N5 reading asks you to find information in familiar sentences written with hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. Read once for the situation, then a second time for the detail. These short passages are original practice, not official JLPT questions.
1. Morning plan
わたしは毎朝七時に起きます。パンを食べて、八時に学校へ行きます。今日は雨ですから、バスで行きます。
Gloss: 毎朝 (まいあさ, every morning), 起きます (おきます, get up), 雨 (あめ, rain), バス (basu, bus).
Question: How does the speaker go to school today?
2. A library notice
図書館は月曜日に休みです。火曜日から土曜日まで、午前九時から午後六時まで開いています。日曜日は午後三時に閉まります。
Gloss: 図書館 (としょかん, library), 休み (やすみ, closed/rest), 午前 (ごぜん, a.m.), 閉まります (しまります, closes).
Question: What time does the library close on Sunday?
3. A short message
田中さんへ。土曜日に駅の前で会いませんか。午後二時はどうですか。雨のときは、駅の中で待ちましょう。
Gloss: 駅 (えき, station), 前 (まえ, front), 午後 (ごご, p.m.), 中 (なか, inside), 待ちましょう (まちましょう, let’s wait).
Question: Where should they wait if it rains?
Answers and reading method
- By bus: バスで行きます。
- At 3 p.m.: 午後三時に閉まります。
- Inside the station: 駅の中で待ちましょう。
Circle time words (七時, 八時, 午後二時), place words (学校, 図書館, 駅), and connectors such as ですから and とき. Then explain each answer using the exact sentence that supports it. This is more useful than translating every word.
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Helpful answers for your next step
Understand one idea, try an example, and keep going at your own pace.
How can I check whether I am ready for JLPT N5?
Try official N5 sample questions, then review gaps in vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. Samples help you identify what to practise; their percentages cannot be converted into an official pass score. The N5 uses scaled scores and requires at least 80/180 overall, plus 38/120 in combined Language Knowledge/Reading and 19/60 in Listening. These are two scoring sections, distinct from the three timed test sections. NihongoHub practice cannot predict or award an official JLPT result.
References: JLPT official sample questions · JLPT: Scoring sections, pass or fail, score report · JLPT official FAQ
Edited by the NihongoHub Team · 14 September 2026 · Sources & corrections
