Learning kanji is a key part of mastering Japanese. In this article, we explore six commonly used JLPT N5 level kanji: 時、行、見、月、後、前. Each of these appears frequently in daily life and beginner-level Japanese texts. Let’s explore their meanings, readings, and examples.
🕒 時 (じ / とき) – Time, Hour
- Meaning: Time, Hour
- Onyomi: ジ
- Kunyomi: とき
- Example: 一時（いちじ）– One o’clock
- Example: 時間（じかん）– Time, Duration
🚶♂️ 行 (こう / いく) – Go
- Meaning: Go
- Onyomi: コウ、ギョウ
- Kunyomi: い（く）、おこな（う）
- Example: 行く（いく）– To go
- Example: 銀行（ぎんこう）– Bank
👁️ 見 (けん / みる) – See, Look
- Meaning: See, Look
- Onyomi: ケン
- Kunyomi: み（る）、み（える）、み（せる）
- Example: 見る（みる）– To see
- Example: 見せる（みせる）– To show
🌙 月 (げつ / つき) – Moon, Month
- Meaning: Moon, Month
- Onyomi: ゲツ、ガツ
- Kunyomi: つき
- Example: 月曜日（げつようび）– Monday
- Example: 一月（いちがつ）– January
⏭️ 後 (ご / あと) – After, Later
- Meaning: After, Later
- Onyomi: ゴ、コウ
- Kunyomi: あと、うし（ろ）
- Example: 午後（ごご）– Afternoon
- Example: 後で（あとで）– Later
⏮️ 前 (ぜん / まえ) – Before, In front
- Meaning: Before, In front
- Onyomi: ゼン
- Kunyomi: まえ
- Example: 午前（ごぜん）– Morning (AM)
- Example: 名前（なまえ）– Name
📘 Conclusion
These six kanji are core vocabulary for JLPT N5 and everyday Japanese. Learning their readings and how they are used in real words helps build your foundation for reading and speaking. Practice writing and using these kanji to grow your confidence and fluency in Japanese.