N5 is the most basic JLPT level. Its 62 grammar points begin with the particles は, が, を and に and the polite endings です and ます, then cover the te-form, adjective endings and questions. Each one has a Japanese example with an English translation.
「あとで」 means that the following action takes place after the preceding action or event.
朝ご飯を食べ終わったあとでお風呂に入りました。After finishing breakfast, I took a bath.
Note In 「食べ終わったあとで」, 「あとで」 places the bath after breakfast was finished. 「入りました」 states the later action politely in the past.
「あまり〜ない」 combines 「あまり」 with a negative form to mean that a quality is not very strong or an action does not happen much or often.
このラーメンはあまりおいしくないね …。This ramen isn't very tasty, is it…
Note Here 「あまり〜ない」 makes 「おいしくない」 mean “not very tasty.” The final 「ね」 invites the listener to agree.
Marks a direct or embedded question; combines with question words to form indefinite expressions such as “someone” or “somewhere”; or links alternatives as “or.”
このパーティーはいつなのか、 友達に聞いてみよう。Let's try asking a friend when this party is.
Note In いつなのか, か marks the embedded question about when the party is, which the speaker proposes asking a friend.
Marks the subject of a sentence, or connects clauses with a contrast meaning “but” or “however.” After a noun referring to someone, it can express anger or contempt toward that person, as in この野郎が.
今は晴れているが、 明日は雨だろう。It's sunny now, but it will probably rain tomorrow.
Note Here, が connects the sunny weather now with the prediction of rain tomorrow and expresses a contrast.
States that something exists or is present; with a possessor as the topic, it can also say that someone or something has a thing or quality.
テーブルにりんごがある。There is an apple on the table.
Note In りんごがある, が marks the apple as what exists, while ある states its presence at the location marked by テーブルに.
Indicates that a person or animal exists or is somewhere; が marks who or what is there.
公園に犬の親子がいる。There is a dog and its pup in the park.
Note Here がいる says that the dog and its pup are in the park; が marks the living beings whose presence is described.
Gives a reason, meaning “because” or “since,” or marks a starting point in time or place, meaning “from” or “since.”
彼は、成功したベンチャービジネスの社長だから、すごい金持ちに違いない。He is the president of a successful startup, so he must be very rich.
Note In 社長だから, から follows だ after the noun 社長 and gives the reason for the conclusion that he must be rich.
Marks a range from a starting point to an endpoint, including times and places.
今日のピアノコンクールは九時から三時まで行われます。Today's piano competition will be held from nine to three.
Note In 九時から三時まで, から marks when the competition starts and まで marks when it ends.
Expresses wanting something; が marks the desired thing.
子供の時、 馬が欲しかったです。When I was a child, I wanted a horse.
Note In 馬が欲しかったです, が欲しい expresses the desire for a horse. 欲しかったです places that desire in the past and uses a polite ending.
Expresses a degree, as in “to the extent that”; an approximate amount, as in “about”; or a minimum, as in “at least.”
あなたには感謝してもしきれないくらいだ。I cannot thank you enough.
Note Here くらい marks degree: 感謝してもしきれないくらい says the speaker is so grateful that thanking the listener would never be enough.
Aしか〜ない means “only A” or “nothing other than A.” しか requires a negative predicate.
すみませんが、日本語の名刺しか持っていないんですけど。Sorry, I only have a business card in Japanese…
「桜」という曲、聞いたことあるの？Have you heard the song called “Sakura”?
Attaches to a verb stem to express wanting to do that action.
有名な人の中で、誰と会いたい？Which famous person do you want to meet?
Note In 会いたい, たい expresses a desire to meet someone. The question asks which famous person the listener wants to meet.
だけ can mean “only” or “just.” In expressions such as 好きなだけ and できるだけ, it describes an amount or degree: as much as one likes or can. A pattern such as やるだけやってみる means trying all one can. ～だけあって introduces a result that fits what one would expect from the preceding fact.
彼女はモデルだけあってスタイルがいい。As you'd expect of a model, she has a good figure.
Note モデルだけあって says that her good figure is what one would expect of a model. The focus construction is だけあって.
たち marks a plural or group of people or other living beings. After a name, it can mean that person and their companions.
私は動物達のことを優しくて賢いと思っている。I think animals are kind and intelligent.
Note In 動物達, たち presents the animals as a group.
