JLPT N5 β€’ BEGINNER POSTER

JLPT N5 Kanji Chart & Printable Visual Cheat Sheet (All 80 Beginner Kanji)

Master all 80 foundational JLPT N5 kanji with one unified visual story per character. Switch between Illustrated Mnemonic Cards and the Compact Printable Wall Chart below.

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δΊΊ Person
δΊΊ (Person) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: にんKUN: ひとJLPT N5

Ninja (にん) hitman (ひと) wearing jeans (γ˜γ‚“), working at Nintendo... just your typical Japanese person...

δΈ€ One
δΈ€ (One) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: いけKUN: ひとJLPT N5

The boy hit-o (ひと) his knee and now it’s itchy (いけ). Thank God it’s-u (い぀) just one knee.

ζ—₯ Sun, Day
ζ—₯ (Sun, Day) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: にけKUN: ひJLPT N5

In a bright sun beam (び), Mr. Hiroki (ひ) can finally see why his β€œknee is itchy” (にけ)! Must be from all the karate (か) and jiu-jitsu (じ぀)!

ε€§ Big
ε€§ (Big) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γŸγ„KUN: おおJLPT N5

β€œOoooo!!” (おお), what a fight! Definitely no tie (γŸγ„) today, the big guy will win all the diamonds (だい)...

εΉ΄ Year
εΉ΄ (Year) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ねんKUN: としJLPT N5

Ms. Toe-shi (とし), always wearing linen (ねん), makes every year fun for us...

ε‡Ί Exit
ε‡Ί (Exit) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しゅ぀KUN: でJLPT N5

The man pleaded: β€œI’m exit-ing! Don’t shoots-u (しゅ぀)!”... But the dark (だ) evil samurai wanted him dead (で) anyway...

本 Book
本 (Book) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ほんKUN: もとJLPT N5

The boy in Hong Kong, is reading a book about Honda (ほん) Motors (もと).

δΈ­ Middle
δΈ­ (Middle) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: けゅうKUN: γͺかJLPT N5

If chewing (けゅう) gum is all natural calories (γͺか), then why... cut it in the middle?!!

子 Child
子 (Child) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しKUN: こJLPT N5

Just a happy child with his pet sheep (し) eating cold (こ) soup (す)...

見 See
見 (See) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: けんKUN: みJLPT N5

When you See Mr. Ken (けん) giving out free samples, scream: β€œme! me! me! (み)”

ε›½ Country
ε›½ (Country) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: こくKUN: くにJLPT N5

For some reason, the coke (こく) country king, has really cool knees (くに)...

上 Up, Above
上 (Up, Above) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γ˜γ‚‡γ†KUN: γ†γˆJLPT N5

Ever since the plant grew above (あ) ground, it’s been way (γ†γˆ) too many jokes (γ˜γ‚‡γ†)...

εˆ† Divide
εˆ† (Divide) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ぢんKUN: わJLPT N5

The man divided the sacred log, and the city was hit by a typhoon (ちん) of waffle-throwing (わ) baboons (ぢ or ぢん)

η”Ÿ Life
η”Ÿ (Life) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: せいKUN: いJLPT N5

The tree of life on the shore (しょう) protects the city from evil (い) kittens (き) in hats (は). All with its light saber (せい) and oolong tea (う).

葌 Go
葌 (Go) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: こうKUN: いJLPT N5

Just a bunch of gyozas (γŽγ‚‡γ†) in coats (こう) eating (い) yuzu (ゆ) screaming β€œgo!”, playing on a slide...

二 Two
二 (Two) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: にKUN: ちたJLPT N5

Knee (に) connects Two crucial parts that make your foot (ちた) work.

ι–“ Interval, Space
ι–“ (Interval, Space) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: かんKUN: あいだJLPT N5

Ken (けん), the baby sun, is eating candy (かん) in the empty space, while waiting for his eye doctor (あいだ) ma (ま).

ζ™‚ Time
ζ™‚ (Time) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: じKUN: ときJLPT N5

In the old Toki-o (とき) Jesus (じ) rang the church bell so you could tell the time...

ζ°— Energy, Air
ζ°— (Energy, Air) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: きJLPT N5

Coffee and cake (け) is the key (き) to energy in the morning.

十 Ten
十 (Ten) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γ˜γ‚…γ†KUN: とおJLPT N5

Samurai won a stack of jewels (γ˜γ‚…γ†) for the 10/10 sword performance, all done on his toes (とお).

