JLPT N5 Opposite Words by Thematic Groups
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Learning opposite words is an excellent strategy to quickly enrich your Japanese vocabulary. At the N5 level, these pairs of antonyms form a fundamental base that will allow you to nuance your expressions and better understand the contexts in which these words are used. Organizing these words by thematic groups further facilitates their memorization and practical use.
Size and Dimensions
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大きい | big | 小さい | small |
| 長い | long | 短い | short |
| 太い | thick/fat | 細い | thin/slim |
| 高い | high/tall | 低い | low |
| 重い | heavy | 軽い | light |
Colors
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 白い | white | 黒い | black |
| 赤い | red | 青い | blue |
Temperature and Physical Sensations
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 熱い | hot (to touch) | 冷たい | cold (to touch) |
| 暖かい | warm (weather) | 寒い | cold (weather) |
Brightness and Visibility
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 明るい | bright/light | 暗い | dark |
Quantity and Intensity
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 多い | many/much | 少ない | few/little |
| 強い | strong | 弱い | weak |
Quality and Evaluation
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 新しい | new | 古い | old |
| 高い | expensive | 安い | cheap |
| 良い | good | 悪い | bad |
| 美味しい | delicious | まずい | tastes bad |
| 面白い | interesting | つまらない | boring |
| 簡単 | easy | 難しい | difficult |
State and Condition
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 元気 | healthy/energetic | 病気 | sick |
| 静か | quiet | うるさい | noisy |
Speed and Time
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 早い | fast/early | 遅い | slow/late |
Positions and Spatial Directions
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 上 | above/up | 下 | below/down |
| 前 | front | 後ろ | behind |
| 右 | right | 左 | left |
| 中 | inside | 外 | outside |
| 近い | near | 遠い | far |
Cardinal Points
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 東 | east | 西 | west |
| 北 | north | 南 | south |
Time and Moments
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 朝 | morning | 夜 | night |
| 今日 | today | 昨日 | yesterday |
| 今日 | today | 明日 | tomorrow |
Family Relations and Gender
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 男 | man | 女 | woman |
| 父 | father | 母 | mother |
| 兄 | older brother | 弟 | younger brother |
| 姉 | older sister | 妹 | younger sister |
Actions and Movements
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 出る | go out | 入る | enter |
| 来る | come | 行く | go |
| 立つ | stand up | 座る | sit down |
| 開ける | open | 閉める | close |
| 始まる | begin | 終わる | end |
| 起きる | wake up | 寝る | sleep |
Economic Actions and Exchange
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 買う | buy | 売る | sell |
| あげる | give | もらう | receive |
Cognitive Actions and Learning
| Japanese Word | English | Opposite Japanese Word | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 教える | teach | 習う | learn |
| 忘れる | forget | 覚える | remember |
This thematic organization of JLPT N5 opposite words will help you better structure your learning. Each group represents a specific conceptual domain, facilitating memorization through logical association and practical use in appropriate contexts.
