Japanese Vocabulary Builder Pre-N5: First Steps: 360+ Essential Words for Absolute Beginner Japanese with Easy Pronunciation, Hiragana, Katakana, Sound Patterns, Numbers & Counters | JLPT N5

Start Japanese from zero—and begin reading with confidence. Japanese Vocabulary Builder Pre-N5: だいいっぽ (First Steps) is for absolute beginners who know no Japanese characters, words, or grammar.

From Zero to Your First Japanese

Begin with hiragana, then learn katakana, sound changes, long vowels, small っ, and ん as a full beat. From there, move into greetings, numbers, counters, colours, classroom language, everyday objects, days, self-introductions, yes/no responses.

By the end, you will recognise about 360 Japanese words and read simple sentences with far less hesitation.

What You Will Learn

• All 46 hiragana and all 46 katakana
• Dakuten, handakuten, small ゃゅょ, small っ, and long vowels
• Numbers 1–100 and common Japanese counters
• Greetings, farewells, colours, objects, and classroom instructions
• The こそあど system for “this,” “that,” “here,” and “where”
• Basic い-adjectives and な-adjectives
• Self-introductions: name, country, and language
• Polite daily expressions for beginner communication

Easy Pronunciation—No IPA Required

Japanese pronunciation is highly regular, with only five core vowel sounds. Every vocabulary entry includes an easy English-style pronunciation guide, helping you say words aloud.

Practise the sounds that matter most: long versus short vowels, double consonants, even rhythm, and special particle readings such as は, へ, and を.

Learn Through the Interlinear Method

English support appears directly with the Japanese, so meaning is available as you read. Focus on word order, vocabulary, pronunciation, and recognition in context.

Each chapter follows a consistent path: interlinear introduction, Japanese-only reading, English translation, vocabulary study, contextual practice, pronunciation work, exercises, memory strategies, self-assessment.

A Practical Beginner Progression

The 18 chapters move deliberately: hiragana → sound patterns → katakana → greetings → farewells → numbers → counters → colours → classroom vocabulary → instructions → こそあど → everyday things → adjectives → days → self-introduction → yes/no → courtesy expressions → review.

You also learn cultural habits along the way—when to use polite speech, why さようなら can sound too final, how いってきます and ただいま work at home, why 4 and 9 may be avoided.

Built for Serious Beginners

This book is ideal if you have never studied Japanese, cannot read kana, want a systematic vocabulary foundation, are preparing eventually for JLPT N5, or need practical Japanese for travel, work, study, or living in Japan.

Book 1 uses hiragana and katakana only; kanji begins in Book 2. Particles and verb forms first appear inside fixed, useful expressions, building familiarity before deeper grammar study.

Part of a Complete Learning Pathway

Japanese Vocabulary Builder is a 12-book series progressing from Pre-N5 to beyond N1. Books 1–3 build toward JLPT N5, with later levels continuing through N4, N3, N2, N1, and advanced vocabulary.

The series also complements Pronounce Japanese Without Guessing and Read Japanese Without Guessing, helping you strengthen pronunciation, reading, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Designed for steady progress: read, speak aloud, practise, review, and return to difficult words until they feel familiar.

Take Your First Step

In 18 chapters, Japanese will begin to look less like unfamiliar symbols and more like something you can read, understand, and say. No magic. No random memorisation. Just clear progression, useful words, repeated exposure, and structured practice.

Start with だいいっぽ—your first step toward Japanese.