Open JLPT N5 reference

N5 grammar

Browse 110 core N5 patterns and 15 N5+ bridge topics by group. Every article comes from the same learning content used by the Kanakuma app.

125 patterns: N5 and the bridge to the next level

Every article repeats the guide from the app: meaning, formation, situations, notes and common mistakes.

Adjective forms

  1. Aいです/Aい + N Detailed guide

    Forms the basic use of an i-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  2. Aくない Detailed guide

    Forms the negative of an i-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  3. Aかった Detailed guide

    Forms the past of an i-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  4. Aくなかった Detailed guide

    Forms the past negative of an i-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  5. Aです/Aだ/Aな + N Detailed guide

    Forms the basic use of a na-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  6. Aじゃない/ではない Detailed guide

    Forms the negative of a na-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  7. Aだった/でした Detailed guide

    Forms the past of a na-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  8. Aじゃなかった/ではありませんでした Detailed guide

    Forms the past negative of a na-adjective

    N5 · Adjective forms
  9. Aくなる/Aになる Detailed guide

    Describes a change in quality or state

    N5+ · Adjective forms
  10. A/V + すぎる Detailed guide

    Shows an excessive degree or action

    N5+ · Adjective forms
  11. N1はN2がAです Detailed guide

    Describes a feature or aspect of a topic

    N5 · Adjective forms

Reference, existence, and questions

  1. 〜か Detailed guide

    Turns a statement into a question

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  2. Nがある/いる Detailed guide

    States that an object or living being exists

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  3. Nは場所にある/いる Detailed guide

    States where an object or living being is located

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  4. これ/それ/あれ Detailed guide

    Points to an object by its distance

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  5. この/その/あの + N Detailed guide

    Modifies a noun according to the object's distance

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  6. ここ/そこ/あそこ Detailed guide

    Points to a place by its distance

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  7. どれ/どの + N Detailed guide

    Asks which item among several is meant

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  8. だれ/何 Detailed guide

    Asks about a person or thing

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  9. どこ Detailed guide

    Asks about a place or direction

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  10. いつ Detailed guide

    Asks when an event occurs

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  11. どう/Nはどうですか Detailed guide

    Asks about a state, method, or opinion

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  12. どうやって Detailed guide

    Asks how an action is performed

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  13. どうして/なぜ/なんで Detailed guide

    Asks for the reason behind an event

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  14. どんな + N Detailed guide

    Asks about the kind or quality of a thing

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  15. いくら/いくつ Detailed guide

    Asks about price, quantity, or age

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  16. 何か/何も〜ない Detailed guide

    Refers to something indefinite or to nothing

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  17. だれか・どこか/だれも・どこも〜ない Detailed guide

    Refers to someone or somewhere, or to no one

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions
  18. こちら/そちら/あちら Detailed guide

    Politely indicates a direction, place, or person

    N5 · Reference, existence, and questions

Experience and completion

  1. Vてある Detailed guide

    Describes the result of an intentional action

    N5+ · Experience and completion

Experience, preferences, and exchange

  1. Vたことがある Detailed guide

    States experience of performing an action

    N5+ · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  2. VたりVたりする Detailed guide

    Lists representative or selected actions

    N5+ · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  3. Nが好き/嫌い Detailed guide

    Expresses a preference or dislike for an object

    N5 · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  4. Vのが好き/嫌い Detailed guide

    Expresses a preference or dislike for an action

    N5 · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  5. Vのが上手/下手 Detailed guide

    Evaluates skill at performing an action

    N5 · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  6. Vのは〜/Aのは〜 Detailed guide

    Turns an action or quality into the topic

    N5 · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  7. Nをあげる Detailed guide

    Describes giving an object from me to someone

    N5+ · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  8. Nをくれる Detailed guide

    Describes giving an object to me or my group

    N5+ · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  9. Nをもらう Detailed guide

    Describes receiving an object from another person

    N5+ · Experience, preferences, and exchange
  10. Nがわかります Detailed guide

    Shows that information is understood

    N5 · Experience, preferences, and exchange

Copulas and sentence types

  1. NはNです Detailed guide

    Builds the basic sentence 'X is Y'

