N5 Vocabulary: Places & transport — 24 words with memory tricks
Places & directions is an N5 topic full of transparent kanji compounds. This lesson gathers 24 words: positions, compass directions, common places and transport — each with a hook.
01
上
うえ
ue
above (up, top, etc.), over, on top of
💡 ue = above / on. Use with の: 机の上 (on the desk).
机の上に本があります。There is a book on the desk.
02
後ろ
うしろ
ushiro
back, behind, rear
💡 ushiro = behind.
あなたの後ろに誰かいます。There is someone behind you.
03
中
なか
naka
inside, middle, among
💡 naka = inside / middle. 箱の中 (inside the box).
箱の中に何がありますか？What is inside the box?
04
外
そと
soto
outside, exterior
💡 soto = outside.
外で遊びましょう。Let's play outside.
05
右
みぎ
migi
right hand side
💡 migi = right.
右を見てください。Look to the right.
06
左
ひだり
hidari
left hand side
💡 hidari = left.
左に曲がってください。Please turn left.
07
隣
となり
tonari
next to, next door to
💡 tonari = next door / adjacent.
隣に誰かいますか？Is there anyone next to you?
08
近く
ちかく
chikaku
nearby; in the neighborhood
💡 近 (near). chikaku = nearby. 駅の近く (near the station).
近くに公園があります。There is a park nearby.
09
北
きた
kita
north
💡 kita = north.
北海道は日本の北にあります。Hokkaido is in the north of Japan.
10
南
みなみ
minami
South
💡 minami = south.
南へ行きます。I go south.
11
東
ひがし
higashi
east
💡 higashi = east (東京 Tōkyō = Eastern Capital).
駅の東口で会いましょう。Let's meet at the east exit of the station.
12
西
にし
nishi
west
💡 nishi = west.
太陽は西に沈みます。The sun sets in the west.
13
駅
えき
eki
station
💡 eki = train station.
駅まで歩いて行きます。I will walk to the station.
14
銀行
ぎんこう
ginkou
bank
💡 銀 (silver) + 行 → bank. ginkō.
銀行へ行きます。I'm going to the bank.
15
病院
びょういん
byouin
hospital
💡 病 (illness) + 院 (institution) → hospital. byōin.
病院へ行かなければなりません。I have to go to the hospital.
16
図書館
としょかん
toshokan
library
💡 図書 (books) + 館 (hall) → library. toshokan.
図書館で勉強します。I study at the library.
17
公園
こうえん
kōen
a park
💡 公 (public) + 園 (garden) → park. kōen.
公園で散歩します。I take a walk in the park.
18
郵便局
ゆうびんきょく
yūbinkyoku
post office
💡 郵便 (mail) + 局 (office) → post office. yūbinkyoku.
郵便局はどこですか？Where is the post office?
19
店
みせ
mise
store, shop
💡 mise = shop.
あの店へ行きましょう。Let's go to that shop.
20
道
みち
michi
road, street; way, directions
💡 michi = road / street.
道を教えてください。Please tell me the way.
21
電車
でんしゃ
densha
electric train
💡 電 (electric) + 車 (car) → train. densha.
電車に乗ります。I get on the train.
22
地下鉄
ちかてつ
chikatetsu
underground train, subway
💡 地下 (underground) + 鉄 (iron/rail) → subway. chikatetsu.
地下鉄で帰ります。I go home by subway.
23
バス
ばす
basu
bus; bath; bass
💡 Katakana loanword "basu" from bus.
バスで会社へ行きます。I go to the office by bus.
24
飛行機
ひこうき
hikouki
airplane
💡 飛 (fly) + 行 (go) + 機 (machine) → airplane. hikōki.
飛行機で行きます。I go by airplane.
Memory tricks
- Compass = clean kanji: 北 north, 南 south, 東 east, 西 west. Japanese often lists them 東西南北.
- Place compounds decode easily: 銀行 (silver + go = bank), 病院 (illness + hall = hospital), 図書館 (books + hall = library), 電車 (electric + car = train).
- Relative positions with の: 上 above, 中 inside, 外 outside, 後ろ behind, 隣 next to, 近く near — e.g. 駅の近く (near the station).
- 左/右 = left/right; transport in katakana (バス, タクシー) are loanwords.
- Spaced repetition in Memoro.
→ See all N5 Places & transport vocabulary
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