Lists examples of actions or states, such as doing A and B, without implying that the list is complete.
あの子はすぐ怒ったり、泣いたりする。That child is quick to get angry or cry.
Note Here たり～たりする lists getting angry and crying as examples of the child's reactions; すぐ indicates that these reactions come quickly.
近所のスーパーで懐かしい友達に会いました。I met an old friend at a supermarket in my neighborhood.
Note The で after 近所のスーパー marks the supermarket as the place where the meeting happened.
The verb て・で form links actions or situations. It can express sequence, addition, cause, or the means of the following action; context determines the relationship.
先週、腐った牛乳を飲んで、お腹を壊しました。Last week, I drank spoiled milk, so I got an upset stomach.
Note 飲んで is the て・で form of 飲む. Here it links drinking spoiled milk to the resulting upset stomach.
～てある describes a state left by someone's intentional action, often something done in preparation.
住所が葉書に書いてあるので、 忘れないようにメモしておいて。The address is written on the postcard, so jot it down so you don't forget.
Note In 書いてある, てある says that someone wrote the address and it remains written on the postcard.
～ている can describe an action in progress, a state that remains after an action, or a habitual action.
彼女は子供が生まれて喜んでいます。She is delighted that her child has been born.
Note In 喜んでいます, ている presents her delight after the child's birth as a current, continuing state.
After completing one action, do the next.
肉を焼いてから、そこにある麺を混ぜてね。After you grill the meat, mix in those noodles over there, okay?
Note The てから in 焼いてから places grilling the meat before mixing in the noodles.
Added to a verb’s て-form to politely ask someone to do something.
もう一度、 ゆっくり言ってください。Please say it slowly one more time.
Note In 言ってください, てください politely asks the listener to say it again, slowly.
Added to a verb’s て-form to make a courteous, indirect request: “Would you please …?”
ドアに鍵をかけて下さいませんか。Would you please lock the door?
Note In かけて下さいませんか, てくださいませんか frames the request to lock the door as a courteous question.
でした is the polite past affirmative of a noun or な-adjective predicate (“was/were”); ではありませんでした is its polite past negative (“was/were not”).
祖母はきれいでした。My grandmother was beautiful.
Note In きれいでした, でした follows the な-adjective きれい and puts the description of the grandmother in the polite past tense.
Expresses a polite guess (“probably …”), seeks agreement (“…, right?”), or, in a question such as one ending in でしょうか, makes an inquiry tentative (“I wonder whether …”).
多分彼らは車で来るでしょう。They will probably come by car.
Note In 来るでしょう, でしょう expresses a polite guess about how they will come. 多分 reinforces the uncertainty.
A and B; 2. with A, or to A; 3. when/if A happens, B follows as a natural result.
このキノコ、食べると笑いが止まらなくなるんだって。I heard that if you eat this mushroom, you won't be able to stop laughing.
Connects nouns A and B to show possession (A's B) or another relationship between them. It can also show that B is A, as in 友達の田中さん (my friend Tanaka). Context determines the relationship.
彼は日本語の先生です。He is a Japanese-language teacher.
Note In 「日本語の先生」, the 「AのB」 construction links the subject taught, Japanese, to the teacher. It does not state the teacher’s nationality.
A polite request not to do something: “Please don’t …”. It follows a verb in its ない form.
教室の中で食べ物を食べないでください。Please do not eat in the classroom.
Note 食べないでください uses ないでください to politely ask someone not to eat in the classroom.
Links two actions done at the same time by the same person: “do B while doing A”. It attaches to a verb’s ます-stem.
すごい！ 田中さんはジャンプをしながら歌います！Wow! Tanaka sings while jumping!
Note In ジャンプをしながら歌います, ながら shows that Tanaka sings while jumping.
Means “to become”: to change into a state or take on an identity.
彼女はお酒を飲みすぎると、 顔が真っ赤になる。When she drinks too much alcohol, her face turns bright red.
Note 真っ赤になる uses なる to describe a change of state: her face turns bright red when she drinks too much.
Marks where someone or something exists: in, on, or at A. 2. Marks a destination or direction: to or toward A. 3. Marks a specific time: at or on A. 4. Marks the agent of a passive verb: by A. 5. Marks the resulting state of a change: into A. 6. Marks a period used to count frequency or rate: per A. 7. Links nouns in a list: A and B. 8. Marks the purpose of movement: go, come, or return to do A. 9. Marks the target or recipient of an action: to or for A.
