JLPT N4 Vocabulary & Grammar Course

The JLPT N4 test checks whether you can understand basic Japanese used in everyday situations. The exam has three sections: language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar), reading, and listening. N4 is the second level of the five JLPT levels, so you should be comfortable with common sentence patterns and daily conversation.

Your score comes from scaled scoring across the sections. You need both a passing total score and a passing score in each section, so avoid spending all your time on one area. Keep a steady pace during the reading section and do not stop on a difficult question.

• Study grammar and vocabulary daily for short sessions.
• Practice listening with audio even when you cannot understand everything.
• Take timed mock tests to build exam stamina.

Section balance: language knowledge and reading share a time budget, so finish vocabulary and grammar quickly. In listening, read the options during pauses and focus on who, what, when, and where. Keep every section above the passing line.

The N4 vocabulary list covers words you use at work, on trips, at school, and in daily conversation. Study words by topic so they stay connected in your memory. For example, time words such as 今週, 来月, and 先週 work together, and travel words such as 切符 and 空港 appear in the same situations.

Word-building is also important at N4. Many verbs, nouns, and adjectives share roots, and adding suffixes can change their meaning or part of speech. Knowing the noun 旅行 helps you understand 旅行する and 旅行者.

• Make topic groups for work, travel, study, feelings, and time.
• Learn verbs together with their particles.
• Review new words with example sentences, not word lists alone.

Topic drill: group words by time, travel, work, school, daily life, and feelings. For each group, write a sentence you could actually say. Word formation matters too: learn 会社員, 会社, and 会う together so the same kanji stays connected.

N4 grammar builds on N5 forms and adds patterns that express intention, experience, permission, and obligation. You will use forms such as 〜ている, 〜たことがある, 〜つもり, 〜かもしれない, 〜なくてはいけない, 〜てもいい, and 〜てはいけない. These patterns appear often in both writing and conversation.

Particles also carry a lot of meaning. に marks time, location, or direction, while で marks the place of an action or a means. Choosing the correct particle changes the meaning of the sentence, so practice each pattern with natural examples.

• Study conditionals such as 〜ば, 〜たら, and 〜なら together.
• Compare 〜ために (purpose) with 〜ながら (while doing).
• Use 〜そうだ, 〜らしい, and 〜みたい for hearsay and similarity.
• Connect reasons with 〜ので and show contrast with 〜のに.

Pattern drill: 〜ている for ongoing state, 〜たことがある for experience, 〜つもり for intention, 〜かもしれない for possibility, 〜なくてはいけない for obligation, and 〜てもいい for permission. Write one sentence for each and check the nuance.

N4 kanji adds around 200 characters to the ones you learned at N5. Each kanji usually has an on-reading, used in compounds, and a kun-reading, used with native Japanese words. For example, 会 is read かい in 会社 but can appear with different readings in other words.

Reading compounds is a key skill. When two kanji appear together, the meaning often comes from both parts. Instead of memorizing every word alone, learn kanji in small groups and note how readings change.

• Practice readings by writing short sentences.
• Learn compound words such as 会社, 電車, and 時間.
• In reading questions, read the whole sentence before answering.
• Look for context clues around unknown kanji.

On-kun drill: for each kanji, record one compound with an on-reading and one native word with a kun-reading. For example, 会社 (kaisha) and 会う (au). In reading, mark しかし and そして to follow the argument.

A four-week N4 plan balances vocabulary, grammar, kanji, reading, and listening. In week one, review your weak grammar points and start a topic vocabulary list. In week two, add kanji compounds and daily reading practice. Week three should focus on timed practice and listening, while week four is for mock tests and error review.

Spaced review is more effective than cramming. Review a word after one day, three days, and one week, and keep an error notebook for mistakes in grammar, kanji, and listening. Short daily sessions are better than one long session at the weekend.

• Take one full mock test each week.
• Spend 10 minutes daily on spaced review.
• Write down every error and review it before the exam.
• After N4, move to N3 vocabulary and longer reading passages.

Four-week rhythm: week 1 fixes weak grammar and starts topic vocabulary; week 2 adds kanji compounds and daily reading; week 3 adds timed listening; week 4 uses mock tests. Review after one day, three days, and one week.