• jlpt n5 adverbs

JLPT N5 Adverbs PDF Free Download (2025 Updated)

2025-06-06 • Hoàng Đình Quang
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  • What Are Adverbs in JLPT N5?
  • Why You Should Learn JLPT N5 Adverbs Early
  • They appear frequently in the JLPT N5 exam
  • They improve sentence clarity and fluency
  • They support grammar understanding
  • They are easy to remember but easy to overlook
  • Free JLPT N5 Adverbs PDF Download 
  • Adverbs of Frequency – How Often Something Happens 
  • Adverbs of Degree – How Much or How Strong 
  • Adverbs of Time – When Something Happens 
  • Adverbs of Manner – how an action is done
  • Adverbs of Quantity – How Many or How Much 
  • How to Study JLPT N5 Adverbs Effectively 
  • Learn in Context, Not in Isolation
  • Group Adverbs by Function or Meaning
  • Use Flashcards with Spaced Repetition
  • Practice with Listening and Reading
  • Use Adverbs in Writing and Speaking Practice
  • Track Progress with a Personal Adverb Checklist
  • FAQ - JLPT N5 Adverbs 
  • How many adverbs do I need to know for JLPT N5? 
  • Are JLPT N5 adverbs hard to learn? 
  • What’s the best way to memorize JLPT N5 adverbs? 
  • Are adverbs tested directly in the JLPT N5 exam? 
  • Can I find JLPT N5 adverbs in real-life Japanese use? 
  • What’s the difference between an adverb and an adjective in Japanese?
  • Conclusion 

JLPT N5 adverbs are essential for expressing frequency, degree, and manner in basic Japanese sentences. Mastering them helps you boost your grammar and listening scores. This article offers a free JLPT N5 adverbs PDF and study tips—read on to download and learn effectively! 

What Are Adverbs in JLPT N5?

In Japanese, adverbs (副詞 – fukushi) are words that describe how, when, how often, or to what extent an action happens. For JLPT N5 adverbs, these words are simple yet frequently used in daily conversation and appear in grammar and listening questions on the exam.

Adverbs in JLPT N5 typically modify verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs. They help add nuance to your expression—for example, showing frequency (よく – often), degree (とても – very), quantity (たくさん – a lot), or time (もう – already).

Here are some common JLPT N5 adverbs:

Japanese

Romaji

Meaning

よく

yoku

often

たくさん

takusan

a lot

とても

totemo

very

もう

mou

already

まだ

mada

not yet

すぐ

sugu

immediately

ゆっくり

yukkuri

slowly

These adverbs are used in basic sentence patterns like:

  • 私はよくテレビを見ます。 (I often watch TV.)
  • このケーキはとてもおいしいです。 (This cake is very delicious.)

Learning jlpt n5 adverbs not only helps you understand test content more easily but also improves your ability to speak and write naturally in Japanese.

By familiarizing yourself with these basic adverbs, you’ll gain confidence in both understanding and producing everyday Japanese. Let’s move on to explore why you should prioritize learning them early!

Learn more JLPT N5 Adverbs with clear examples in this N5 theory guide

Why You Should Learn JLPT N5 Adverbs Early

Mastering JLPT N5 adverbs early in your Japanese learning journey can give you a strong advantage—not only in passing the exam but also in real-world communication.

They appear frequently in the JLPT N5 exam

Many listening (聴解 – choukai) and reading (読解 – dokkai) questions include adverbs to test your comprehension of nuance. Words like よく (often), たくさん (a lot), or すぐ (immediately) can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
If you miss the adverb, you might misunderstand the whole sentence or choose the wrong answer.

They improve sentence clarity and fluency

Adverbs help express how, how much, or when something happens. For example:

  • かれはたくさんたべました。 (He ate a lot.)
  • 私はまだしゅくだいをしていません。 (I haven’t done my homework yet.)

Such sentences are clearer, more natural, and closer to native usage—even at the N5 level. The sooner you get used to using adverbs, the smoother your speaking and writing will be.

They support grammar understanding

Adverbs reinforce key grammar points such as verb forms, tense, and sentence structure. Learning adverbs in context helps you internalize common patterns like:

  • もう~ました (Already did…)
  • まだ~ていません (Have not yet…)
    These structures are not only grammar essentials for JLPT N5 but also foundations for higher levels.

They are easy to remember but easy to overlook

JLPT N5 adverbs are usually short, simple words, which makes them easy to learn—but learners often underestimate their importance. By prioritizing them early, you’ll avoid last-minute cramming and gain an edge in listening and speaking tasks.

