If you want to work in Japan, the minimum requirement of Japanese language skills is mostly JLPT N2 level. You may already know that N1 is the hardest level, considered near-fluent. Whereas N5 is the easiest level, covering the basic level of Japanese. Suppose you have just started preparing for the JLPT exam, you need to learn some basic Kanji. Even though the JLPT N5 test is the most basic formal Japanese test, passing the JLPT N5 test is still a big achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To pass the JLPT N5 test, you have to be able to read Japanese at a basic level and understand simple conversations from daily life and school. Here is the list of the Kanjis to pass the JLPT N5 exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. What is the history behind Japanese Kanji and their readings?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For a long time, Japan didn\u2019t have a written language of its own. Rather, kanji is believed to have made its way to Japan from China sometime between the fifth and eighth centuries AD. At least, that\u2019s what the evidence suggests\u2014we know that there were groups forming in Japan to study the Chinese language at about this time in history. (And, on another note, the katakana and hiragana writing systems arose in the ninth century AD.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can imagine, any time a language translates from one culture to another, things get changed around. Because of word adoptions, trades, and just your regular garden variety interpretations, Japanese created a language made up of many parts. Remember, while the Japanese didn\u2019t have a written language, it did, of course, have a spoken language prior to the arrival of Chinese characters, and the attempts to merge the two helped to create these natural variations in kanji readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. What is the meaning of Onyomi and kunyomi?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This leaves Japanese learners in a curious situation where we have to adapt to the fact that there are two types of kanji readings: Onyomi<\/strong> and kunyomi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two types of Kanji readings: Onyomi and Kunyomi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Onyomi<\/strong> translates roughly to \u201csound reading.\u201d It means that the kanji is read the same way that it would in the Chinese language\u2014or at least is read as a close approximation of the sounds that are found in the Chinese language, sometimes with their own unique, Japanese spin. Those who already know Chinese will notice that the readings aren\u2019t necessarily a perfect match, due to that spin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kunyomi<\/strong> is what\u2019s known as the fully Japanese version of the kanji reading. It\u2019s the way that the Japanese culture managed to merge the kanji with the existing spoken language they had prior to the written one. In this circumstance, the Chinese meaning of the original character is kept, but the closest equivalent to the word in Japan\u2019s spoken language is associated with it. As you can imagine, these words weren\u2019t always a one-to-one match, and the Japanese language added its own connotations as needed. Hiragana was later added to kanji, tweaking readings and bringing more meaning to each kanji they\u2019re associated with.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n That explains the two types of readings, but what about the rest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, they all came from the onyomi side of the picture. Changes in culture and language don\u2019t happen overnight\u2014they happen slowly over time as people and perceptions shift. The news words arrived over time, often coming in multiple waves. Each wave came with slight variations and different ways of saying the words. Several of those waves stuck, and as people adapted to the multiple variations. This lead to a language with multiple pronunciations of the same word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, as a modern Japanese learner, you\u2019re now faced with a quandary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#<\/td> Kanji<\/td> Onyomi<\/td> Kunyomi<\/td> Meaning of Kanji<\/td><\/tr> 1<\/td> ?<\/td> \u3044\u3061<\/strong>
ichi<\/td>??(?)
hito(tsu)<\/td>One<\/td><\/tr> 2<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ?
ni, ji<\/td>??(?)
futa(tsu)<\/td>Two<\/td><\/tr> 3<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
san<\/td>?(?)
mi(tsu)<\/td>Three<\/td><\/tr> 4<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
shi<\/td>?(?)? ??
yo(tsu), yon<\/td>Four<\/td><\/tr> 5<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
go<\/td>??(?)
itsu(tsu)<\/td>Five<\/td><\/tr> 6<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
roku<\/td>?(?)? ??
mu(tsu), mui<\/td>Six<\/td><\/tr> 7<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
shichi<\/td>??(?)? ??
nana(tsu), nano<\/td>Seven<\/td><\/tr> 8<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
hachi<\/td>?(?)? ??
ya(tsu), you<\/td>Eight<\/td><\/tr> 9<\/td> ?<\/td> ???? ?
kyuu, ku<\/td>???(?)
kokono(tsu)<\/td>Nine<\/td><\/tr> 10<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
juu<\/td>??? ?
tou, to<\/td>Ten<\/td><\/tr> 11<\/td> ?<\/td> ???? ???
hyaku, byaku<\/td>??