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  2. 〜です Detailed guide

    Forms a polite nominal statement

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  3. 〜だ Detailed guide

    Forms a plain informal statement

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  4. 〜ではありません/じゃありません Detailed guide

    Forms a polite nominal negative

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  5. 〜じゃない/ではない Detailed guide

    Forms a plain informal negative

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  6. 〜でした/だった Detailed guide

    Forms a statement in the past tense

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  7. 〜ではありませんでした/じゃなかった Detailed guide

    Forms a negative nominal statement in the past

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types
  8. 〜でしょう/だろう Detailed guide

    Expresses a supposition or asks for confirmation

    N5 · Copulas and sentence types

Particles: roles and direction

  1. 〜は Detailed guide

    Marks the statement topic or a contrast

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  2. 〜が Detailed guide

    Marks the subject or new information

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  3. 〜を Detailed guide

    Marks an action object or movement route

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  4. NのN Detailed guide

    Marks possession, type, or relation

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  5. 〜も Detailed guide

    Adds 'also' or 'none' when used with a negative

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  6. 時刻に Detailed guide

    Marks the exact time of an action

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  7. 場所に Detailed guide

    Marks existence location or movement goal

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  8. 相手/目的/結果に Detailed guide

    Marks a recipient, purpose, or result

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  9. 〜へ Detailed guide

    Marks a direction of movement

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  10. 場所で Detailed guide

    Marks the place of an action

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  11. 手段/材料/言語で Detailed guide

    Marks a means, material, or language

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  12. NとN Detailed guide

    Links nouns in a complete list

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  13. NとV Detailed guide

    Marks a participant in a shared action

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  14. NやNなど Detailed guide

    Lists examples without closing the list

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  15. 〜か〜か Detailed guide

    Offers a choice between options A and B

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  16. 〜から Detailed guide

    Marks a starting point in time or space

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  17. 〜まで Detailed guide

    Marks an end point in time or space

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  18. 〜から〜まで Detailed guide

    Defines a range from its start to its end

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  19. が/の + V/A + N Detailed guide

    Marks the subject inside a noun-modifying clause

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction
  20. 〜の Detailed guide

    Replaces an understood noun

    N5 · Particles: roles and direction

Permission and obligation

  1. 〜てもいいです Detailed guide

    Grants permission or asks for it

    N5 · Permission and obligation
  2. Vてはいけない Detailed guide

    Forbids an action

    N5 · Permission and obligation
  3. Vちゃ/じゃいけない Detailed guide

    Forbids an action in casual speech

    N5 · Permission and obligation
  4. Vるな Detailed guide

    Expresses a direct and strong prohibition

    N5 · Permission and obligation
  5. Vなくてはいけない/ならない・Vないといけない・Vなくちゃ/なきゃ Detailed guide