Free JLPT N5 Adverbs PDF Download 

To help learners master JLPT N5 adverbs easily and efficiently, we’ve created a free, downloadable PDF that organizes adverbs by usage and meaning—making your study experience smoother and more effective.

Adverbs of Frequency – How Often Something Happens 

Japanese (日本語)

Romaji

English Meaning

Example Sentence

よく

yoku

often

よく日本の映画を見ます。

(I often watch Japanese movies.)

ときどき

tokidoki

sometimes

ときどき外で食べます。

(I sometimes eat out.)

たまに

tamani

occasionally

たまに友だちに会います。

(I occasionally meet friends.)

いつも

itsumo

always

彼はいつも早く起きます。

(He always wakes up early.)

たいてい

taitei

usually

たいてい朝ごはんを食べます。

(I usually eat breakfast.)

ぜんぜん

zenzen

never (with negative verb)

ぜんぜんテレビを見ません。

(I never watch TV.)

Adverbs of Degree – How Much or How Strong 

Japanese (日本語)

Romaji

English Meaning

Example Sentence

とても

totemo

very

このケーキはとてもおいしいです。

(This cake is very delicious.)

ちょっと

chotto

a little / a bit

ちょっとまってください。

(Please wait a moment.)

かなり

kanari

quite / fairly / considerably

かなりむずかしいテストでした。

(It was a fairly difficult test.)

ぜんぜん

zenzen

not at all (with neg. verb)

ぜんぜんわかりません。

(I don't understand at all.)

あまり

amari

not very (with neg. verb)

あまりたべません。

(I don't eat much.)

すごく

sugoku

extremely / incredibly

すごくたのしかったです。

(It was incredibly fun.)

まあまあ

maamaa

so-so / okay / not bad

まあまあおいしいです。

(It's okay—not bad.)

ほんとうに

hontou ni

really / truly

ほんとうにありがとう。

(Thank you very much.)

けっこう

kekkou

fairly / pretty

この映画はけっこうよかった。

(The movie was pretty good.)

わりと

warito

relatively / comparatively

わりとかんたんでした。

(It was relatively easy.)

Adverbs of Time – When Something Happens 

Japanese (日本語)

Romaji

English Meaning

Example Sentence

もう

mou

already

もう食べました。

(I already ate.)

まだ

mada

not yet / still

まだしゅくだいをしていません。

(I haven’t done my homework yet.)

すぐ

sugu

immediately / soon

すぐ行きます。

(I’ll go right away.)

ときどき

tokidoki

sometimes

ときどき雨がふります。

(It sometimes rains.)

たった今

tatta ima

just now

たった今出かけました。

(He just left.)

いつも

itsumo

always

いつもこの店に来ます。

(I always come to this shop.)

きのう

kinou

yesterday

きのう勉強しました。

(I studied yesterday.)

今日

kyou

today

今日テストがあります。

(There is a test today.)

あした

ashita

tomorrow

あした日本に行きます。

(I will go to Japan tomorrow.)

もうすぐ

mousugu

very soon / shortly

もうすぐ始まります。

(It will start very soon.)

Adverbs of Manner – how an action is done

Japanese (日本語)

Romaji

English Meaning

Example Sentence

ゆっくり

yukkuri

slowly

ゆっくり話してください。

(Please speak slowly.)

はっきり

hakkiri

clearly

はっきり言ってください。

(Please say it clearly.)

しっかり

shikkari

properly / firmly

しっかり勉強します。

(I’ll study properly.)

じょうずに

jouzu ni

skillfully

日本語をじょうずに話します。

(He speaks Japanese skillfully.)

たのしく

tanoshiku

happily / joyfully

たのしく歌いました。

(They sang happily.)

いっしょうけんめい

isshoukenmei

with all one's effort

いっしょうけんめい働きます。

(I’ll work with all my effort.)

ていねいに

teinei ni

politely / carefully

ていねいに書いてください。

(Please write neatly.)

ぐっすり

gussuri

soundly (sleep)

ぐっすり寝ました。

(I slept soundly.)

そっと

sotto

gently / softly

ドアをそっと閉めてください。

(Please close the door gently.)

すばやく

subayaku

quickly / swiftly

すばやく動きました。

(He moved quickly.)

Adverbs of Quantity – How Many or How Much 

Japanese (日本語)

Romaji

English Meaning

Example Sentence

たくさん

takusan

a lot / many

水をたくさん飲みました。

(I drank a lot of water.)

すこし

sukoshi

a little / a few

ごはんをすこし食べました。

(I ate a little rice.)

おおぜい

oozei

many people

おおぜいの人が来ました。

(Many people came.)

いくつか

ikutsuka

several / some

いくつか質問があります。

(I have several questions.)

