JLPT Vocabulary Lists: Essential Words & Resources of Flashcards, PDF, and Audio
Last updated: January 13, 2026
The JLPT organizers have never released an official vocabulary list. Pretty frustrating for a Japanese learner, right? What we do have are lists compiled from actual test materials, textbooks, and thousands of test-takers sharing what they encountered. These unofficial lists have become the gold standard for JLPT prep, and honestly, they're pretty reliable. I'm going to break down what vocabulary you need for each level, where to find the best lists, and how to actually study them without losing your mind.
Understanding JLPT levels and word counts
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test has five levels, from N5 (Beginner) to N1 (Advanced). Each level roughly doubles the vocabulary requirement of the previous one.
- JLPT N5 requires around 800 words. This covers basic daily conversation, simple questions, and fundamental expressions you'd use at a restaurant or convenience store.
- JLPT N4 bumps you up to about 1,500 words total. You're adding more verbs, adjectives, and everyday vocabulary for describing your experiences and opinions.
- JLPT N3 sits at roughly 3,750 words. This is where things get serious because you're moving into intermediate territory with more abstract concepts and nuanced expressions.
- JLPT N2 requires around 6,000 words. You're reading newspapers, understanding business conversations, and handling most daily situations without major gaps.
- JLPT N1 tops out at approximately 10,000 words. This is advanced fluency where you can read novels, understand academic discussions, and catch subtle nuances in language.
People constantly ask about official JLPT vocabulary lists. The Japan Foundation and JEES (The organizations running the test) have never published official vocabulary lists for any level. They've stated the test measures "general communicative competence" rather than specific word lists.
What we call "JLPT vocabulary lists" come from:
- Official practice workbooks published by the test makers, which give strong hints about vocabulary range.
- Textbook series like Minna no Nihongo and Genki that align with JLPT levels.
- Test analysis by prep schools and educators who track what appears on actual exams.
- Crowd-sourced data from test-takers sharing what they encountered.
The kanji situation across levels
Here's where it gets interesting. Each JLPT level has associated kanji you should know, and yes, you need to learn both the kanji and the vocabulary that uses them.
- N5 kanji total about 100 characters. These are the most basic ones like (Day/Sun), (Person), (Moon/Month), and (Year). When you see a kanji list for N5, those 103 kanji appear in various combinations throughout the 800-word vocabulary list.
- N4 kanji add roughly 70 more characters, bringing your total to around 170 kanji. You're learning (Buy), (Sell), (Wait), and other everyday action kanji.
- N3 kanji require about 370 additional characters for a total of 650-ish. This level introduces more complex concepts and compound words.
- N2 kanji push you to around 1,000 total characters. You're now reading most signs, menus, and basic news articles.
- N1 kanji expect you to know approximately 2,136 characters, which is the full jouyou kanji list used in daily Japanese life.
The highlighted or colored boxes you sometimes see on vocabulary lists? Those usually indicate priority words or kanji that appear most frequently on the test. Pay extra attention to those.
Breaking down N5 vocabulary lists
Let me answer the most common question I see: yes, comprehensive JLPT N5 vocabulary lists exist, and they're usually organized by category rather than alphabetically. This makes way more sense for learning.
A solid N5 vocabulary list typically includes around 800 words broken into these categories:
- Verbs make up a huge chunk, maybe 250-300 words. You'll learn taberu () meaning "to eat," nomu () meaning "to drink," iku () meaning "to go," and kuru () meaning "to come." These are your basic action words.
- I-adjectives and na-adjectives together add another 150-200 words. Think oishii () meaning "delicious," takai () meaning "expensive or tall," and kirei (きれい) meaning "pretty or clean."
- Nouns cover everything from food to places to time expressions. You'll learn things like gohan () meaning "rice or meal," gakkou () meaning "school," and ashita () meaning "tomorrow."
- Numbers and counters are their own beast. You need ichi () through juu () for basic counting, plus counters like nin () for people and mai () for flat objects
- Particles and grammar words like wa (は), ga (が), wo (を), and ni (に) are technically grammar, but they appear on vocabulary lists because you need to recognize them.
Most N5 lists show each word in kanji (If applicable), hiragana, romaji, and English. Some people complain about romaji, but honestly, it helps absolute beginners get started. You'll drop it naturally as you progress.
Where to find quality JLPT vocabulary lists
I've seen people ask "how good is this list?" about various resources online. The truth is, most established lists are pretty similar because they're all drawing from the same pool of actual test questions and official prep books.
- Jlptstudy.net has comprehensive lists for all levels with kanji, hiragana, and English translations. Their N5 list covers all the major categories and you can browse by word type.
- Tanos.co.uk offers downloadable spreadsheets and PDFs organized by level. These are great if you want to print physical study sheets.
- Nihongo-pro.com provides categorized lists with strokes and details, but they only provide kanji lists.
- JLPT Sensei has word lists with example sentences.
- Core decks based on frequency data show you which words appear most often in Japanese media. The Core 2K/6K/10K decks aren't specifically JLPT-focused, but they overlap heavily with test vocabulary.
How to actually study these lists
Having a vocabulary list is one thing. Actually learning the words is another. Here's what works based on real study experience.
Flashcards remain king for vocabulary memorization. Apps like Anki use spaced repetition, which means you review words right before you'd forget them. This is way more efficient than reviewing everything equally.
Group words by theme when you're first learning. Study all the food words together, then all the family terms, then all the location words. Your brain creates stronger connections when related concepts appear together.
Audio is crucial for the listening section of the test. Many vocabulary lists link to audio files or dictionary entries with recordings. Listen to every word multiple times and practice saying it out loud.
Don't just memorize dictionary definitions. Learn how words actually function in sentences. The word "kiru" () means "to wear," but it only works for clothes on your upper body or full outfits. These nuances don't show up in basic vocabulary lists.
Track your progress somehow. Whether that's checking off words in a spreadsheet or using an app's statistics, seeing your progress keeps motivation high during the months of study required for higher levels.
Using technology to study vocabulary lists
Flashcard apps have changed how people study for the JLPT. Instead of paper cards or handwritten lists, you can use spaced repetition software that optimizes review timing.
- Anki is the most popular because it's free and highly customizable. You can download pre-made JLPT decks or create your own from vocabulary lists.
- Memrise has JLPT courses with video clips of native speakers using vocabulary words. Seeing real people use words helps with retention.
- WaniKani focuses on kanji and vocabulary together, teaching you kanji through vocabulary words rather than in isolation. It goes up to N3-N2 level coverage.
- Bunpro combines vocabulary and grammar study with SRS scheduling. You learn words and immediately practice them in grammar patterns.
- Migaku's browser extension and app let you create flashcards from words you encounter while reading articles or watching videos. This beats studying from generic lists because you're learning words in contexts that interest you. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.
FAQs
The bottom line on JLPT vocabulary lists
You need a solid vocabulary list for each JLPT level you're studying. These lists aren't official, but they're reliable compilations from years of test data and analysis. Use the words in context through reading and listening to real Japanese content.
If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Immersion tells you how to use what you've studied.