JLPT N4 Study Guide: Level, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Prep Plan

Key takeaways

• JLPT N4 certifies basic Japanese ability: understanding simple language in everyday situations.
• The exam tests vocabulary and grammar, reading, and listening, with a total score of 180 points.
• Passing requires 90 points overall, with each section meeting a minimum reference score.
• N4 introduces approximately 300 kanji and 1,500 vocabulary items beyond N5.
• Most candidates find the reading section more time-pressured than expected at this level.

Many Japanese learners pass N5 and immediately aim for N3, treating N4 as optional. That is a mistake with a clear cost: N4 grammar forms the backbone of N3 and N2 sentence structures, and skipping N4 leaves gaps that compound at every higher level.

N4 is where Japanese grammar starts connecting: conditionals, causative-passive forms, and complex sentence endings that reappear throughout all higher JLPT levels.

This guide covers the JLPT N4 level in full: what the exam measures, how the scoring works, the vocabulary and kanji you need, the grammar points most commonly tested, and how to structure your preparation.

With over 15 years of experience across 150+ languages, italki connects you with Japanese tutors who know the JLPT format and target what the exam tests.

What is JLPT N4?

The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is administered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. It has five levels, from N5 (easiest) to N1 (most difficult). N4 is the second-easiest level. The JLPT official descriptor for N4 states that learners at this level “are able to understand basic Japanese” and “are able to follow conversations encountered in everyday life to a certain degree when spoken slowly.” N4 represents a meaningful step from N5: the jump from isolated vocabulary and fixed phrases to connected everyday Japanese. N4 is the minimum level recognised by some Japanese employers and language programs, and it serves as a meaningful milestone that demonstrates functional basic Japanese. The guide to Japanese language levels covers the full CEFR and JLPT level equivalences if you want to understand where N4 sits in a broader proficiency picture. Assess your current level against N4 standards with a Japanese teacher on italki to see where your vocabulary and grammar stand.

JLPT N4 exam format and scoring

Section	Time	Score range
Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) + Reading	60 minutes	0-120
Listening	35 minutes	0-60
Total	95 minutes	0-180

At N4 and N5, Language Knowledge and Reading are combined into a single time block. At N3 and above, they become separate scored sections. Passing score: 90 out of 180 total, with a minimum reference score in each section: Language Knowledge + Reading: 38/120 minimum, Listening: 19/60 minimum. A total score of 90 means nothing if you fail to meet the minimum in one section. You can score 80 in Language Knowledge + Reading and 60 in Listening (total 140) and still fail if the distribution puts either section below its minimum reference. Understand the scoring thresholds and minimum benchmarks and find a private Japanese tutor to start your exam preparation. Vocabulary at N4 level N4 requires knowledge of approximately 1,500 vocabulary items. These include everyday nouns, common verbs in multiple conjugations, adjectives for descriptions and comparison, and adverbs for frequency and manner. Sample N4 vocabulary across common categories:

Japanese	Romaji	English
準備する	junbi suru	To prepare
集まる	atsumaru	To gather
違う	chigau	To differ / to be wrong
思い出す	omoidasu	To recall / to remember
急ぐ	isogu	To hurry
心配する	shinpai suru	To worry
難しい	muzukashii	Difficult
親切	shinsetsu	Kind / kindness
久しぶり	hisashiburi	Long time no see / after a long time
先ほど	sakihodo	A short while ago (formal)

At N4, verb forms you need to recognise include the te-form, potential form (can do), and conditional forms. Learning vocabulary in connected context, through sentences and short texts, retains vocabulary more durably than word-list memorisation alone. Practise vocabulary in real sentence examples with a Japanese tutor on italki.

Kanji at N4 level

N4 requires knowledge of approximately 300 kanji, building on the roughly 100 introduced at N5. Common N4 kanji span everyday verbs, nouns, and time expressions.

