Complete JLPT N4 Guide: Vocabulary, Grammar, Quizzes & Study Plan
Who is this level for?
Learners who have passed or reached N5 level and want to improve their everyday conversation.
JLPT N4 is an important gateway where learners move from 'recognizing characters' to 'being able to communicate.' Passing N4 means you can follow slower everyday conversation and read short passages. For working-holiday travelers, independent travelers in Japan, or anyone who wants to follow J-drama subtitles, N4 is a very practical goal.
Exam structure
- Language Knowledge (Vocabulary)：30 min
- Language Knowledge (Grammar) · Reading：60 min
- Listening：35 min
Key N4 grammar points
- て-form extensions: 〜ている・〜てある・〜てしまう・〜ておく・〜てみる
- Giving & receiving verbs: あげる・もらう・くれる with the て-form
- Conditionals: full comparison of たら・ば・と・なら
- Potential form: verb + られる vs できる
- Causative: 〜させる and causative-passive 〜させられる
- Intro to keigo: 〜ていただく・〜くださる・〜でございます
- Obligation & prohibition: なければならない・てはいけない
- Volitional & suggestion: 〜ましょう・〜ようと思う・〜ほうがいい
Vocabulary categories
- Advanced verbs (intro to compound verbs: 書き込む・持ち帰る)
- Extended adjectives (便利・不便・複雑・簡単)
- Adverbs (きっと・たぶん・もっと・ずっと・やっと)
- Conjunctions (それに・それから・でも・ところで)
- Places & facilities (病院・銀行・市役所・空港)
- Emotion & state words (嬉しい・悲しい・疲れた)
Kanji focus
- Daily life: 駅・店・電話・会社・学校・病院・銀行
- Action kanji: 食・飲・見・聞・話・書・読・買・売
- Adjective kanji: 高・低・広・狭・近・遠・早・遅
- Time expressions: 今・昨・明・毎・週・月・年・前・後
Common mistakes and pitfalls
- Confusing the four conditionals (と・ば・たら・なら): と is objective inevitability, ば stresses the condition, たら stresses sequence, and なら is advice after hearing a premise
- Wrong direction with giving/receiving verbs: あげる (I give to others), もらう (I receive from others), くれる (others give to me)
- Mixing up causative vs passive: させる (make/let do) vs させられる (be forced to do) feel very different
- Misjudging keigo situations: using くださる and いただく naturally takes lots of practice
Suggested study plan
- Months 1–2：Master all て-form extensions (〜ている・〜てしまう・〜ておく・〜てみる)
- Months 3–4：Master the giving/receiving verbs and the four conditionals; memorize 10 N4 words a day
- Months 5–6：Drill the N4 quiz bank and mock tests, with extra focus on keigo and causative-passive
Related grammar articles
- 〜すぎる: too much / excessive degree
- 〜たい vs 〜たがる: expressing desire
- 〜と思います: opinion & guess
- 〜でしょう・〜でしょうか: conjecture
- 〜ながら: simultaneous actions
Frequently asked questions
How much harder is N4 than N5?
N4 is noticeably harder than N5 — vocabulary grows from 800 to 1,500 words, and grammar gets more complex (especially the many uses of the て-form and conditionals). But with a solid N5 foundation and 6 to 12 months of planned study, the pass rate is quite high.
What's the passing score for JLPT N4?
N4 is scored out of 180. There are only two scoring sections: Language Knowledge · Reading combined (0–120, minimum 38) and Listening (0–60, minimum 19). You must clear both minimums and reach a total of 90 or above.
Does passing N4 actually help in daily life in Japan?
It clearly helps. At N4 level you can handle basic communication at convenience stores, restaurants and on transport — plenty for short trips. But if you want to work in Japan, aim for at least N3.
What is the JLPT N4 exam format?
N4 includes Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) 30 min, Language Knowledge (Grammar) · Reading 60 min, and Listening 35 min — about 125 minutes total, each section with a minimum passing score.
What N4 resources does Nihongo to Japan offer?
The Challenge section offers 1,600 N4 vocabulary, grammar and sentence-pattern questions with a 'three strikes and you're out' game mechanic. The self-study materials include complete N4 grammar chapters, plus 170+ N4 grammar explainer articles.