ほんのすこし

hon no sukoshi

just a little

ほんのすこししか分かりません。

(I only understand just a little.)

けっこう

kekkou

fairly / enough

けっこう食べました。

(I ate enough.)

ちょっとだけ

chotto dake

just a bit

ちょっとだけ見せてください。

(Please show me just a little.)

わずかに

wazuka ni

slightly / barely

わずかに値段が上がりました。

(The price went up slightly.)

もっと

motto

more

もっと食べたいです。

(I want to eat more.)

ほとんど

hotondo

almost / nearly all

ほとんど終わりました。

(It's almost finished.)

How to Study JLPT N5 Adverbs Effectively 

Adverbs may seem like small words, but they play a big role in expressing nuance, time, and manner in Japanese. To master JLPT N5 adverbs, you need more than just memorization—you need the right methods. Here are proven strategies to help you study them effectively: 

Learn in Context, Not in Isolation

Don’t just memorize lists. Study adverbs within full example sentences so you understand how they function in real conversations.
Example:

  • たくさん = a lot
  • Sentence: 水をたくさん飲みました。 (I drank a lot of water.)

This method improves both recognition and usage, especially in the listening and grammar sections of the JLPT N5.

Group Adverbs by Function or Meaning

As shown earlier, organizing adverbs into categories like frequency, degree, time, manner, and quantity helps you remember faster. This logical grouping creates mental associations and strengthens recall.

Use Flashcards with Spaced Repetition

Import adverbs into flashcard tools that support spaced repetition (e.g., Anki, Quizlet). These tools test you just before you’re likely to forget a word—making learning more efficient.

Each flashcard should include:

  • The adverb in kana/kanji
  • Romaji and English meaning
  • One full example sentence

Practice with Listening and Reading

Watch simple Japanese videos, anime, or JLPT N5 listening materials and try to spot adverbs you’ve learned.
Example: Listen for words like もう, まだ, or すぐ in native dialogue.

Also, try to read short texts and underline any adverbs you find—this helps reinforce recognition in real contexts.

Use Adverbs in Writing and Speaking Practice

Create your own simple sentences using new adverbs. Say them aloud or write short diary entries using at least 3 adverbs a day.
Example:

  • 今日はとてもさむいです。 (It’s very cold today.)
  • まだ朝ごはんを食べていません。 (I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.)

The more you use adverbs, the faster they’ll become part of your natural Japanese.

Track Progress with a Personal Adverb Checklist

Use a printable or digital checklist of JLPT N5 adverbs and mark:

  • “Recognized” when you understand it in context
  • “Used” when you can use it in a sentence

This helps you visually measure your improvement.

FAQ - JLPT N5 Adverbs 

How many adverbs do I need to know for JLPT N5? 

There’s no official number, but most study guides recommend learning around 40–60 essential JLPT N5 adverbs. These adverbs often appear in grammar, listening, and reading sections of the test.  

Looking for more study materials? Check out this JLPT document collection blog post for free PDFs and resources. 

Are JLPT N5 adverbs hard to learn? 

No. Most JLPT N5 adverbs are short, common, and easy to pronounce. Many are used in daily conversations and anime, which makes them easy to pick up with practice. 

What’s the best way to memorize JLPT N5 adverbs? 

The most effective way is to:

  • Learn adverbs in context (with full sentences)
  • Use flashcards with spaced repetition
  • Practice using them in writing and speaking
  • Group them by category: time, frequency, manner, etc.

Are adverbs tested directly in the JLPT N5 exam? 

Yes. JLPT N5 adverbs often appear in:

  • Grammar multiple-choice questions
  • Listening scripts to test nuance (e.g., difference between "already" vs "not yet")
  • Reading comprehension for sentence meaning

Can I find JLPT N5 adverbs in real-life Japanese use? 

Absolutely. Many JLPT N5 adverbs are used in daily conversations, TV shows, and texts. Words like すぐ, たくさん, and ゆっくり are common and practical. 

What’s the difference between an adverb and an adjective in Japanese?

  • Adverbs (副詞) describe actions (verbs) or other adverbs.
    e.g., ゆっくり話します。 (Speak slowly.)
  • Adjectives (形容詞) describe nouns.
    e.g., ゆっくりな車 is grammatically incorrect.

 In Japanese, adverbs are not conjugated, which makes them easier to use.

Conclusion 

In summary, mastering JLPT N5 adverbs is essential for expressing time, frequency, and manner in basic Japanese. With our free and updated JLPT N5 Adverbs PDF (2025), you’ll gain a solid vocabulary foundation for the exam and real-life use. Ready to level up your Japanese? Start practicing now with Migii JLPT – your complete JLPT preparation platform!

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