私の部屋に可愛い猫がいます。There is a cute cat in my room.
Note In 私の部屋に……います, に marks the place where the cat is: “in my room.”
With を, ～にする means to make or change something into a given state. It can also mean choosing an option, as when ordering.
その少年は大人を馬鹿にする。That boy makes fun of adults.
Note 馬鹿にする is a set expression containing にする. Here, 大人を馬鹿にする means to make fun of or look down on adults.
The sentence-ending particle ね checks with the listener or invites them to agree with the speaker's view.
子供は可愛いね。Children are cute, aren't they?
Note The sentence-ending ね invites the listener to agree that children are cute.
At the end of a casual sentence, の can make it a question. Between nouns, it can show possession, another relationship, or that the second noun is someone or something identified by the first. After a modifier, it can mean 'the ... one.' In descriptions such as 目の大きい人, it can mark the subject of the described quality.
綾子にはその話をきちんと伝えたの？Did you tell Ayako about that properly?
Note The sentence-ending の turns 綾子にはその話をきちんと伝えた into a casual question asking whether Ayako was properly told about it.
Politely states that A is B. は marks A as the topic, and B identifies or classifies it.
私は学生です。I am a student.
Note Here, 「AはBです」 identifies the speaker as a student: 「私」 is the topic, and 「学生」 states who the speaker is.
The particle へ marks the direction or destination of movement, often translated as 'to' or 'toward.'
今日は病院へ行った。I went to the hospital today.
Note In 病院へ行った, the particle へ marks 病院 (the hospital) as the destination of the movement.
～ました is the polite past affirmative form of a verb; ～ませんでした is the polite past negative form.
そのように説明を受けていました。That was how it had been explained to me.
Note In 説明を受けていました, ～ました makes the ～ている construction polite and past. Here it conveys that the speaker had previously been given that explanation.
A polite verb ending used to suggest doing something together or to ask whether the speaker or their group should do something.
駅の前で会いましょう。Let's meet in front of the station.
Note The ましょう in 会いましょう politely suggests that the speaker and listener meet in front of the station.
Polite nonpast verb endings: ます is affirmative and ません is negative. Depending on context, they can refer to the present or future.
今日は、 会議には出ません。I'm not attending the meeting today.
Note The ません in 出ません is a polite nonpast negative ending. Here it says the speaker is not attending the meeting today.
A polite negative question used to invite someone to do something together: “Would you like to ...?” or “Shall we ...?”
明日、 一緒に映画を見ませんか。Would you like to see a movie together tomorrow?
Note The ませんか in 見ませんか politely invites the listener to see a movie together tomorrow.
“Still” for a continuing state or action; with a negative verb, “not yet.”
桃がまだ4個ある。There are still four peaches.
Note Here まだ means “still”: the state of having four peaches continues.
Can mean “also” or “too”; after a quantity, emphasizes “as many or much as”; can mean “even,” or “not even” with negation. With a question word and a negative verb, it can mean “nothing” or “no one.” When two items each take も with a negative verb, it means “neither ... nor ...”.
私のおじいさんは、犬を４匹も飼っている。My grandfather has as many as four dogs.
Note The も in ４匹も emphasizes four dogs as a surprisingly large number.
もう means “already” in an affirmative statement, including when an action is already underway. With a negative form, it means “no longer”; before an amount, it means “another” or “more.”
もう5時を過ぎましたよ。It's already past five o'clock.
Note Here もう means “already”: the time has passed five o'clock.
Aより（も）Bの方がC means that B is more C than A.
この自転車よりもそのバイクの方がかっこいい！That motorbike is cooler than this bicycle!
Note In この自転車よりもそのバイクの方がかっこいい, よりも sets this bicycle as the point of comparison, and の方が marks that motorbike as the cooler one.
や links representative examples in an open list, as in “A, B, and so on.” Between small quantities, as in 一つや二つ, it can mean roughly “one or two.”
多くの子供はピーマンやにんじんが嫌いだ。Many children dislike foods such as green peppers and carrots.
Note Here や links green peppers and carrots as examples of foods many children dislike; the list is not exhaustive.
Sentence-final よ presents a statement to the listener with emphasis or confidence.
