Anki Kanji N5: The Complete Guide To Learning JLPT N5 Kanji Faster (And Actually Remembering Them) – Stop forgetting basic kanji and use this smarter flashcard setup instead.

What “Anki Kanji N5” Really Means (And How To Make It Actually Work)

Alright, let’s talk about what people mean when they say anki kanji n5: it’s basically using Anki decks to learn the 100–120 or so kanji you need for JLPT N5, usually with readings, meanings, and example words. The idea is simple: you use spaced repetition flashcards so kanji pop up right when you’re about to forget them, which helps them stick long-term. That’s why it’s so popular for JLPT study – you don’t have to guess what to review, the app does it for you. The cool part is you can do the exact same thing (often faster and easier) with a modern app like Flashrecall:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Let’s break down how to study N5 kanji properly, how Anki fits into that, and why a newer app like Flashrecall might actually be a better move for your sanity.

Quick Overview: What JLPT N5 Kanji You Actually Need

Before talking apps, you need to know what you’re aiming at.

• Kanji count: Roughly 100–120 kanji for JLPT N5
• Level: Very basic – numbers, days of the week, school stuff, family, common verbs
• Examples:
• 日 (day/sun), 月 (month/moon), 火 (fire), 水 (water), 木 (tree), 金 (gold/money), 土 (earth)
• 人 (person), 学 (study), 校 (school), 生 (life/student)
• 大 (big), 小 (small), 上 (up), 下 (down)
• You’ll see them mostly in simple words and short sentences, not crazy newspaper kanji

So your kanji deck should at least cover:

• Kanji
• Meaning in English
• On’yomi / Kun’yomi readings (or at least the ones that matter for N5 words)
• Example vocabulary using that kanji

If your “anki kanji n5” setup doesn’t have those, it’s going to feel way harder than it needs to.

Anki For N5 Kanji: Why People Use It (And The Downsides)

Why people love Anki for kanji

Anki’s popular for a reason:

• It uses spaced repetition so you review kanji right before you forget them
• Tons of shared decks like “JLPT N5 Kanji” already exist
• You can customize card formats, add audio, images, etc.

If you’re disciplined and don’t mind tinkering with settings, Anki works great for anki kanji n5 decks.

But here’s what usually happens…

You probably know this feeling:

• You download a “JLPT N5 Kanji” deck
• Cards are messy: weird fonts, random tags, too much info on one card
• You get hit with 100+ new cards and your review pile explodes
• You forget to open Anki for a few days → reviews pile up → instant guilt

That’s where a more modern, user-friendly flashcard app can seriously help.

Why Flashrecall Is A Better Option Than Anki For N5 Kanji

If you like the idea of anki kanji n5, but want something simpler and more modern, Flashrecall is basically that vibe but easier to live with.

👉 Download it here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

1. Same spaced repetition idea, less headache

Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders.

That means:

• You don’t have to touch any settings or intervals
• The app just tells you: “Hey, time to review these kanji”
• You get study reminders, so you don’t forget your daily reviews

You still get the memory benefits of Anki-style SRS, just without babysitting the app.

2. Creating N5 kanji cards is way faster

With Anki, making cards can feel like a small coding project.

With Flashrecall, you can make N5 kanji cards in a bunch of easy ways:

• Type them manually:
• Front: 日
• Back: “day/sun, にち / ひ, example: 日本 (Japan)”
• From images: Take a photo of your textbook page with N5 kanji → Flashrecall can turn that into cards
• From PDFs or notes: Import a PDF or text and auto-generate flashcards
• From YouTube links: Watching a JLPT N5 lesson? Drop the link and make cards from the content
• From prompts: Type something like “Make N5 kanji cards for days of the week” and let it help you build them

So instead of hunting for the perfect “anki kanji n5” deck, you can build a clean, personalized deck in minutes.

How To Structure Your N5 Kanji Cards (In Any App)

Whether you use Anki or Flashrecall, the structure of your cards matters more than the app.

Recommended card types for N5 kanji

• Front: 日
• Back: “day/sun; にち / ひ; example: 日本 (Japan), 日曜日 (Sunday)”

• Front: “day/sun”
• Back: 日

• Front: 日本
• Back: にほん

This hits:

• Recognition (see kanji → know meaning)
• Production (see meaning → recall kanji)
• Real usage (see word → know reading)

In Flashrecall, you can easily make multiple cards from one note, or just duplicate and tweak cards super fast.

Active Recall: The Thing That Actually Makes Kanji Stick

You know how sometimes you stare at a kanji and think “I know this… I know this… I don’t know this”?

That moment is where active recall happens.

Flashrecall has built-in active recall baked into how you review:

• You see the front side (kanji, word, or meaning)
• You try to remember before flipping the card
• Then you rate how well you knew it, so the app spaces it accordingly

This is the same principle people chase with anki kanji n5 decks, just with a smoother experience.

