.
Self-Study Katakana for JLPT N5
- Print this worksheet and practice writing.
- Learn how to pronounce katakana with this playlist.
Kanji (漢字) – Kanji characters are characters borrowed from the Chinese writing system. Unlike Hiragana and Katakana, which you have to combine to form a word, each Kanji character already conveys a whole meaning. For example, the standalone character 人 (ren) means “person”.
We will learn more about kanji later on. For now, familiarize yourself with hiragana and katakana.
Step 3: Set up essential tools to build your vocabulary
Now that you know hiragana, katakana, and basic grammar structure, it’s time to build your vocabulary. First, you need to set up some essential tools.
- Download the Anki app – a free flashcard app that can help build your vocabulary. Here’s a video guide on how to set up your Anki app.
- Download the basic vocabulary deck here by clicking on the .apkg file here. This deck is ideal for absolute beginners.
- Download Subtitled Video Learning Tools to help you understand Japanese words while watching native content. Here’s a video guide on how to do this.
- Make an account with ChatGPT – Use this to check sentence correctness, build example conversations, or clarify grammar points.
- Make an account and bookmark the Kanshudo website. This helps improve your pronunciation and listening skills.
Step 4: Start Learning Basic Grammar For N5 Level
Once you’re done setting up the essential tools, it’s time to self-study basic Japanese grammar. Here are the basics that you should learn:
- Start by learning particles: は (wa), が (ga), を (o), に (ni), で (de), へ (e), と (to), も (mo), の (no)
- です (desu) /ます(masu) form, basic verb conjugation (present/past, positive/negative)
- Adjectives: い (i) & な (na) types
- Basic question forms (interrogatives)
Materials & Resources For Learning Basic JLPT N5 Level Japanese Grammar
Free Grammar Resources:
These internet resources are great for beginners who want a more flexible and immersive way of learning.
- Tae Kim’s Guide – for a quick, thorough guide for beginners’ grammar
- Nihongo Library – N5 grammar notes
- Irodori Textbook – Beginner-friendly PDF & audio
- Bunpro (N5 Grammar Practice) – Good for practicing what you’ve learned
- Marugoto A1 Course (Minato) – Additional resources
Textbooks With Supplementary Resources:
If you want a more formal way of learning, following textbooks and complementing them with free internet resources is the way to go. For this, you have two options.
Option A: Genki Textbook
- This is a widely used textbook with lots of supporting materials.
- First, download the textbook & resources here.
- Next, get the Anki Vocabulary Deck for Genki here.
- Then, bookmark Grammar Lessons on YouTube:
- Bookmark this website for practice exercises.
Option B: Minna no Nihongo
This textbook is more immersive and is used in classroom settings.
- First, download the textbook here.
- Then, download the supplementary English Grammar & Translation Notes (PDF) here.
- Next, download the Anki Vocabulary Deck here.
- Bookmark these Grammar Lessons on YouTube:
- Bookmark this website for practice exercises.
Another option is to go for a paid learning course. If you’re willing to invest, this all-in-one beginner course covers grammar, listening, and more.
Step 5: Practice Listening
A listening test is one of the sections in the JLPT N5. To prepare for it effectively, you should practice both passive and active listening.
Passive Listening
Expose yourself to as much natural Japanese as possible. Use dramas, anime, YouTube, and podcasts with Japanese audio and subtitles.
Free JLPT N5 Resources for passive listening:
- Vocabulary-Tagged Game Commentary & Podcast
- Podcast on Japanese Language & Culture
- Japanese Monologue Videos & Tips for learning
- Japanese Vlogs with Natural Conversations
- Movies (Japan Foundation Official Site)
- Dramas/Roleplay
Active Listening
This method requires repeated, focused listening to easy Japanese phrases. Your goal is to fully understand and then imitate each sentence with native-like pronunciation.
Free Practice Playlists:
- Genki Textbook-Based Podcast
- Japanese Listening Practice With A Story
- Japanese Short Stories – Egg-san’s Diary
Step 6: Learn Kanji
Kanji doesn’t have to be scary. It can actually be enjoyable! Once you’re comfortable with Hiragana and Katakana and basic Japanese grammar, it’s time to start building your Kanji foundation.
- Begin with this printable Kanji book and learn the first 500 characters.
- Download the Anki Deck for Basic Kanji Book.
You also download these apps to supplement your Kanji learning:
- WaniKani (Free for first 3 levels)
- KANJI Memory Hint (by Japan Foundation)
Step 7: Practice Reading
Reading is usually deemed as one of the hardest sections for JLPT, so it’s essential to do a lot of practice to deepen your comprehension.
Start with these free JLPT N5 reading practice resources:
Later on, you can also upgrade to:
- NHK Easy News – for reading news that is easy to understand
- Todaii Easy Japanese App – for reading news with a dictionary function, so you can learn new words while reading
More Tips To Ace JLPT N5
- Practice forming sentences daily. You can also try to speak with a learning buddy for a more fun way of practicing what you’ve learned.
- Shadow audio content. Repeat Japanese content and try to emulate the native way of speaking.
- Try language exchange apps and practice with native speakers.
- Try to keep a daily journal and use your new grammar and vocabulary in each entry.
- Get writing corrections from natives using HiNative.
- Do the JLPT N5 practice tests on the official JLPT website.
Advancing To JLPT N4 with FAST OFFER International
Once you’ve finished our JLPT N5 Study Plan For Beginners, you can try to advance towards self-studying for JLPT N4 with these free JLPT N4 resources. Better yet, you can see if you qualify for our worldwide JLPT N5 Japanese classes!
FAST OFFER Free Japanese Classes
FAST OFFER has a variety of available Japanese classes for students from Japan, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and India designed to get you ready for Japan job hunting. Eligibility rules and class schedules differ per country.
If you don’t want to wait for classes to open in your country, you can pre-register with our Worldwide Free Japanese classes for JLPT N4 and N3 levels.. Classes open every time we hit the number of qualified students required for a class. To qualify for the N4 class, aside from eligibility rules, to prove you have cleared N5, you will need to get the certificate from JAPAN FOUNDATION’s free online course via the FREE online course from the JAPAN FOUNDATION.
