N5 in 5 Weeks Full Guide
N5 in 5 Weeks: A Detailed Roadmap
Big Picture Goal
In 35 days, you will:
・Read and write all Hiragana + Katakana without hesitation.
・Understand and recall ~500 sentences (N5 grammar and vocab).
・Be fully immersed in Japanese every single day.
・Build listening stamina so real Japanese stops sounding like “noise.”
・Be able to pass the JLPT N5 (entry-level proficiency test).
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Week-by-Week Plan
Week 1 (Days 1–7): Launch Into Immersion
Focus: Establish immersion + start Hiragana + sentence mining.
Daily Actions:
・Immersion (2–3 hrs/day): Anime, J-dramas, podcasts, YouTube (no subs).
・Phone/PC in Japanese: Switch system language.
・Hiragana: 15–30 mins/day (Tofugu Guide or Dr. Moku app). Handwrite each character + say it aloud.
・Anki Sentences: Add 18/day from Tae Kim / Genki 1. Review every morning + night.
・Speaking Practice: Read your Hiragana aloud daily.
Checkpoint by Day 7:
・Recognize ~40 Hiragana.
・Know ~125 sentences in Anki.
・Have at least 15 hrs of immersion logged.
Week 2 (Days 8–14): Full Kana & Pattern Recognition
Focus: Finish Hiragana + start Katakana + keep sentences flowing.
Daily Actions:
・Immersion (3–4 hrs/day): Mix in variety shows / slice-of-life dramas.
・Katakana: 20–30 mins/day, learn in context (e.g., コンピュータ = computer).
・Sentence Mining: Continue 18/day. Aim for ~250 total by end of Week 2.
・Reading Drills: Try kids’ books or NHK Easy News (furigana on).
・Output: Copy one sentence from Anki into a notebook and say it out loud daily.
Checkpoint by Day 14:
・Read Hiragana + Katakana with 80–90% accuracy.
・Know ~250 sentences.
・Hear familiar words popping up in immersion content.
Week 3 (Days 15–21): Solidify Foundations
Focus: Instant recall of Kana + deepen grammar.
Daily Actions:
・Immersion (3–5 hrs/day): At least 1 hr active listening (watch with focus, not background).
・Alphabet Drills: 5-min speed review daily until recall is instant.
・Sentence Mining: 18/day, ~375 total. Include particles (は、が、を、に、で).
・Speaking/Shadowing: Pick 3 sentences/day from Anki → read them aloud 10 times each, matching intonation.
・Kanji Intro: Start with ~10 essential kanji (日、月、人、山、川、大、小、口、目、手).
Checkpoint by Day 21:
・Can read/write all Kana instantly.
・Recognize 10 kanji.
・375 sentences in Anki.
・Have ~60 hrs immersion logged.
Week 4 (Days 22–28): Expanding Comprehension
Focus: Recognize sentence patterns in the wild.
Daily Actions:
・Immersion (4–6 hrs/day): Mix formats → anime + podcasts + live TV if possible.
・Sentence Mining: 18/day, ~500 total by Day 28.
・Kanji: Learn 5–7 more (numbers 1–10, 学, 校, 先, 生).
・Speaking/Shadowing: Repeat 5 sentences aloud/day with speed + natural rhythm.
・Output Writing: Keep a short “Japanese diary” (2–3 sentences/day using Anki material).
Checkpoint by Day 28:
・Read menus, signs, subtitles in Kana without effort.
・Recognize ~20 kanji.
・Recall ~500 sentences.
・Understand chunks of immersion content without subtitles.
Week 5 (Days 29–35): Pre-Test & Real-Use Practice
Focus: Consolidation + light test prep.
Daily Actions:
・Immersion (5+ hrs/day): Push listening stamina. Watch one full drama episode/day.
・Review: Slow down new sentences → spend more time on reviews.
・Practice Exam: Take an N5 sample test (available free online).
・Weak Point Fixing: Review grammar points (particles, past tense, adjectives).
・Speaking Practice: Do self-introductions, basic Q&A aloud (こんにちは。わたしは～です。これは何ですか？).
Checkpoint by Day 35:
・500+ sentences reviewed daily.
・Fluent with Kana.
・Recognize ~30 kanji.
・Score at least 80% on an N5 practice test.
Daily Checklist (no excuses)
・2–6 hrs immersion
・Hiragana/Katakana (first 2 weeks)
・18 new sentences in Anki (+ reviews)
・Read sentences aloud / shadowing
・Write 2–3 sentences (from memory or copied)
Mindset & Warnings
・Don’t get stuck: Never pause immersion to “look up everything.” Just keep going.
・Fight boredom: If you hate the content, switch. Loving the input = staying consistent.
・Trust compounding: You won’t “feel fluent” daily, but by Week 5 you’ll notice a jump.
End of 5 Weeks: Self-Assessment
・Can you read all Kana without hesitation?
・Do you recognize 30+ kanji in context?
・Do you recall ~500 sentences from memory?
・Have you logged 100+ hrs immersion?
・Can you pass a mock N5 exam with 80%+?
If yes → you’re N5-ready. Next: expand kanji + vocab to hit N4 in another 2–3 months.