JLPT N4 — Elementary A2

JLPT N4 marks the transition from absolute beginner to elementary Japanese. You can handle everyday conversations on familiar topics, understand the general meaning of simple written passages, and navigate basic situations in Japan. It corresponds to approximately 300–600 total hours of study from zero.

Level Overview

Exam Format

• Sections: Language Knowledge (vocab), Language Knowledge (grammar) + Reading, Listening
• Time: Language Knowledge + Reading: ~60 min total; Listening: ~35 min
• Total possible: 180 pts
• Pass threshold: Total ≥ 90; each section ≥ 19 pts
• Speed: Reading passages are longer than N5; listening slightly faster

Key Vocabulary Themes Added at N4

N4 builds on N5 vocabulary and introduces:

• Emotions and opinions: 好き (suki, like), 嫌い (kirai, dislike), 大切 (taisetsu, important), 心配 (shinpai, worry)
• Actions: 始める (hajimeru, to start), 終わる (owaru, to finish), 覚える (oboeru, to memorize), 忘れる (wasureru, to forget)
• Describing things: 便利 (benri, convenient), 難しい (muzukashii, difficult), 簡単 (kantan, easy)
• Verbs of giving/receiving: あげる (ageru, to give), もらう (morau, to receive), くれる (kureru, to give to me)
• Compound sentences: connects using て-form, から (because), けど (but), と思う (to omou, I think that)

Essential Vocabulary Sample

Core Grammar Points

1. Te-form connections and requests

The て-form (te-form) is the most important verb form at N4. It connects clauses and forms dozens of patterns:

• 食べてから行く (tabete kara iku) — go after eating
• 食べてください (tabete kudasai) — please eat
• 食べてもいいですか (tabete mo ii desu ka) — is it okay if I eat?
• 食べてはいけません (tabete wa ikemasen) — you must not eat

2. Potential form: can do ~

Add れる (for Group 1/Godan verbs) or られる (for Group 2/Ichidan verbs):

• 食べる → 食べられる (taberareru) — can eat
• 書く → 書ける (kakeru) — can write
• する → できる (dekiru) — can do

3. Conditional: 〜たら (when/if ... then)

The たら conditional expresses "when X happens, Y":

• 家に着いたら電話してください。Ie ni tsuitara denwa shite kudasai. — Call me when you get home.
• お金があったら旅行したい。Okane ga attara ryokou shitai. — If I had money, I'd want to travel.

4. Conditional: 〜ば (if)

The ば conditional is more hypothetical:

• 時間があればやります。Jikan ga areba yarimasu. — If I have time, I'll do it.

5. Giving and receiving verbs

Japanese has three verbs for giving/receiving, and choice depends on direction relative to speaker:

• あげる (ageru): I/we give to someone else; someone gives to someone else
• くれる (kureru): someone gives to me/my in-group
• もらう (morau): I receive from someone; someone receives
• 友達に本をあげました。— I gave a book to my friend.
• 友達が本をくれました。— My friend gave me a book.
• 友達から本をもらいました。— I received a book from my friend.

6. Desire: 〜たい (want to do)

Attach たい to the verb stem to express desire. It conjugates like an i-adjective:

• 日本に行きたい。Nihon ni ikitai. — I want to go to Japan.
• 食べたくない。Tabetakunai. — I don't want to eat.

7. Expressions of reason: 〜から、〜ので

• 〜から (kara): because (subjective; speaker's own reason)
• 〜ので (node): because (objective; more formal/polite)
• 眠いから帰ります。Nemui kara kaerimasu. — I'm going home because I'm sleepy.
• 風邪をひいたので休みます。Kaze o hiita node yasumimasu. — I'll rest because I caught a cold.

8. The 〜と思う (to omou) pattern

Used to express opinion or belief:

• おいしいと思います。Oishii to omoimasu. — I think it's delicious.
• 彼は来ないと思います。Kare wa konai to omoimasu. — I think he won't come.

9. Change of state: 〜になる / 〜くなる

• Noun + になる: become (noun)
  • 医者になりたい。— I want to become a doctor.
• i-adjective stem + くなる: become (adjective)
  • 暖かくなってきた。— It's getting warmer.

10. Verb plain form + と (automatic result)

• ボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。Botan o osu to, doa ga akimasu. — When you press the button, the door opens.

N4 Kanji Sample

181 new kanji are introduced at N4, covering more abstract concepts alongside N5 concrete words:

Work and society: 社 会 仕 事 会 社 勉 強 試 験

Time and sequence: 始 終 週 毎 以

Places and transport: 駅 空 港 道 市 区 町 村

Body and health: 体 頭 目 耳 口 手 足 歯

Adjectives/concepts: 近 遠 重 軽 広 細 太 若 同

Study Plan for N4

Phase 1: Solidify N5 Foundation

• Review all N5 grammar (if it's fuzzy, fix it now — N4 builds directly on it)
• Review all N5 vocabulary via Anki
• Make sure all 103 N5 kanji are recognizable in any context

Phase 2: New Grammar

• Work through Genki I chapters 11–12 + Genki II chapters 13–18
• Complete N4 grammar points on Bunpro
• Focus on: te-form usage (it powers 30+ grammar patterns), giving/receiving verbs, conditionals

Phase 3: Vocabulary and Kanji

• Anki N4 vocabulary deck: 15–20 new cards/day
• WaniKani levels 10–20 cover most N4 kanji
• Read NHK Web Easy articles daily (even without understanding everything)

Phase 4: Exam Practice

• JLPT Official Practice Workbook N4
• Online mock tests at jlpt.jp
• Timed listening practice

Recommended Resources

What Next — Aiming for N3

The jump from N4 to N3 is often described as the most significant leap in the JLPT. N3 is the first level where the JLPT begins to feel like a real language test rather than an academic exercise.

• Vocabulary: Grow from ~1,500 to ~3,750 words (+2,250 new items)
• Kanji: Add ~367 new kanji (cumulative: ~651 kanji)
• Grammar: ~200 grammar points — introduces more complex sentence structures, nuanced expressions, and some formal/literary patterns
• Reading: Full paragraphs without furigana on most kanji
• CEFR: Advance from A2 to B1
• Time: Most learners spend 6–18 months between N4 and N3