Learning N5 kanji is the fastest way to feel confident reading simple signs, menus, and basic sentences in Japanese. N5 covers roughly 100–120 common kanji — manageable with the right system. Below is a compact, actionable plan you can follow right away.

Why focus on N5 kanji first

• They appear everywhere in everyday Japanese (numbers, days, family, directions).

• Quick wins: small kanji set + high usefulness = fast motivation.

• Learning them first builds a foundation for reading and vocabulary.

Core principles (what actually works)

• Spaced repetition (SRS) — study, review, and repeat at growing intervals.

• Active recall — test yourself; don’t just re-read.

• Learn readings + meaning + one common word example — kanji are useful only in context.

• Combine visual memory (shape/radicals) with writing practice (stroke order helps retention).

• Small, consistent daily habit beats long occasional cramming.

Simple daily routine (20–30 minutes)

• 5 min — quick review of previously learned kanji (SRS app or flashcards).

• 10–15 min — learn 3–6 new kanji (radicals, meaning, on/kun reading, 1 example word).

• 5–10 min — write each new kanji 3–5 times and make a short sentence using its vocabulary.

Do this every day; 20–30 minutes × 30 days = huge progress.

Practical study techniques

• Break kanji into radicals — learn recurring parts (e.g., 氵 for water, 艹 for plants).

• Make short mnemonics or stories linking shape → meaning → reading. Keep them personal and silly.

• Learn one common vocabulary word for each kanji (example: 生 → いきる / せい → せいかつ).

• Focus on stroke order — use it when you write; it anchors memory.

• Read simple sentences/children’s texts and spot known kanji. Context locks meaning.

• Use flashcards both ways: kanji → meaning/readings and meaning/readings → kanji.

• Say the reading aloud while writing — multisensory learning helps.

Tools & activities (low effort, high reward)

• Use an SRS like Anki or a kanji app to schedule reviews.

• Get or make an “N5 kanji” deck sorted by frequency.

• Make tiny quizzes: mix 10 kanji and test yourself under a timer.

• Label objects in your home with kanji + reading to reinforce daily exposure.

• Watch children’s videos or simple manga, pause and find kanji you know.

Sample 6-week plan (rough)

• Week 1 — 20 basic kanji (numbers, days, person, big/small, mouth, tree).

• Week 2 — next 20 (locations, water, fire, school, come/go).

• Weeks 3–4 — 40 more (verbs’ kanji and everyday nouns).

• Week 5 — review + practice reading short passages.

• Week 6 — mock test: write all learned kanji, read 50 simple sentences, fix weak ones.

Quick tips & tricks

• Learn readings in pairs (on’yomi for compounds, kun’yomi for standalone words).

• Prioritise kanji that appear in N5 vocabulary lists (focus where the exam will test you).

• Don’t aim for perfection on first pass — exposure + spaced review builds mastery.

• Mistakes are learning signals — review errors right away.

• Make short, teachable outputs: explain a kanji to someone (or to yourself) in one sentence.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Overloading: trying to memorize too many new kanji in one day.

• Passive study only (reading without recall/writing).

• Ignoring readings — kanji without readings aren’t useful for tests or conversation.

Final note — consistency beats intensity

Small daily actions compound. If you do 20–30 minutes every day for 6–8 weeks, you’ll reliably master N5 kanji for reading and the exam.

Conquer JLPT N5 Kanji — A brief, practical guide with strategies, tips & tricks