JLPT N5
N5 listening has four formats (task comprehension, point comprehension, verbal expressions, and quick response) with about 24 questions. The tips common to all are “read the question first” and “take notes of numbers, times, and places.”
Task comprehension (about 7 questions): you listen to a conversation and choose “what the person will do next.” The answer choices are pictures or short sentences. The question is read first and read again after the conversation, so grasp from the first reading of the question “who” and “what” you are being asked about before you listen to the conversation.
Point comprehension (about 6 questions): you listen to a conversation or talk and pick up one point such as “when, where, how much, or what time.” You can read the answer choices beforehand, so take the candidate numbers and times into your head before you listen. Distinguishing similar sounds such as 「3時」 and 「4時」 (さんじ／よじ), and the sound changes in 「1本・3本」, are often targeted.
Verbal expressions (about 5 questions): you look at a picture and choose from three options what the person with the arrow “would say.” Set phrases for requests, permission, invitations, and greetings appear (〜てください／〜てもいいですか／〜ませんか／いただきます／お先に失礼します). Learn situations and expressions together as a set.
Quick response (about 6 questions): you hear a short remark and choose the correct reply from three options. 「お名前は？」 → 「田中です」, 「これ、どうぞ」 → 「ありがとうございます」, 「すみません、駅はどこですか」 → 「あそこです」. Match the form of the question (what, where, when, who, how much) to the form of the answer.
This site has no audio. Here, you practice by reading the content of the conversations in text. Before the real exam, be sure to practice “listening” with the JLPT official website's sample questions (with audio) and N5 listening practice on YouTube and elsewhere.
| Format | Number of questions (approx.) | What you listen for |
|---|---|---|
| 課題理解 (task comprehension) | 7 | What the person will do next |
| ポイント理解 (point comprehension) | 6 | Points such as time, place, and numbers |
| 発話表現 (verbal expressions) | 5 | What the person in the picture would say |
| 即時応答 (quick response) | 6 | A reply to a single remark |
Source: JLPT official website, “N1–N5: Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level” / “Sample Questions”
Greetings, thanks, requests, and refusals. The quick-response questions in N5 listening are combinations of set phrases. Learn “what to say” and “how to reply” as a pair for each situation.
Greetings: おはようございます／こんにちは／こんばんは／おやすみなさい／さようなら／また明日. When leaving home: 「行ってきます」 → 「行ってらっしゃい」; when coming home: 「ただいま」 → 「おかえりなさい」. Meals: 「いただきます」 → after the meal 「ごちそうさまでした」.
Thanks and replies: 「ありがとうございます」 → 「どういたしまして」. 「すみません」 (apologizing) → 「いいえ、大丈夫です」. 「すみません」 (calling someone) → 「はい、何ですか」. Handing something over: 「どうぞ」 → 「ありがとうございます」. 「お先に失礼します」 → 「お疲れさまでした」.
Requests and replies: 「〜てください」 → 「はい、わかりました」 / 「〜てもいいですか」 → 「はい、どうぞ」, 「すみません、ちょっと…」. Invitations 「〜ませんか」 → 「いいですね、〜ましょう」 / 「すみません、その日はちょっと…」. Offers 「〜ましょうか」 → 「お願いします」, 「大丈夫です」.
Question-and-answer patterns: 「お名前は？」 → 「〜です」. 「お仕事は？」 → 「会社員です」. 「どこから来ましたか」 → 「〜から来ました」. 「いくらですか」 → 「〜円です」. 「何時ですか」 → 「〜時です」. 「どうしたんですか」 → 「頭が痛いんです」. 「はじめまして」 → 「はじめまして、どうぞよろしく」.
How it is tested: in quick-response questions, the answer choices are audio only (no text), and the tempo is fast. It helps to practice linking “the question word in the question → the type of answer” reflexively. In verbal-expression questions, first check the situation in the picture (shop, station, classroom, home) and the position of the person with the arrow (customer or clerk).
Source: JLPT official website, “N1–N5: Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level” / “Sample Questions”
「はじめまして。」
A greeting when meeting for the first time.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「これ、どうぞ。」
Thanks when you receive something.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「ありがとうございました。」
A reply to thanks.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「行ってきます。」
A reply to a person going out.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「お先に 失礼します。」
To a person leaving before you.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「お名前は？」
Answering with your name.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「これは いくらですか。」
いくら (how much) → price.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「すみません、駅は どこですか。」
どこ (where) → place.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「窓を 開けても いいですか。」
A reply granting permission.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「いっしょに 昼ごはんを 食べませんか。」
A reply to an invitation.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「にもつを 持ちましょうか。」
A reply to an offer.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「どうしたんですか。」
You were asked how you feel.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「どこから 来ましたか。」
どこから (from where) → where you are from.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「ただいま。」
To a person who has come back.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
店で。店員に 水が ほしいです。何と 言いますか。
A customer makes a request.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
友だちの 本を 借りたいです。
Asking for permission.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
教室で 暑いです。先生に 言います。
Hot → wants to open the window → permission.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
食べる 前に 言います。
Before a meal.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
会社を 先に 出ます。
The side that leaves first.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
女：「あした、何時に 会いますか。」男：「10時は どうですか。」女：「10時は ちょっと…。11時は？」男：「いいですよ。」―― 2人は 何時に 会いますか。
The time finally decided was 11 o'clock.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
店員：「いらっしゃいませ。」客：「コーヒーを 2つと、サンドイッチを 1つ ください。」店員：「サンドイッチは ありません。」客：「じゃ、コーヒーだけ お願いします。」―― 客は 何を 注文しましたか。
There are no sandwiches, so only two coffees.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
男：「駅まで バスで どのくらいですか。」女：「20分ぐらいです。歩くと 40分です。」―― バスで 駅まで 何分ですか。
Bus = 20 minutes. Walking = 40 minutes.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
女：「日曜日、映画を 見に 行きませんか。」男：「日曜日は 仕事です。土曜日は どうですか。」女：「土曜日は 大丈夫です。」―― 2人は いつ 映画を 見ますか。
It was decided for Saturday.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
「このかばんは 3,000円です。あちらの 黒いのは 5,000円です。赤いのは 2,500円です。」―― いちばん 安い かばんは？
Red, 2,500 yen is the cheapest.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
男：「すみません、この 電車は 大阪へ 行きますか。」女：「いいえ、大阪は 2番線ですよ。」―― 男の人は この後 どうしますか。
「2番線ですよ」 (“It's Track 2”) → go to Track 2.
Basis: N5 Summary of Linguistic Competence and the format of the sample questions
A practice tool that asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can read all of the “Practice questions” above even without it.
* The explanations are information for study purposes. Please check the official JLPT website for the exam format and schedule.
* The questions are original questions written by our association, following the format of the JLPT's official “Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level” and its published sample questions. We are not affiliated with the organizers (the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services).
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original