Anki JLPT N5 Kanji: The Best Flashcard Strategy Most Learners Miss for Fast Kanji Mastery – Learn Smarter, Not Longer With This Simple Upgrade
anki jlpt n5 kanji works for memorizing the 100–150 basic characters, but this breaks down what sucks about Anki, who burns out, and how Flashrecall fixes it.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
What’s Actually Going On With Anki JLPT N5 Kanji?
Alright, let’s talk about anki jlpt n5 kanji first: it basically means using Anki decks to memorize the 100–150 basic kanji you need to pass the JLPT N5. These are the super common characters like 日, 人, 大, 学 that show up everywhere in beginner Japanese. The idea is simple: you use spaced repetition flashcards so you don’t forget them after a week. That’s exactly what apps like Anki do – and what apps like Flashrecall do in a much faster, easier, more modern way:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
So if you’re trying to figure out the best way to learn JLPT N5 kanji, Anki-style decks are a solid method – but there are some big downsides and some much nicer alternatives now.
Anki for JLPT N5 Kanji: What It Gets Right (And What Kinda Sucks)
Why People Like Anki for N5 Kanji
So, you know how everyone on Reddit and language forums screams “Use Anki!” for Japanese? That’s because:
- It uses spaced repetition (SRS) so you review kanji right before you’re about to forget them
- You can download pre-made JLPT N5 kanji decks
- You can customize cards with readings, meanings, example sentences, etc.
- It’s powerful and super flexible if you’re willing to tinker
For pure memorization, Anki absolutely works. If you stick with it, you will remember kanji like 食, 行, 見, 来, etc.
But Here’s the Problem With Anki…
For a lot of people, Anki turns into a chore:
- The interface feels old and clunky
- Setting up decks, card types, fonts, and add-ons is confusing
- Syncing between devices can be annoying
- You have to manually manage your cards more than you’d like
- On iOS, the official app is paid and still not exactly modern
So yeah, anki jlpt n5 kanji works in theory, but in practice, a lot of learners burn out because the app itself gets in the way.
That’s where something like Flashrecall just makes your life easier.
Flashrecall vs Anki for JLPT N5 Kanji
If you like the idea of Anki but hate the setup, Flashrecall basically gives you Anki-style spaced repetition without all the friction.
👉 Try it here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
What Flashrecall Does Better for JLPT N5
Here’s how it compares for kanji study:
- Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition – you don’t have to tweak intervals or settings
- It sends automatic study reminders, so you don’t forget to review
- You just make cards and study; the app handles the schedule
So you get the same memory benefits as Anki, but with way less setup.
With Anki, making nice kanji cards can take effort. With Flashrecall, you can:
- Make flashcards instantly from images, text, PDFs, YouTube links, or typed prompts
- Screenshot a kanji chart → turn it into cards
- Grab example sentences from a JLPT N5 site → auto-generate cards
- Or just make cards manually if you like full control
Example:
- Front: 「見」
- Back: “to see; to look; みる; JLPT N5; Example: 映画を見ます。”
You can create a whole N5 kanji deck in one sitting without fiddling with templates.
This is where Flashrecall feels way more 2025 than Anki.
If you’re not sure about a kanji, you can literally chat with the flashcard:
- “What’s the difference between 見る and 観る?”
- “Give me 3 more N5-level sentences with 行く.”
- “Explain the radicals in this kanji.”
Instead of googling or going down a rabbit hole, you get help inside your study app.
Flashrecall is built for iOS:
- Fast, modern UI
- Works offline
- Syncs across your Apple devices
- Feels like a normal 2025 app, not a 2009 desktop port
If you’re specifically searching for anki jlpt n5 kanji because you’re on mobile, Flashrecall is honestly just a nicer experience.
How to Actually Learn JLPT N5 Kanji (Step-by-Step)
Let’s go through a simple plan you can follow using an Anki-style approach, but I’ll show you how to do it in Flashrecall so it’s smoother.
Step 1: Decide Which Kanji You’re Going to Learn
JLPT N5 has around 100–150 kanji, depending on the list you follow. Focus on:
- Numbers (一, 二, 三, 十)
- Time (日, 月, 年, 時)
- Basic verbs (行, 来, 見, 食, 飲)
- Common nouns (人, 口, 山, 川, 学, 校)
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
You can grab any online “JLPT N5 Kanji List” and use that as your base.