momo<\/td>Hundred<\/td><\/tr> 12<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
sen<\/td>?
chi<\/td>Thousand<\/td><\/tr> 13<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
man, ban<\/td>\u2013<\/td> Ten thousand<\/td><\/tr> 14<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ??
sa, sha<\/td>???
hidari<\/td>Left<\/td><\/tr> 15<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ??
u, yuu<\/td>??
migi<\/td>Right<\/td><\/tr> 16<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
zen<\/td>??
mae<\/td>In front, before<\/td><\/tr> 17<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ??
go, kou<\/td>??? ??(?)? ??
nochi, ushi(ro), ato<\/td>Behind, back, later<\/td><\/tr> 18<\/td> ?<\/td> ???? ???? ???
jou, shou, shan<\/td>??? ??-? ??? ?(??)? ??(?)? ????(?)
ue, uwa, kami, a(geru), nobo(ru), tatematsu(ru)<\/td>Above, up<\/td><\/tr> 19<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ?
ka, ge<\/td>??? ??? ??? ?(??)? ??(?)? ?(??)
shita, shimo, moto, sa(geru), kuda(ru), o(rosu)<\/td>Under<\/td><\/tr> 20<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
chuu<\/td>??? ??? ??(?)
naka, uchi, ata(ru)<\/td>In, inside, middle, mean, center<\/td><\/tr> 21<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ?
gai, ge<\/td>??? ??? ??(?)? ?-
soto, hoka, hazu-, to-<\/td>Outside<\/td><\/tr> 22<\/td> ?<\/td> ??, ??
nichi, jitsu<\/td>?, -?, -?
hi, -bi, -ka<\/td>Day, sun, Japan, counter for days<\/td><\/tr> 23<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
getsu, gatsu<\/td>??
tsuki<\/td>Month, moon<\/td><\/tr> 24<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
nen<\/td>??
toshi<\/td>Year<\/td><\/tr> 25<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
shuu<\/td>\u2013<\/td> Week<\/td><\/tr> 26<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??? ?
bun, fun, bu<\/td>?(??)
wa(keru)<\/td>Minute, part, understand<\/td><\/tr> 27<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
ji<\/td>??? -??
toki, doki<\/td>Time, hour<\/td><\/tr> 28<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
nyuu<\/td>?(?)???(?)
i(ru), hai(ru)<\/td>Enter, insert<\/td><\/tr> 29<\/td> ?<\/td> ???? ??
shutsu, sui<\/td>?(?)? ?(?)? ?(??)
de(ru), da(su), i(deru)<\/td>Exit, leave, go out<\/td><\/tr> 30<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
hon<\/td>??
moto<\/td>Book, present, true, counter for long cylindrical things<\/td><\/tr> 31<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
koku<\/td>??
kuni<\/td>Country<\/td><\/tr> 32<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
jin, nin<\/td>??
hito<\/td>Person<\/td><\/tr> 33<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ?? ?
shi, su, tsu<\/td>?? ?
ko, ne<\/td>Child<\/td><\/tr> 34<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
dan, nan<\/td>???? ?
otoko, o<\/td>male; man<\/td><\/tr> 35<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
jo<\/td>???? ?
onnna, me<\/td>woman, female<\/td><\/tr> 36<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
fu<\/td>??? ??
chichi, tou<\/td>Father<\/td><\/tr> 37<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
bo<\/td>??? ??
haha, kaa<\/td>Mother<\/td><\/tr> 38<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
hoku<\/td>??
kita<\/td>North<\/td><\/tr> 39<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ?
nan, na<\/td>???
minami<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr> 40<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
tou<\/td>???
higashi<\/td>East<\/td><\/tr> 41<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
sei, sai<\/td>??
nishi<\/td>West<\/td><\/tr> 42<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
ka<\/td>??? ??
nani, nan<\/td>What<\/td><\/tr> 43<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
yuu<\/td>??
tomo<\/td>Friend<\/td><\/tr> 44<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
kan, ken<\/td>???? ?? ??
aida, ma, ai<\/td>Between, interval, space<\/td><\/tr> 45<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ???
sei, shou<\/td>?(??)? ?(?)? ?(?)? ?(??)? ??
i(kiru), u(mu), o(u), ha(eru), nama<\/td>Life, genuine, birth<\/td><\/tr> 46<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
u<\/td>??? ??
ame, ama<\/td>Rain<\/td><\/tr> 47<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
sui<\/td>??
