Learn Japanese Through JLPT N5 Reading: Read About Someone’s Favorite Activities

The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) has five levels, from N5 to N1. N5 is the entry-level and focuses on basic everyday conversation and reading comprehension. One excellent way to practice is by reading short passages about common topics. This article will guide you through a sample passage focusing on someone’s favorite activities, helping you build your vocabulary and understanding of simple Japanese.

The Passage: A Young Student’s Hobbies

Let’s read a short dialogue between Hana (花) and Kenji (健二). It’s about their hobbies:

Hana: こんにちは、健二！ どう？ (Konnichiwa, Kenji! Dou?)

Kenji: こんにちは、花！ 元気だよ。あなたは？ (Konnichiwa, Hana! Genki dayo. Anata wa?)

Hana: 나는 그림 그리는 것을 좋아해요. 특히 동물 그림을 그리는데 재미있어요. (Nani wa giga giri no koto o suki-ai yo. Tokuni doubutsu giga o kiri ni de maii desu yo.)

Kenji: 와, 정말 멋져요! 나는 축구를 좋아해요. 친구들과 함께 하는 게 재미있어요. (Wa, shinjitsu mudjaruyo! Nani wa kuchuu o suki-aiyo. Furi-towa ga aime ni suru ge maii desu yo.)

Hana: 축구는 좋지만, 그림 그리는 것을 더 좋아해요. (Kuchuu wa shou dakedashii, giga giri ni ru koto o mo suki-aiyo.)

Kenji: 알았어! 다음에 또 만나면 이야기해 봐요. (Watasoe! Tsuujimae atama nettaemachi iwaihai bayo.)

Hana: うん、またね！ (Un, mata ne!)

Vocabulary and Phrases

• こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello
• どう？(Dou?) – How are you? (informal)
• 元気だよ (Genki dayo) – I’m fine.
• あなた (Anata) – You
• 私は (Watashi wa) – I (formal, but perfectly acceptable for beginners)
• 〜を 좋아해요 (~ o suki-aiyo) – I like to do ~
• 特に (Tokuni) – Especially
• 〜는데 (~nde) – A grammatical particle indicating the purpose or result of an action.
• 本当に (Shinjitsu) – Really, truly
• すごい (Sugoi!) – Amazing!, Cool!
• サッカー (Sakka) – Soccer/Football
• 一緒に (Ite ni) – Together
• またね！(Mata ne!) – See you later!

Breaking Down the Dialogue & Common Mistakes

Let’s look at some of the phrases in more detail. Notice how natural Japanese conversations flow.

• “나는 그림 그리는 것을 좋아해요.” – This translates literally to “I drawing drawing thing like.” A better, more natural way to say this is “저는 그림 그리는 것을 좋아해요” (Watashi wa giga giri ni ru koto o suki-aiyo) – I like drawing.
• “와, 정말 멋져요!” – This expresses surprise and admiration. It’s a common reaction to something cool. It’s an excellent phrase to learn early on.
• Don’t forget the polite forms! Using “anata” directly can sound impolite. While “watashi wa” is fine for beginners, learning to use the polite form (“omae” – 誰) will be key as you progress.

Practice & Next Steps

This passage is a simple introduction. Here’s what you can do to continue your N5 preparation:

• Read more passages! Search for “JLPT N5 reading materials” online – there are many free resources.
• Look up unfamiliar words! Use a Japanese-English dictionary (online or app). Remember the vocabulary from this article.
• Focus on pronunciation! Listen to native speakers pronounce the phrases and try to mimic them.
• Start building simple sentences! Practice expressing your own hobbies and interests in Japanese, even if they’re basic.

Good luck with your Japanese studies!