Step 2: Build Your Deck in Flashrecall
Open Flashrecall (download here if you haven’t already):
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Create a deck like: “JLPT N5 Kanji – Core 100”.
For each kanji, make at least one basic card:
- Front: 「飲」
- Back: “to drink; のむ; Example: 水を飲みます。”
- Front: “to drink (N5 kanji)”
- Back: 「飲む / 飲」
Active recall both ways helps you remember faster.
Because Flashrecall can generate cards from text, you could paste a list like:
> 飲 – to drink – のむ
> 見 – to see – みる
> 行 – to go – いく / いきます
…and quickly turn these into multiple cards instead of doing everything one by one.
Step 3: Add Example Sentences (Not Just Isolated Kanji)
This is where a lot of anki jlpt n5 kanji decks fall short: they give you the kanji, but no context.
In Flashrecall, you can:
- Add simple example sentences on the back
- Or ask the built-in chat: “Give me an easy N5 sentence using 見る” and paste that in
Example:
- Front: 「見」
- Back: “to see; みる; Example: テレビを見ます。”
Now your brain learns meaning + reading + real usage at once.
Step 4: Use Spaced Repetition Daily (But Keep It Light)
You don’t need to grind for hours.
- Aim for 10–20 new kanji per week
- Study 10–15 minutes per day
- Let Flashrecall’s spaced repetition + reminders tell you what to review
Because the app auto-schedules reviews, you don’t have to think about “Did I review this yesterday?” – you just open the app and go.
Step 5: Mix Kanji With Vocabulary
Kanji by themselves are okay, but kanji inside words are way better.
For example:
- 学 – study
- 生 – life
- 学生 – student
In Flashrecall, you can make extra cards like:
- Front: 「学生」
- Back: “student; がくせい; Kanji: 学 (study) + 生 (life)”
You can even snap a photo of your textbook page and auto-generate cards from it, which is way faster than manually building everything like in Anki.
Example JLPT N5 Kanji Deck Structure (You Can Copy This)
Here’s a simple structure you can recreate in Flashrecall:
Group 1: Super Basic Everyday Kanji
- 日 – day, sun
- 月 – month, moon
- 人 – person
- 大 – big
- 小 – small
- 中 – inside, middle
Group 2: School & Study
- 学 – study
- 校 – school
- 先 – ahead
- 生 – life, birth (student)
Group 3: Numbers & Time
- 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, 十
- 年 – year
- 時 – time, hour
- 分 – minute
For each group, create 10–15 cards, then let Flashrecall handle the scheduling.
Why Flashrecall Is Just Easier Than Anki for JLPT N5 Kanji
To sum it up, if you searched for anki jlpt n5 kanji, you probably want:
- A reliable way to remember kanji long term
- Something that works on iPhone/iPad
- Minimal setup, maximum results
You can totally do that with Anki, but:
- You’ll spend more time tweaking than studying
- The interface is not friendly
- On iOS, it’s paid and still feels dated
With Flashrecall, you get:
- ✅ Automatic spaced repetition (no config headaches)
- ✅ Study reminders so you don’t fall off
- ✅ Super fast card creation from images, text, PDFs, YouTube, or manual input
- ✅ Ability to chat with your flashcards when you’re unsure about a kanji or word
- ✅ Works offline on iPhone and iPad
- ✅ Great not just for Japanese, but for any language, exams, school, uni, medicine, business – literally anything you need to memorize
- ✅ Free to start, modern, and easy to use
If you like the idea of anki jlpt n5 kanji decks but don’t want to wrestle with old-school software, just use something that does the same job with less pain.
What You Can Do Next (Simple Plan)
1. Install Flashrecall here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Make a deck called “JLPT N5 Kanji – Core”
3. Add 10–15 kanji today with meanings, readings, and simple sentences
4. Study for 10 minutes a day
5. Let the app’s spaced repetition + reminders handle the rest
Stick with that for a month and you’ll have most of the N5 kanji down without burning out or fighting with your flashcard app every day.
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.
Related Articles
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- Anki 5000 Spanish: The Complete Guide To Mastering Core Vocabulary Faster (And Actually Remembering It) – Skip the clunky decks and learn smarter with a modern flashcard app that does the hard work for you.
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Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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