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JLPT N5 vocabulary in anime: the beginner words you will actually hear
The N5 list is where everyone starts, and most of it is dull in isolation: 食べる, 今日, 友達. Hear the same words shouted, whispered and joked about in a show you like and they stop being a list. Below are the 123 N5 words that appear among the most frequent vocabulary of at least two of the 42 anime we counted, each with a real line from one of them.
- 123 N5 words
- 42 series counted
- Episodes 1–3 of each
- 46,826 subtitle lines
Levels come from dictionary JLPT tags and public N5–N1 lists; the JLPT itself publishes no official vocabulary list, so treat every level as an estimate. Words are grouped by how many series they appear in. How we count.
Anime with the most N5 speech
Share of content words in episodes 1–3 that are on the N5 list. These are the gentlest starts for a beginner; the full ranking covers all 42 series.
- Horimiya N5: 37% · N5–N4: 50%
- K-On! N5: 37% · N5–N4: 48%
- Polar Bear Café N5: 37% · N5–N4: 51%
- Erased N5: 35% · N5–N4: 52%
- Violet Evergarden N5: 35% · N5–N4: 51%
- NANA N5: 35% · N5–N4: 48%
- Noragami N5: 34% · N5–N4: 45%
- The Promised Neverland N5: 34% · N5–N4: 49%
- Frieren N5: 33% · N5–N4: 49%
- Death Note N5: 33% · N5–N4: 46%
Heard in 10 or more series 41 words · the core of anime Japanese
- 何なに nani42 series
what
アシモフ･ソーレンサンだよ 何 聞いてんだThe guy's name is Asimov Solensan. Weren't you listening to me?!Cowboy Bebop
- 言ういう iu42 series
to say; to utter; to declare
わけの分からないこと言うし 変な名前だしYou were talking gibberish and gave us that weird name.KonoSuba
- 行くいく iku38 series
to go; to move; to head
行くわけないでしょうが この子 脳に花 湧いてるのかしら？Are there just flowers in her head instead of a brain?Kaguya-sama
- 今いま ima36 series
now; the present time; just now
次 また 今のような方法で暗殺に来たらBut if you try another assassination like that one...Assassination Classroom
- 知るしる shiru28 series
to know; to be aware; to be conscious
知りたいのですI understand that those words express a particular emotion.Violet Evergarden
- ちょっとちょっと chotto26 series
a little; just a moment
ちょっと上がってってくださいUmm, if you're not in a hurry, can you stay for a little longer? {ED}Horimiya
- 今日きょう kyou23 series
today; this day
“今日は”というより 最近 毎日 素振りWell, I say "today", but I've been doing this pretty much every day as of recently.Demon Slayer
- 前まえ mae23 series
in front; before; earlier
15分くらい前You tried to tell me something earlier.Steins;Gate
to differ; to be different; to be distinct
違うのかもしれないdifferent from others.Demon Slayer
myself; yourself; oneself
おい 最後の問題ぐらい 自分で解いてみろよHey, try solving the last problem yourself.Death Note
to wait; to await; to look forward to
除霊なんて 少し待ってもらえば いいでしょ？I'm sure the exorcism can wait a little while.Mob Psycho 100
- まだまだ mada21 series
still; as yet; only
音無とかいったか 俺は お前をまだ認めていないOtonashi, I still don't recognize you.Angel Beats!
- 出るでる deru20 series
to leave; to exit; to go out
いつか出てくんだな こっからThis is an orphanage. Of course we'll leave eventually.The Promised Neverland
- 持つもつ motsu16 series
to hold; to take; to carry
生まれつき高い知力と 魔力を持ってて―crimson demons are born with high intelligence, and possess magical powers.KonoSuba
- 手て te15 series
hand; arm
いくら考えても手は変わらないわよYou can think all you want, but it won't change your hand.No Game No Life
- 仕事しごと shigoto11 series
work; job; labor
殺しの仕事を続けていくためにもIn order to keep working as an assassin.Spy x Family
- 名前なまえ namae10 series
name; given name; first name
“このノートに 名前を書かれた人間は 死ぬ”？“The person whose name is written in this notebook will die”?Death Note
- 体からだ karada10 series
body; torso; trunk
うん その時は 兄さんの体も一緒だよYes, and when that happens, Brother, your body will be with it.Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- 話はなし hanashi10 series
talk; speech; chat
だったら話にならねえだろ！If that were the case, there would be no discussion!Re:Zero
Heard in 5–9 series 27 words · common in most genres
- 好きすき suki9 series
liking; being fond of; to one's liking
好きだ… え…Yeah! I was just thinking, "Man, I love 'em!"Horimiya
together; one lump; one mixture
一緒に学校まで行こ！ うん！- Let's go to school together! - Yeah!Kaguya-sama
- よくよく yoku9 series
often; well
よく埋めた場所を忘れるんだSince they bury their food in so many places, they often forget where.Frieren
- 教えるおしえる oshieru7 series
to teach; to instruct
ギター イチから教えてくれるってThey say they'll teach you the guitar from scratch.K-On!