    Expresses an obligation to perform an action

    N5+ · Permission and obligation
  6. Vなくてもいい Detailed guide

    Removes the obligation to perform an action

    N5+ · Permission and obligation
  7. Vた/Vない + ほうがいい Detailed guide

    Advises performing or avoiding an action

    N5+ · Permission and obligation

Wishes, plans, and choices

  1. 〜たい Detailed guide

    Expresses a wish to perform an action

    N5 · Wishes, plans, and choices
  2. Nがほしい Detailed guide

    Expresses a wish to obtain an object

    N5 · Wishes, plans, and choices
  3. Vます + に行く/に来る Detailed guide

    Marks an action as the purpose of movement

    N5 · Wishes, plans, and choices
  4. Vる/Vない + つもりだ Detailed guide

    Expresses a settled intention or plan

    N5+ · Wishes, plans, and choices
  5. Nにする Detailed guide

    Forms a choice or settled decision

    N5 · Wishes, plans, and choices

Quantity and comparison

  1. 〜だけ Detailed guide

    Limits a meaning to one item or action

    N5 · Quantity and comparison
  2. 〜くらい/ぐらい Detailed guide

    Shows an approximate amount, time, or degree

    N5 · Quantity and comparison
  3. N1よりN2のほうが〜 Detailed guide

    Compares N1 and N2 by a chosen quality

    N5 · Quantity and comparison
  4. N1の中でN2がいちばん〜 Detailed guide

    Selects the highest degree within a group

    N5 · Quantity and comparison
  5. いちばん Detailed guide

    Expresses the highest degree or preference

    N5 · Quantity and comparison
  6. Nは〜歳です Detailed guide

    States a person or animal's age

    N5 · Quantity and comparison
  7. 数量詞 + V/期間に回数/時間がかかる Detailed guide

    Expresses quantity, frequency, and duration

    N5 · Quantity and comparison

Requests and communication

  1. 〜ましょう Detailed guide

    Suggests performing an action together

    N5 · Requests and communication
  2. 〜ませんか Detailed guide

    Politely invites someone to act together

    N5 · Requests and communication
  3. 〜てください Detailed guide

    Forms a polite request to perform an action

    N5 · Requests and communication
  4. 〜ね Detailed guide

    Asks for confirmation or shared agreement

    N5 · Requests and communication
  5. 〜よ Detailed guide

    Emphasizes new or important information

    N5 · Requests and communication
  6. 〜んです/のです Detailed guide

    Turns a statement into an explanation

    N5 · Requests and communication
  7. お〜/ご〜 Detailed guide

    Adds a polite nuance to a word

    N5 · Requests and communication
  8. 普通形 + と Detailed guide

    Marks a quotation, thought, or report

    N5 · Requests and communication
  9. 〜って Detailed guide

    Marks a casual quotation or topic

    N5 · Requests and communication
  10. 〜が/けど/けれども Detailed guide

    Links statements with a soft contrast

    N5 · Requests and communication
  11. Vます + ましょうか Detailed guide

    Offers a shared action or personal help

    N5 · Requests and communication
  12. Vないでください Detailed guide

    Forms a polite request not to act

    N5 · Requests and communication
  13. Nをください Detailed guide

    Forms a polite request for an object

    N5 · Requests and communication

Time and reason

  1. Vて、B Detailed guide

    Links sequential actions A and B

    N5 · Time and reason
  2. Vてから Detailed guide

    Shows that one action follows another

    N5 · Time and reason
  3. Vる/Nの + 前に Detailed guide

    Places an event before an action or event

    N5 · Time and reason
  4. Vた/Nの + 後で Detailed guide

    Places an event after an action or event

    N5 · Time and reason
  5. 〜とき Detailed guide

    Marks the time of an action or state

    N5+ · Time and reason
  6. V普通形・Aい + から/N・Aな + だから Detailed guide

    Names the reason for an event or decision

    N5 · Time and reason
  7. V普通形・Aい + ので/N・Aな + なので Detailed guide

    Names a reason in a softer way

    N5+ · Time and reason
  8. そして Detailed guide

    Adds the next related fact or action

    N5 · Time and reason
  9. それから Detailed guide

    Continues a sequence with the next event

    N5 · Time and reason
  10. しかし/でも Detailed guide

    Contrasts the next fact with the previous one

    N5 · Time and reason
  11. Vます + ながら Detailed guide

    Shows two actions happening at the same time

    N5+ · Time and reason

Verb forms and tenses

  1. Vます/ません Detailed guide

    Forms polite non-past and its negative

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  2. Vました/ませんでした Detailed guide

    Forms polite past and its negative

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  3. V辞書形 Detailed guide

    Forms the plain dictionary verb form

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  4. Vない Detailed guide

    Forms the plain negative verb form

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  5. Vた Detailed guide

    Forms the plain past verb form

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  6. Vなかった Detailed guide

    Forms the plain past negative verb form

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  7. Vて Detailed guide

    Forms the te-form used to link patterns

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  8. Vている Detailed guide

    Describes an ongoing action, habit, or state

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  9. Vないで、B Detailed guide

    Links action B to action A not being performed

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  10. Vる/Vた + N Detailed guide

    Lets a verb clause modify a noun

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  11. Vます + 方 Detailed guide

    Names the way to perform an action

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  12. する/来る Detailed guide

    Forms the core patterns of する and 来る

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses
  13. もうVました/まだVていません Detailed guide

    Shows whether an action is done or not yet

    N5 · Verb forms and tenses

See also: N4 grammar