太郎はいい子だよ。Taro is a good kid, you know.
Note The sentence-final よ emphasizes the speaker's statement that Taro is a good kid and directs it to the listener.
Sentence-final わ softly conveys the speaker's assertion, feeling, or intention.
助かったわ。 ありがとう。That was a big help. Thank you.
Marks a transitive verb’s object, a route or area traversed, or a place left behind. With an emotion verb, it can mark the object or trigger of the feeling.
小川を歩いて渡った。I crossed the small stream on foot.
Note In 小川を歩いて渡った, を marks the stream as the area crossed, and 歩いて specifies that the crossing was made on foot.
Noun + をください politely requests an item: “Please give me A.”
辛い食べ物を食べたいから、カレーをください。I want to eat something spicy, so please give me some curry.
Note In カレーをください, をください politely requests curry. を marks the item requested.
Noun + をくださいませんか is a polite question requesting an item: “Could you please give me A?”
先生、 薬をもう少し下さいませんか？Doctor, could you please give me a little more medicine?
Note In 薬をもう少し下さいませんか, をくださいませんか makes the request for medicine a polite question. もう少し means “a little more.”
The suffix ～方（がた） forms a relatively polite plural expression when attached to a word referring to a person.
あなた方は立派でした。You all were splendid.
Note The suffix ～方（がた） turns あなた into あなた方, addressing multiple people. でした makes the statement polite and past tense.
An adjective placed before a noun describes that noun.
彼は忙しい医者です。He is a busy doctor.
Note In the adjective-before-noun construction 「忙しい医者」, 「忙しい」 directly describes the doctor.
The casual non-past has affirmative and negative forms. Depending on context, it can describe a present state, a habit, or a future action, or deny the corresponding situation.
彼はパンを食べる。He eats bread.
Note 「食べる」 is the affirmative casual non-past form. The sentence says that he eats bread; context would determine whether this is habitual or refers to a future action.
The affirmative casual past describes an action or state in the past. The negative casual past says it did not happen or hold.
駅まで歩いた。I walked to the station.
Note 「歩いた」 is the affirmative casual past of 「歩く」. It places the walk to the station in the past.
Links adjectives to give two or more qualities of the same subject. An い-adjective changes its final い to くて when linking to the next description.
部屋は暗くて汚いです。The room is dark and dirty.
Note The linking form 「暗くて」 connects 「暗い」 with 「汚い」, describing the room as both dark and dirty.
Uses an adjective’s negative form to say that someone or something does not have that quality.
ここは静かじゃないです。It is not quiet here.
Note The adjective negative 「静かじゃないです」 politely says that this place is not quiet.
A question can ask for a yes or no answer, what something is, where someone or something is, or who someone is. It can also ask what someone likes, dislikes, or wants, or what kind of thing they like, dislike, or want.
これは高いペンですか。Is this an expensive pen?
Note The sentence-final 「ですか」 makes this a polite yes or no question asking whether this is an expensive pen.
好き means to like, 嫌い to dislike, and 欲しい to want something. が commonly marks the thing liked, disliked, or wanted.
動物が大好きです。I love animals.
Note In が大好きです, が marks animals as the thing liked. 大好き is an emphatic form of 好き, expressing strong liking.
行く means to go somewhere, 来る to come somewhere, and 帰る to return home or to a usual place.
息子は学校に行きます。My son goes to school.
Note In 学校に行きます, 行く means “go,” and に marks 学校 as the destination. 行きます is the polite nonpast form.
時（とき） identifies when something happens or holds true: “when” or “at the time of.”
その時パレードが通り過ぎていった。At that time, a parade passed by.
Note Here, 時（とき） appears in その時, meaning “at that time.” It tells us when the parade passed by.
A前に、B means that B happens before A occurs or begins.
運動し始める前にストレッチをしてください。Please stretch before you start exercising.
Note 運動し始める前に uses 前に to place the requested stretching before the start of exercise.
中（じゅう） means throughout an entire period or all over an area. 中（ちゅう） means during a period or while an activity is in progress.
日本では6月中に何度も雨が降りました。In Japan, it rained many times during June.
Note Here 6月中（ちゅう）に means “during June.” 何度も says that it rained several times within that month; it does not say that rain continued all month.
Levels follow a third-party compilation, not an official JLPT list.