And because Flashrecall is fast, modern, and easy to use, you’re more likely to actually stick with it.

Example: A Simple N5 Kanji Study Routine Using Flashrecall

Here’s a realistic daily routine you can follow.

Step 1: Pick a small kanji set (5–10 per day)

For example, start with:

• 日, 月, 火, 水, 木, 金, 土

Step 2: Create cards in Flashrecall

For each kanji, add:

• Card 1 – Kanji → Meaning + Reading
• Card 2 – Meaning → Kanji
• Optional: Word → Reading (like 日本 → にほん)

You can type them manually or snap a pic of your textbook and generate from that.

Step 3: Review daily with reminders

Flashrecall will:

• Remind you to study
• Show you cards at the right time using spaced repetition
• Let you rate how hard/easy each card was

So instead of “ugh, I should open Anki later,” you just get a gentle nudge and knock out a 10-minute review.

Step 4: Mix reading practice

Once you have ~50+ kanji:

• Add sentences from your textbook as cards
• Front: sentence with kanji
• Back: reading + translation

Now you’re not just memorizing shapes – you’re actually reading.

Flashrecall vs Anki For N5 Kanji: Quick Comparison

If you like the idea of “anki kanji n5” but don’t want to wrestle with settings or ugly shared decks, Flashrecall is honestly a lot more chill.

👉 Try it here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Using “Chat With The Flashcard” To Understand Kanji Better

This is something Anki just doesn’t do.

In Flashrecall, if you’re unsure about a card, you can literally chat with the flashcard.

Example:

• You’re learning the kanji 生
• You’re confused: “Why does 生 sometimes read as せい and sometimes as いき?”
• You can ask inside the app, and get an explanation, examples, and extra context

That’s super handy for kanji because:

• Many kanji have multiple readings
• Nuances are hard to remember from a basic deck alone
• You don’t have to leave the app and Google things constantly

It turns your N5 kanji deck into a mini tutor, not just a pile of cards.

Tips To Actually Remember N5 Kanji Long-Term

No matter if you use Anki or Flashrecall, these tips help a ton:

1. Don’t learn too many new kanji per day

• Aim for 5–10 new kanji a day
• Let spaced repetition do its job over weeks, not days

2. Always say readings out loud

When you flip a card:

• Say the reading
• Say the meaning
• If there’s a word like 日本, read the whole word

This helps your brain connect sound + meaning + shape.

3. Use mnemonics

Make silly stories:

• 木 (tree): Looks like a tree with branches
• 林 (woods): Two trees → woods
• 森 (forest): Three trees → forest

You can even make cards in Flashrecall with your personal mnemonic in the back.

4. Mix kanji with vocab

Don’t just learn 日 alone. Learn:

• 日: day/sun
• 日本: Japan
• 日曜日: Sunday

That way, when you see 日本, you’re not guessing each kanji separately – you know the whole word.

Why Flashrecall Works So Well For JLPT N5 (Beyond Just Kanji)

The nice thing is, once your kanji are set up, you can use Flashrecall for everything else N5 too:

• Vocabulary
• Grammar example sentences
• Particles usage
• Listening notes from YouTube lessons

Because it:

• Works offline (study on the train, bus, wherever)
• Is fast and easy to use, so you don’t dread opening it
• Is great for languages, exams, school subjects, university, medicine, business – pretty much anything you want to memorize

So you’re not stuck with one “anki kanji n5” deck – you’re building a full JLPT N5 system that actually fits how you study.

Final Thoughts: Use The “Anki Kanji N5” Idea, But With Better Tools

So yeah, the whole anki kanji n5 concept is solid:

Use spaced repetition flashcards to learn N5 kanji step-by-step and review them over time.

But you don’t have to use Anki specifically to get those benefits.

If you want:

• Automatic spaced repetition
• Study reminders
• Super fast card creation from images, text, PDFs, YouTube, or prompts
• The ability to chat with your cards when you’re confused
• A clean, modern app that just feels nicer to use

Then Flashrecall is honestly the smoother way to go.

Grab it here and start building your N5 kanji deck today:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Learn a few kanji a day, review consistently, and N5 kanji will stop feeling scary way faster than you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anki good for studying?

Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

How can I study more effectively for this test?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

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• Anki JLPT N5 Kanji: The Best Flashcard Strategy Most Learners Miss for Fast Kanji Mastery – Learn Smarter, Not Longer With This Simple Upgrade
• N5 Kanji Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Finally Remember Them (Without Burning Out)
• Anki For Language Learning: 7 Powerful Ways To Learn Faster (And A Smarter Alternative Most Learners Don’t Know About) – If you love Anki but want something faster, easier, and built for real-life studying, you’ll want to read this.