ε₯³ Woman
ε₯³ (Woman) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γ˜γ‚‡KUN: γŠγ‚“γͺJLPT N5

On a (γŠγ‚“γͺ) good day, new (にょ) baby, is the best job (γ˜γ‚‡) a woman can have.

δΈ‰ Three
δΈ‰ (Three) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: さんKUN: みJLPT N5

Even a mini (み) sandwich (さん) still has three distinct parts.

前 Front
前 (Front) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γœγ‚“KUN: まえJLPT N5

Front row seats for the zen (γœγ‚“) maestro (まえ) performance.

ε…₯ Enter
ε…₯ (Enter) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: にゅうKUN: はいJLPT N5

When entering a new (にゅう) tent with an eagle (い) design, make sure to first say hi (はい)....

小 Small
小 (Small) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しょうKUN: けいJLPT N5

The Chief (けい) Shogun (しょう) was impressed with the intricate details on the small needle.

後 Behind, After
後 (Behind, After) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ごJLPT N5

Mr. Snowman is not very happy about Godzilla (ご) in a coat (こう) skiing behind his back...

ι•· Long
ι•· (Long) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: けょうKUN: γͺがJLPT N5

Nagano City (γͺが) is all about long-necks, long scarves, and eating nachos (けょう).

δΈ‹ Below
δΈ‹ (Below) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: かKUN: γ—γŸJLPT N5

Just a cool dark (くだ) cat (か) in awesome (お) shittake (γ—γŸ) hat drinking from a geyser (げ) deep below the ground...

ε­¦ Study
ε­¦ (Study) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: がくKUN: まγͺJLPT N5

For some reason, this boy loves studying his gas cooker (がく) manual (まγͺ)...

月 Moon
月 (Moon) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: げ぀KUN: ぀きJLPT N5

It takes guts-u (が぀) to get-su (げ぀) to the moon and retrieve the tsunami key (぀き)...

何 What
何 (What) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
KUN: γͺにJLPT N5

Nanny (γͺに) leaned-in to see what’s inside the mailbox. Turns out, it was just naan (γͺγ‚“) bread...

ζ₯ Come
ζ₯ (Come) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: らいKUN: くJLPT N5

Cool (く), lucky (き) tourists come from all over Japan, to see the original rice (らい) grain.

θ©± Talk
θ©± (Talk) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: わKUN: はγͺしJLPT N5

Hannah, she (はγͺし) can't believe she got a waffle (わ) cake and her dream talking cat for birthday!!

ε±± Mountain
ε±± (Mountain) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: さんKUN: やまJLPT N5

If it’s cloudy, drive up the Mountain on your yamaha (やま). There is always sun (さん) at the top.

高 Tall
高 (Tall) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: こうKUN: γŸγ‹JLPT N5

Don’t dare attack-a (γŸγ‹) the Tall Koala (こう) Headquarters, they are heavily guarded!!

今 Now
今 (Now) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: こんKUN: いまJLPT N5

The Lima (いま) times reported that the con-artist (こん) who changed all the clocks to β€œNow” has finally been caught.

ζ›Έ Write
ζ›Έ (Write) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しょKUN: かJLPT N5

A girl is writing a very short (しょ) story about kangaroos (か)...

δΊ” Five
δΊ” (Five) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ごKUN: い぀JLPT N5

Number five it’s(u) (い぀) actually just a golf (ご) cart.

名 Name
名 (Name) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: めいKUN: γͺJLPT N5

It’s May (めい) the ninth (γͺ), and you’re about to sign your name on a very important document.

金 Gold
金 (Gold) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: きんKUN: かねJLPT N5

King’s (きん) gold crown rests in a concrete (こん) enclosure with the calm neighbor (かね), Canada (かγͺ).

η”· Man
η”· (Man) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: だんKUN: γŠγ¨γ“JLPT N5

Last package and the Indian man is done (だん)!! He can go home, eat naan (γͺγ‚“) and his favorite orange tofu cone (γŠγ¨γ“)...

ε€– Outside
ε€– (Outside) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γŒγ„KUN: そとJLPT N5

Outside his tent, a chill gay (げ) guy (γŒγ„) with a sore toe (と or そと), is doing yoga with his hot cat (ほか)...

ε›› Four
ε›› (Four) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しKUN: γ‚ˆγ‚“JLPT N5

The birds were surprised, the sheep (し) is doing another four-second-yawn (γ‚ˆγ‚“) again!!

