How many kanji and words do you need for JLPT N5?
Use the free tool — JapaneseDaily
What is JLPT N5?
JLPT N5 is the first official level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. According to JLPT, it covers about 100 kanji and 800 words. That is the whole scope of the level — not a rough estimate we invented, but the number JLPT itself publishes.
Before kanji: the 46 hiragana
You cannot read Japanese text at all until you know the hiragana. According to the Japan Foundation, there are 46 hiragana characters, and after about a week of practice you should be able to read every basic Japanese sound. JapaneseDaily's Unit 1 teaches hiragana first, with romaji in every note, so you are never guessing how something sounds.
Where JapaneseDaily fits inside N5
- Its phrases are built to sit inside the JLPT N5 level (about 100 kanji, 800 words), per JLPT.
- Lessons follow real situations: greetings, work, the doctor, the apartment, the bank.
- It uses listen-and-speak drills and spaced repetition, with no account, no ads, and no hearts.
- The course itself lists two paid plans — $4.99 and $29 — nothing beyond those two prices appears in this material, so it is not described as fully free.
- For games and streak battles, there is a separate tool, Kaira.
Why the interest in Japanese right now
According to the Duolingo Language Report 2025, Japanese became the 4th most-studied language in the world in 2025, passing German. That tells you about general popularity, not about your personal results or how fast you personally will reach N5.
What is not guaranteed
JapaneseDaily is a self-paced practice app. It is not officially connected to the JLPT, and finishing its lessons does not guarantee you will pass the JLPT N5 exam. Passing depends on JLPT's own testing standards. This page is not test-preparation advice or a substitute for official guidance — please confirm exam dates, requirements, and results directly on the official JLPT site. We also have no information here about whether text you type or paste into any app is stored, so check the app's own privacy policy or contact support before assuming anything about your data.
What to do next
You don't need to guess where you stand. The free JapaneseDaily course lets you work through your own hiragana and phrase practice at your own pace — listen, speak, and repeat with spaced repetition — so you can see for yourself how the material lines up with the JLPT N5 scope described above, before you decide anything about the actual exam.