The $N5$ level primarily focuses on the following core areas:

1. Scripts

• Hiragana: The foundational phonetic alphabet of Japanese. (Must learn all $46$ basic characters plus variations).
• Katakana: The phonetic alphabet used for foreign words and names. (Must learn all $46$ basic characters plus variations).
• Kanji: You are expected to recognize and understand approximately $100$ basic and frequently used Kanji (Chinese characters).

2. Vocabulary

• You need to learn about $800$ to $1000$ fundamental vocabulary words used in daily life (e.g., family, time, food, places, basic verbs, etc.).

3. Grammar

• The focus is on very basic and simple grammatical structures:
  • Basic sentence structure (Subject - Object - Verb order).
  • Simple verb conjugations and forms (present, past, negative, and the polite $Masu$ form).
  • Use of basic particles (e.g., $wa$, $o$, $ga$, $ni$, $e$ (he), $mo$, $to$, etc.).
  • Basic usage of nouns and adjectives.

4. Communication Ability

• Listening/Reading: You should be able to understand short and simple conversations spoken slowly and clearly, and understand simple texts related to daily topics.
• Speaking: You should be able to introduce yourself, answer simple questions, and express basic needs (e.g., buying things, asking for time, etc.).

In short: $N5$ establishes the foundation of the Japanese language and allows you to handle very basic matters in everyday life in Japan.