ε…ˆ Previous, Ahead
ε…ˆ (Previous, Ahead) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: せんKUN: まJLPT N5

The magnetic (ま) samurai run ahead of everyone, sending (せん) his previous life bye-bye...

川 River
川 (River) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: せんKUN: かわJLPT N5

A river car-wash (かわ) center (せん)? Why not...

東 East
東 (East) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: とうKUN: γ²γŒγ—JLPT N5

Sun always rises in the east, eating toast (とう), pure heat from galaxy shipment (γ²γŒγ—).

聞 Listen, Hear
聞 (Listen, Hear) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ぢんKUN: きJLPT N5

The man in kimono (き) is listening in on the conversation of a monster (γ‚‚γ‚“) buying a bootleg necklace (ぢん).

θͺž Language
θͺž (Language) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ごKUN: γ‹γŸJLPT N5

If Genghis Khan wants to talk about about overpriced gondola (ご) rides, he first needs to put down his kata-na (γ‹γŸ) and study the english language.

九 Nine
九 (Nine) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: くJLPT N5

九ine cookies (く) or nine cucumbers (きゅう)... What will cookie monster choose??

食 Food
食 (Food) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しょくKUN: たJLPT N5

The cool (く) daikon in a tank-top (た) is shocked (しょく) that he may soon become food...

ε…« Eight
ε…« (Eight) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: はけKUN: γ‚„JLPT N5

Yaa (γ‚„) kids coming out of secret hatches (はけ) to play on the forbidden yolo (γ‚ˆγ†) eight meter slide...

ζ°΄ Water
ζ°΄ (Water) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: すいKUN: みずJLPT N5

Missou-ri (みず) free water looks super i-nteresting (すい)...

倩 Heaven
倩 (Heaven) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: てんKUN: あまJLPT N5

God and his angel llamas (あま) are always waiting on top of the ten (てん) step staircase to heaven.

木 Tree
木 (Tree) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: もくKUN: きJLPT N5

The tree is mocking (もく) us, it knows we got no keys (き)...

ε…­ Six
ε…­ (Six) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ろくKUN: γ‚€JLPT N5

Mr. Six moves (γ‚€) rocket-fast! (ろく). Why is he still in the 6th place?

δΈ‡ Ten Thousand
δΈ‡ (Ten Thousand) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: まんJLPT N5

Ten Thousand people in Italy, watching a talented man (まん) wearing a pineapple-pizza costume. Let’s hope he doesn’t get banned (ばん)...

η™½ White
η™½ (White) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: はくKUN: しろJLPT N5

She wrote (しろ) the code to hack-u (はく) the white radish server.

δΈƒ Seven
δΈƒ (Seven) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しけKUN: γͺγͺJLPT N5

She cheated (しけ), and still got only seven percent. That’s bananas! (γͺγͺ).

円 Yen, Round
円 (Yen, Round) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γˆγ‚“JLPT N5

A *circle (円) represents a round shape or Japanese yen* (γˆγ‚“).

ι›» Electricity
ι›» (Electricity) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: でんJLPT N5

A typical village in Denmark (でん) gets electricity from the sun.

爢 Father
爢 (Father) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ちKUN: けけJLPT N5

Father stays strong by exercising using food (ち): cheeky peachy (けけ) dumbbells.

εŒ— North
εŒ— (North) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ほくKUN: きたJLPT N5

Whole crew (ほく) of Akitas (きた) went up north skiing...

車 Car
車 (Car) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: しゃKUN: くるまJLPT N5

Cool, roof-less, Mazda (くるま) car, doing crazy sharp (しゃ) turns...

母 Mother
母 (Mother) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ぼKUN: ははJLPT N5

With mom I’m never bored (ぼ), it’s always a haha (はは) time!!

半 Half
半 (Half) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: はんKUN: γͺかJLPT N5

Of course, Mr. handsome (はん) naturally cut (γͺか) a bunch of logs perfectly in half!!

η™Ύ Hundred
η™Ύ (Hundred) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ひゃくKUN: γ‚‚γ‚‚JLPT N5

Slow-mo motion (γ‚‚γ‚‚) Hyacinth Cool (ひゃく) Town is now a hundred years old!!

土 Dirt
土 (Dirt) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: どKUN: ぀けJLPT N5

Toes (と) in the dirt and dog (ど) by his side, the tsunami chief (぀け) lives a simple life...