teacher; sensei
あの先生は なぜか普通に先生しているfor whatever reason, he's teaching us just like any other teacher would.Assassination Classroom
- 女おんな onna6 series
woman; female
たく うるせえ女だぜMan, we got one yappy woman here... {9 frames}Cowboy Bebop
- 顔かお kao6 series
face; visage; looks
一生 そんな顔で 生きるつもりですか？Do you plan to live the rest of your life with that face?Mob Psycho 100
- 生徒せいと seito5 series
pupil; student; schoolchild
即席の殺し屋であるのを除けば 普通の生徒だLikewise, we're perfectly normal students outside of the whole killer thing,Assassination Classroom
- 子供こども kodomo5 series
child; children
子供にまでは化けられんからなeven I can't pass myself off as a child.Spy x Family
- 学校がっこう gakkou5 series
school
私が夜の学校なんて 誘ったから…If I hadn't asked him to come to the school that night...Jujutsu Kaisen
- 終わるおわる owaru5 series
to end; to come to an end; to finish
魔導書の解読のほうが 早く終わるよI'll finish deciphering the grimoire before she does.Frieren
- 家いえ ie5 series
house; residence; dwelling
進化の家は４年以上前からWas the House of Evolution developing cyborgs prior to four years ago?One-Punch Man
- 呼ぶよぶ yobu5 series
to call out; to call; to invoke
どうして 私を 嫉妬の魔女の名で呼ぶの？Why did you call me by the name of the Witch of Envy?Re:Zero
Heard in 2–4 series 55 words · everyday words that depend on the setting
- 意味いみ imi4 series
meaning; significance; sense
この言葉に 特に意味はないHer words don't especially mean anything.Kaguya-sama
- いつもいつも itsumo4 series
always; all the time; at all times
いつも 炭治郎を見てるよThey're always watching over you, Tanjirou.Demon Slayer
- 書くかく kaku3 series
to write; to compose; to pen
何を書くのですか？I want to ask you to write something for me.Violet Evergarden
- パーティーぱーてぃー paatii3 series
party
えっ うっ… パーティーなら―Of course we'll be in the same party.Sword Art Online
- 妹いもうと imouto3 series
younger sister
妹を治す？ 敵を見つける？Can a weakling who can't take the initiative in such a situation heal his sister?!Demon Slayer
- 村むら mura3 series
village
逃げれば この村が 俺の代わりに報復されるIf I run away, this village will be punished in my place.Vinland Saga
language; dialect
魔獣 キリコは 人の言葉も操れるんだThat Magical Beast, the Kiriko, uses human speech.Hunter x Hunter
- 起きるおきる okiru3 series
to get up; to wake up
事件以前から 何かが起きている―Something has been happening even before the incident...Erased
- もっともっと motto3 series
more; even more; longer
もっといろんな 強い相手とも互角に戦えるし—If I can do that, I'll be on even ground with any strong opponent.Haikyu!!
- お母さんおかあさん okaasan3 series
mother; mom
お母さんが みんなに 責められるでしょ！Your mother will be blamed by everyone!Erased
- ほかほか hoka3 series
another place; some other place; somewhere else
ほかには 一切魔法は使えませんI can't use any other type of magic.KonoSuba
- テストてすと tesuto3 series
test; exam; examination
うん 図書館で中間テストの勉強してたからYeah, you can breeze through the make-up exam if you try a little harder!K-On!
- 読むよむ yomu3 series
to read; to recite; to chant
やっぱり 読み聞かせようか？Are you sure I shouldn't read it to you?Frieren
- 忘れるわすれる wasureru3 series
to forget; to leave carelessly; to be forgetful of
そんな大事なこと忘れるなよ！Don't forget such important things!Angel Beats!
- 山やま yama2 series
mountain; hill
ここから 山の麓の家まで下りてくることNow find your way back to that house at the bottom of the mountain.Demon Slayer
- 弟おとうと otouto2 series
younger brother; little brother; kid brother
弟に伝わることも…there'd be no one left to inform my brother...Spy x Family
- 動物どうぶつ doubutsu2 series
animal
今回は とある研究機関から 実験動物を奪って逃走中なんだThis time, he snagged a test animal from a research facility, and is on the loose.Cowboy Bebop
- 外そと soto2 series
outside; exterior
わざわざ壁の外に出るから こうなるんだよThis is what happens because you go out of your way to go outside the wall.Attack on Titan
- 答えるこたえる kotaeru2 series
to answer; to reply
答えは“１”か“２”で答えることYour answer will be either the number 1 or 2.Hunter x Hunter
- 家族かぞく kazoku2 series
family
ここに一風変わった家族があったThis house is home to a rather unusual family.Spy x Family
- 門もん mon2 series
gate
門か 森かThe gate's always shut unless they're shippin' someone, and when it's open...The Promised Neverland
- 初めてはじめて hajimete2 series
for the first time
これは おそらく 初めての魔法発動イベントThis must be the event where I produce my first magic!Re:Zero
- クラスくらす kurasu2 series
class
１年２年が 同じクラスだったんだけどWe were in the same class our first and second years,Assassination Classroom
- 高いたかい takai2 series
high; tall
高い運動能力 反射 自分の体を操るセンスHigh level of physical agility and reflexes.Haikyu!!
- 見せるみせる miseru2 series
to show
悪魔になって 力を見せてみろTurn into a devil, and show me what you've got.Chainsaw Man
- 昨日きのう kinou2 series
yesterday
昨日 見ただろIt's all right. You saw yesterday, right?Assassination Classroom
FAQ
Is this the full JLPT N5 vocabulary list?
No. The JLPT organisers do not publish official word lists, and the commonly used unofficial N5 list has roughly 700 words. This page shows the 123 of them that appear in the frequent vocabulary of at least two of the 42 anime we counted, so it is the N5 you will actually hear, not the N5 you will be tested on.
Can I learn N5 vocabulary from anime alone?
Anime gives you the words in context and with emotion, which makes them stick, but the register is casual and often rude. Pair it with a textbook or a course for polite forms and grammar, and use the shows for listening, vocabulary and motivation.
Which anime has the most N5 words?
By share of dialogue on the N5 list in the first three episodes, the top of our ranking is Horimiya, K-On!, Polar Bear Café. Slice-of-life and school settings use the most everyday vocabulary; fantasy and military series use the least.