The 79 JLPT N5 kanji, with memory hooks

Ordered simple to complex, each broken into named components with a one-line mnemonic — see the parts, hook the story, learn the readings in real words.

一Oneひと-、ひと.ついち、いつOne single bar of ground. Count it: one.入Enterい.る、-い.るにゅう、じゅA doorway leaning open — duck in to enter.八Eightや、や.つはちTwo fins sliding apart — split the catch eight ways.二Twoふた、ふた.つに、じTwo bars stacked. That's it. Two.九Nineここの、ここの.つきゅう、くA hook with an elbow, one short of ten — nine.十Tenとお、とじゅう、じっA cross marks ten: all fingers, both hands.人Personひと、-りじん、にんTwo legs mid-stride: a person walking.七Sevenなな、なな.つしちA lucky number that tripped and bent its leg — seven.川StreamかわせんThree lines of flowing water — a stream.山Mountainやまさん、せんThree peaks, the middle one winning — a mountain.小Littleちい.さい、こ-しょうA hook flanked by two shrinking drops — something little.女Womanおんな、めじょ、にょA figure crossing legs mid-curtsy — woman.子Childこ、-こし、すA baby with arms out and a swaddled tail — a child.大Largeおお-、おお.きいだい、たいA person stretching their arms as wide as they go — THIS large.三Threeみ、み.つさん、ぞうGround plus two more bars — three.下Belowした、しもか、げA toe pointing down from the ground line — below.上Aboveうえ、-うえじょう、しょうA toe stepping up off the ground line — above.万Ten Thousandよろずまん、ばんA leaf slashed by a sword into ten thousand pieces.千ThousandちせんTen (十) wearing a slanted cap — a thousand stacked tens.土Soilつちど、とA little cross planted in the ground — soil things grow in.日Dayひ、-びにち、じつThe sun in a window frame — one day.火Fireひ、-びかA person waving two sparks — fire.天Heavensあまつ、あめてんOne bar above the large person (大) — the heavens overhead.水Waterみず、みず-すいA splash frozen mid-air — water.午NoonうまごA dry pole at the top of the slide — the sun at its peak: noon.友FriendともゆうA narwhal lounging on a stool — that's what friends are for.父FatherちちふCrossed arms holding two sparks — father means business.今Nowいまこん、きんA roof over a beckoning hand — now, not later.中Inなか、うちちゅうAn arrow straight through the box's middle — right in the center.五Fiveいつ、いつ.つごStrokes stacked for a high five — five.六Sixむ、む.つろく、りくA lid dropped on two fins — six.円Circleまる.い、まるえんA head peeking through a round frame — a yen coin. Circle.月Monthつきげつ、がつThe moon with two ribs — a month of moons.木Treeき、こ-ぼく、もくA trunk with drooping branches — a tree.外Outsideそと、ほかがい、げAn evening toe sneaking out the door — outside.母Motherはは、もぼA figure with two drops — a mother nursing two babies.右Rightみぎう、ゆうA narwhal pointing at your mouth — you eat with your right hand.出Exitで.る、-でしゅつ、すいA mountain growing out of a mountain — climb out. Exit.四Fourよ、よ.つしA mouth with legs trapped inside — four legs in a box.左Leftひだりさ、しゃA narwhal hovering over construction — the left lane is closed.生Lifeい.きる、い.かすせい、しょうA sprout pushing up out of the ground — life.本BookもとほんA tree with a line at its root — books come from trees.白Whiteしろ、しら-はく、びゃくThe sun with a drop of light on top — blinding white.北NorthきたほくFingers and a spoon standing back to back — both pointing north.半Halfなか.ばはんA triceratops horn splitting something dry clean in half.名Nameな、-なめい、みょうAn evening mouth — shouting your name into the night.休Restやす.む、やす.まるきゅうA leader leaning against a tree — taking a rest.気Spiritいきき、けEnergy swirling around buried treasure — your spirit.西Westにしせい、さいThe sun sinking down into its frame — the west.先Beforeさき、ま.ずせんDirt sliding down a slide onto legs — whoever slides first goes before.年YearとしねんA gun and a cow — a whole year of farm work.百Hundredももひゃく、びゃくA leaf flat on the sun — a hundred degrees out.毎Everyごと、-ごと.にまいA gun mounted by the window — every. single. day.行Goingい.く、ゆ.くこう、ぎょうTwo roads running side by side — going somewhere.車CarくるましゃA wheel seen from above, axle and all — a car.何Whatなに、なんかA leader with a lip ring — wait, what?男Maleおとこ、おだん、なんPower planted in the rice paddy — the man works the field.来Comeく.る、きた.るらい、たいRice sprouting from the ground — dinner says come.見Seeみ.る、み.えるけんAn eye on legs, walking around — seeing everything.東EastひがしとうThe sun rising behind a tree — that direction is east.雨Rainあめ、あま-うA window with four drops on the glass — rain.金Goldかね、かな-きん、こんTreasure buried under a roof — gold.学Studyまな.ぶがくA viking child — studies conquest. Study.国CountryくにこくA king with his jewel inside the borders — a country.長Longなが.い、おさちょうHair flowing in the wind — grown long.前In Frontまえ、-まえぜんHorns up top, a moon and a knife below — face what's in front of you.南Southみなみなん、なA horned pole drying in the warm sun — it points south.後Behindのち、うし.ろご、こうLoitering through poop in winter — you've fallen behind.食Eatく.う、く.らうしょく、じきA roof over something delicious — sit down and eat.高Tallたか.い、たかこうA lid, a mouth, a mustache — a tall tower with windows.時Timeとき、-どきじThe sun over the temple — it keeps the time.校Examこう、きょうA tree, a lid, and your father waiting — school (exam day).書Writeか.く、-が.きしょA brush working over the sun — writing until sunset.間Intervalあいだ、まかん、けんThe sun caught between gate doors — the gap in between.電ElectricityでんRain over a rice paddy with a lightning tail — electricity.話Taleはな.す、はなしわWords and a tongue — telling a tale.読Readよ.む、-よ.みどく、とくWords that sell — you can't help but read them.聞Hearき.く、き.こえるぶん、もんAn ear pressed against the gate — do you hear that?語Wordかた.る、かた.らうごSaying five mouths' worth — words, language.

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