θ₯Ώ West
θ₯Ώ (West) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: せいKUN: にしJLPT N5

When Japanese travel West, they stay safe (せい) with their niche (にし) special suitcase.

θͺ­ Read
θͺ­ (Read) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: とうKUN: γ‚ˆJLPT N5

Stop texting yo (γ‚ˆ)! I’m reading my toe (とう) book.

千 Thousand
千 (Thousand) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: せんKUN: けJLPT N5

Thousand is just a fancy letter T, made out of a thousand cents (せん), wearing a cheap (け) hat...

ζ ‘ School
ζ ‘ (School) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: こうJLPT N5

School is a great community (こう) to make life-long friends.

右 Right
右 (Right) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ゆうKUN: みぎJLPT N5

Geeky youths (ゆう) really love the Me Geek (みぎ) restaurant, just right of H&M.

南 South
南 (South) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: γͺγ‚“KUN: みγͺみJLPT N5

Powered by naan (γͺγ‚“), a few ambitious kids are trying to drill their way south to Mi(na)ami! (みγͺみ)

ε·¦ Left
ε·¦ (Left) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: さKUN: γ²γ γ‚ŠJLPT N5

Rich dads really love the He Daddy Rich (γ²γ γ‚Š) Sandwich (さ) Shop, just left of H&M.

友 Friend
友 (Friend) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ゆうKUN: ともJLPT N5

Tomato model (とも) youth (ゆう) love to compete with their tomato friends.

火 Fire
火 (Fire) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: かKUN: ひJLPT N5

Fire from a candle (か) is so hot (ほ) it generates a ton of heat (ひ)!!

毎 Every
毎 (Every) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: まいKUN: ごとJLPT N5

The two mice (まい) look out the window every day and dream that someday they will go to/top (ごと) of Mt. Fuji.

雨 Rain
雨 (Rain) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: うKUN: あめJLPT N5

The samurai couldn’t believe how much it rains in America (あめ). Perfect weather for some oolong (う) tea...

δΌ‘ Rest
δΌ‘ (Rest) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: きゅうKUN: やすJLPT N5

Resting by the cucumber (きゅう) tree is the best. Ohh Ya-ss (やす)!!

午 Noon
午 (Noon) Kanji Mnemonic Poster Card
ON: ごJLPT N5

Noon is the perfect time to dry the #1 goat (ご) shirt.

δΊΊ Person にん δΈ€ One いけ ζ—₯ Sun, Day にけ ε€§ Big γŸγ„ εΉ΄ Year ねん ε‡Ί Exit しゅ぀ 本 Book ほん δΈ­ Middle けゅう 子 Child し 見 See けん ε›½ Country こく 上 Up, Above γ˜γ‚‡γ† εˆ† Divide ぢん η”Ÿ Life せい 葌 Go こう 二 Two に ι–“ Interval, Space かん ζ™‚ Time じ ζ°— Energy, Air き 十 Ten γ˜γ‚…γ† ε₯³ Woman γ˜γ‚‡ δΈ‰ Three さん 前 Front γœγ‚“ ε…₯ Enter にゅう 小 Small しょう 後 Behind, After ご ι•· Long けょう δΈ‹ Below か ε­¦ Study がく 月 Moon げ぀ 何 What γͺに ζ₯ Come らい θ©± Talk わ ε±± Mountain さん 高 Tall こう 今 Now こん ζ›Έ Write しょ δΊ” Five ご 名 Name めい 金 Gold きん η”· Man だん ε€– Outside γŒγ„ ε›› Four し ε…ˆ Previous, Ahead せん 川 River せん 東 East とう 聞 Listen, Hear ぢん θͺž Language ご 九 Nine く 食 Food しょく ε…« Eight はけ ζ°΄ Water すい 倩 Heaven てん 木 Tree もく ε…­ Six ろく δΈ‡ Ten Thousand まん η™½ White はく δΈƒ Seven しけ 円 Yen, Round γˆγ‚“ ι›» Electricity でん 爢 Father ち εŒ— North ほく 車 Car しゃ 母 Mother ぼ 半 Half はん η™Ύ Hundred ひゃく 土 Dirt ど θ₯Ώ West せい θͺ­ Read とう 千 Thousand せん ζ ‘ School こう 右 Right ゆう 南 South γͺγ‚“ ε·¦ Left さ 友 Friend ゆう 火 Fire か 毎 Every まい 雨 Rain う δΌ‘ Rest きゅう 午 Noon ご