I Love KanjiJapanese vocabulary
Learn Japanese vocabulary by level: start with the roughly 711 words of JLPT N5, learn each word in a real sentence, test yourself on it, and review it on a spaced-repetition schedule. The lists below add up to 7,934 words from N5 to N1.
Word lists by JLPT level
| Level | New words | Total so far | Kanji first used |
|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | 711 | 711 | 447 |
| N4 | 658 | 1,369 | 332 |
| N3 | 2,129 | 3,498 | 658 |
| N2 | 1,762 | 5,260 | 243 |
| N1 | 2,674 | 7,934 | 293 |
Counts from community JLPT lists (the JLPT has not published official vocabulary lists since 2010). See sources & methodology.
How to learn the words so they stick
- Recall, don’t re-read. Look at the Japanese and try to produce the meaning before checking – the flashcards and quiz do this.
- Space your reviews. Review a new word again after a short gap, then after longer and longer gaps.
- Use context. Every word page has real example sentences – read them out loud.
- Learn kanji through words. 勉強 teaches you 勉 and 強 at once.
More detail: how to learn Japanese vocabulary efficiently and how many words you need.
Common first words
ああah!会うto meet青blue青いblue赤red赤いred明るいlight秋autumn開くto open (e.g. doors)開けるto open (a door, etc.)上げるto raise朝morning朝御飯breakfast明後日day after tomorrow足foot明日tomorrowあそこthere遊ぶto play (games, sports)暖かいwarm頭head新しいnewあちらthat way暑いhot熱いhot (to the touch)厚いthickあっちthat way後behindあなたyou兄older brother姉older sisterアパートapartment buildingあのthat浴びるto dash over oneself (e.g. water)危ないdangerous甘いsweet-tasting余りremainder雨rain飴(hard) candy洗うto wash在るto be
Last reviewed 2026-10-09 by the I Love Kanji team.