JLPT N5 adverbs and question words are the glue of Japanese sentences. Adverbs like いつも, よく, and あまり add frequency and degree to verbs. Question words like どこ, いつ, and いくら are tested in almost every N5 listening section. This guide covers all 39 words.

This article is part of our JLPT N5 Complete Vocabulary Guide. Practice all 39 words with the N5 Adverbs & Questions deck in Onigiri Anki.

Frequency & Degree Adverbs (12)

These adverbs modify verbs and adjectives — mastering them instantly makes your Japanese sentences more natural and precise.

alwaysいつもitsumo

いつも早く起きます。 — I always wake up early.

often / wellよくyoku

よく映画をみます。 — I often watch movies.

sometimes時々tokidoki

時々ジムへいきます。 — I sometimes go to the gym.

not very (+ negative)あまりamari

あまり肉をたべません。 — I don't eat much meat.

very / reallyとてもtotemo

今日はとても寒いです。 — It is very cold today.

really / truly本当にhontou ni

本当にありがとうございます。 — Thank you very truly.

a lot / manyたくさんtakusan

たくさん食べました。 — I ate a lot.

a little / few少しsukoshi

少し待ってください。 — Please wait a little.

gradually / little by littleだんだんdandan

だんだん上手になります。 — I am gradually getting better.

immediately / right awayすぐにsugu ni

すぐにきます。 — I will come right away.

slowly / leisurelyゆっくりyukkuri

ゆっくり話してください。 — Please speak slowly.

together一緒にissho ni

一緒に行きましょう。 — Let's go together.

Time & State Adverbs (8)

Words like もう (already) and まだ (still / not yet) are classic N5 exam traps — they change meaning based on whether the sentence is positive or negative.

already / nowもうmou

もう食べました。 — I already ate.

still / not yetまだmada

まだ食べていません。 — I haven't eaten yet.

againまたmata

またきてください。 — Please come again.

moreもっとmotto

もっとゆっくりはなしてください。 — Please speak more slowly.

straight aheadまっすぐmassugu

まっすぐいってください。 — Please go straight ahead.

for the first time初めてhajimete

初めて日本へきました。 — I came to Japan for the first time.

probably / maybe多分tabun

多分いきます。 — I will probably go.

after thatそれからsorekara

それから家へかえりました。 — After that, I went home.

Question Words & Connectors (12)

Every N5 listening question is based on a question word. Knowing all 10 core question words guarantees you understand what each question is asking.

what何nani / nan

これはなんですか。 — What is this?

whereどこdoko

駅はどこですか。 — Where is the station?

whoだれdare

あの人はだれですか。 — Who is that person?

whenいつitsu

いつ日本へいきますか。 — When are you going to Japan?

whyどうしてdoushite

どうして遅れましたか。 — Why were you late?

how / in what wayどうdou

日本語はどうですか。 — How is your Japanese?

which oneどれdore

どれがすきですか。 — Which one do you like?

what kind ofどんなdonna

どんな音楽がすきですか。 — What kind of music do you like?

how many (things)いくつikutsu

りんごをいくつかいましたか。 — How many apples did you buy?

how much (price)いくらikura

これはいくらですか。 — How much is this?

and then / andそしてsoshite

朝食をたべました。そして学校へいきました。 — I ate breakfast. And then I went to school.

but / howeverでもdemo

たかいです。でもかいます。 — It is expensive. But I will buy it.

4 Grammar Points Every N5 Learner Needs

あまり requires a negative verb. あまり + positive verb is wrong. The correct pattern: あまり食べません (I don't eat much). Using あまり with a positive verb is a common N5 error.
もう vs まだ. もう食べました = I already ate. まだ食べていません = I haven't eaten yet. The polarity of the verb changes the meaning — both mean "not done yet" in different ways.
どれ vs どちら. どれ = which one (3+ options). どちら = which one (2 options). Both appear on N5; using the wrong one is marked incorrect.
なん vs なに for 何. 何 is read なん before counters (何枚, 何本) and なに before が, を, は. The reading changes by context, and N5 listening tests both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are adverbs as important as nouns and verbs for N5?

Yes — adverbs like よく, あまり, and たくさん appear in nearly every listening comprehension section. They modify the meaning of a sentence entirely, so missing them causes you to choose the wrong answer.

Do I need to know all question words for N5?

All 10 core question words (何, どこ, だれ, いつ, どうして, どう, どれ, どんな, いくつ, いくら) appear on the N5. There is no shortcut — you need all of them.

Practice All 39 N5 Adverb & Question Words

Import the N5 Adverbs & Questions deck into Onigiri Anki and lock in all 39 words before your exam. The question words alone can dramatically improve your listening score.

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JLPT N5 Adverbs & Question Words: All 39 Essential Words (2026)