mizu<\/td>Water<\/td><\/tr> 48<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
sen<\/td>??
kawa<\/td>River, stream<\/td><\/tr> 49<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
san, sen<\/td>??
yama<\/td>Mountain<\/td><\/tr> 50<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
ka<\/td>?? -?? ?-
hi, bi, ho<\/td>Fire<\/td><\/tr> 51<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
boku, moku<\/td>?? ?-
ki, ko<\/td>Tree, wood<\/td><\/tr> 52<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
ten<\/td>???
amatsu<\/td>Heavens, sky, imperial<\/td><\/tr> 53<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
sha<\/td>???
kuruma<\/td>Car, wheel<\/td><\/tr> 54<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ???
haku, byaku<\/td>??(?)
shiro(i)<\/td>White<\/td><\/tr> 55<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ?
do, to<\/td>??
tsuchi<\/td>Soil, earth, ground<\/td><\/tr> 56<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
kou<\/td>\u2013<\/td> School, exam<\/td><\/tr> 57<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??? ??
kin, kon, gon<\/td>??? ??-? -??
kane, kana, gane<\/td>Gold, money<\/td><\/tr> 58<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
den<\/td>\u2013<\/td> Electricity, electric powered<\/td><\/tr> 59<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
sho<\/td>?(?)
kaku<\/td>Write<\/td><\/tr> 60<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??? ??
doku, toku, tou<\/td>?(?)
yo(mu)<\/td>To read<\/td><\/tr> 61<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
ken<\/td>?(?)? ?(??)
mi(ru), mi(seru)<\/td>See, hopes, chances, idea, opinion, look at, visible<\/td><\/tr> 62<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
bun, mon<\/td>?(?)
ki(ku)<\/td>To hear; to listen; to ask<\/td><\/tr> 63<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
rai, tai<\/td>?.?? ??.?? ?? ?
kuru, kitaru, ki, ko<\/td>Come, due, next, cause, become<\/td><\/tr> 64<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ???? ??
kou, gyou, an<\/td>?(?)? ?(?)? ???(?)
i(ku), yu(ku), okona(u)<\/td>Going, journey, carry out, line, row<\/td><\/tr> 65<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
dai, tai<\/td>??(??)
oo(kii)<\/td>Large, big<\/td><\/tr> 66<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
mai<\/td>??(?)
goto(ni)<\/td>Every<\/td><\/tr> 67<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
chou<\/td>??(?)? ??
naga(i), osa<\/td>Long, leader, superior, senior<\/td><\/tr> 68<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ??
kon, kin<\/td>??
ima<\/td>Now, present<\/td><\/tr> 69<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
gaku<\/td>??(?)
mana(bu)<\/td>Study, learning, science<\/td><\/tr> 70<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
kou<\/td>??(?)
taka(i)<\/td>Tall, high, expensive<\/td><\/tr> 71<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
shou<\/td>??(??)? ?-? ?-? ?-
chii(sai), ko-, o-, sa-<\/td>Little, small<\/td><\/tr> 72<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
en<\/td>??(?)
maru(i)<\/td>Circle, yen, round<\/td><\/tr> 73<\/td> ?<\/td> ?? ?
ki, ke<\/td>??
iki<\/td>Spirit, mind, air, atmosphere, mood<\/td><\/tr> 74<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
wa<\/td>??(?)? ???
hana(su), hanashi<\/td>Tale, talk<\/td><\/tr> 75<\/td> ?<\/td> ?
go<\/td>??
uma<\/td>noon, sign of the horse<\/td><\/tr> 76<\/td> ?<\/td> ??? ???
mei, myou<\/td>?
na<\/td>Name, noted, distinguished, reputation<\/td><\/tr> 77<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
han<\/td>??(?)
naka(ba)<\/td>Half, middle, odd number, semi-<\/td><\/tr> 78<\/td> ?<\/td> ???? ??
shoku, jiki<\/td>?(?)? ?(??)? ?(?)
k(u), ta(beru), ha(mu)<\/td>Eat, food<\/td><\/tr> 79<\/td> ?<\/td> ???
kyuu<\/td>??(?)
yasu(mu)<\/td>Rest, day off, retire, sleep<\/td><\/tr> 80<\/td> ?<\/td> ??
sen<\/td>??? ?(?)
saki, ma(zu)<\/td>Before, ahead, previous, future, precedence<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Relevant Frequently Questions about Kanji<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When should You Use Onyomi?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n