Kanji	Romaji	English meaning
運	un	Luck / fate
転	ten	To revolve / roll
教	kyou	Teach / instruction
勉	ben	Exertion / study
強	kyou/tsuyoi	Strong / study (in compound 勉強)
練	ren	Practice / train
習	shuu	Learn / acquire
説	setsu	Explain / theory
明	mei/aka	Bright / clear
場	jou/ba	Place / situation

For kanji study, recognising the kanji in context within the reading section matters more than isolated recall. Practising kanji through reading short sentences and identifying meaning from context is more exam-relevant than stroke-order drilling. Practice kanji in context through reading. Book a Japanese lesson online and get started today. Grammar at N4 level N4 grammar extends significantly beyond N5. The key grammar patterns to master include: Te-form applications

• ～てください (te kudasai): please do
• ～ています (te imasu): ongoing action / current state
• ～てもいいです (te mo ii desu): it is okay to do
• ～てはいけません (te wa ikemasen): must not do

Conditional and potential forms

• ～たら (tara): if/when (past conditional)
• ～ば (ba): if (standard conditional)
• ～ことができる (koto ga dekiru): can do / is possible to do

Noun modification

• Relative clauses modifying nouns: 食べた (tabeta) before a noun to mean “the [noun] that [I] ate”

Verb forms

• Causative form: ～せる/～させる (seru/saseru): to make someone do / to let someone do
• Passive form: ～れる/～られる (reru/rareru): to be done / something is done to

Other common patterns

• ～そうです (sou desu): looks like / seems like
• ～んです (n desu): explanation or emphasis (spoken)
• ～から (kara): because / so (giving reason)
• ～ために (tame ni): for the purpose of / in order to

Working through N4 grammar patterns in context, rather than memorising the rule in isolation, means you can apply them correctly when you encounter them in a reading passage or listening extract. Master N4 grammar through practice sentences and dialogue with the best Japanese tutors on italki.

Reading at N4: what to expect

The reading component at N4 includes short informational texts, notices, letters, and short descriptive passages. Question types ask you to identify the main point, find specific details, and understand the purpose of a short written text. The reading section trips up candidates who have studied vocabulary and grammar in isolation but have not practised reading connected Japanese text. The time limit within the combined Language Knowledge + Reading block means you need to read efficiently, not word by word. Build daily reading habits with N4-level texts. Find a Japanese language tutor on italki and practise reading speed and comprehension together.

Listening at N4: key characteristics

The N4 listening section uses scripted, slower-paced Japanese to reflect the JLPT’s stated standard of “conversations spoken slowly.” Question types include short exchanges followed by a question about what was said, and longer scenarios where you identify the key point or next action. At N4, speakers are clearer and slower than natural conversation. However, candidates who have only studied written Japanese often struggle with listening because they process Japanese text faster than audio. Regular listening practice, even for 15 minutes per day, builds the parsing speed the section requires. Build listening stamina with daily N4-level audio practice. Start your online Japanese lessons and get feedback on your listening comprehension.

Preparation timeline for JLPT N4

A learner who has passed N5 and maintained regular study typically needs three to five months of preparation to reach N4 readiness. A learner starting from scratch with no Japanese background needs eight to twelve months to reach N4. For the final eight weeks before the exam: work through official JLPT N4 practice material under timed conditions once per week, review all grammar points covered at N4 using example sentences, read one short Japanese text daily at N4 vocabulary level, listen to N4-appropriate audio at least three times per week. JLPT N4 is offered twice per year (July and December) at test sites worldwide. Registration opens approximately four months before each test date. The grammar at N4 is the foundation for every higher level. Taking it seriously, not rushing through it to reach N3, is what makes N3 and N2 preparation faster. Build your complete prep plan now with a Japanese private tutor and commit to consistent, section-specific study. JLPT N4 candidates who study with tutors improve by at least 10-15 points per section within 4-6 months of consistent preparation. You now understand the N4 format, the vocabulary and grammar scope, and exactly what each section tests. The next step is confirming your test date and booking your first prep session. Trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, italki has Japanese tutors who specialise in JLPT N4 preparation and target your specific weak points.Book a trial lesson on italki today.

FAQ

Is N4 recognised by Japanese employers?

N4 is recognised as basic Japanese ability. Most Japanese employers who require JLPT require N3 or above for general employment and N2 or N1 for professional roles. N4 is useful as a credential for short-term programs, internships, and language school admission, and it demonstrates that you have a functional foundation in Japanese. How many kanji do I need for JLPT N4? N4 requires knowledge of approximately 300 kanji, in addition to the roughly 100 from N5. The important point is recognising their meaning and reading in context within words and sentences, not writing them from memory. The JLPT is a reading and listening exam and does not test hand-written production. Can I skip N4 and go straight to N3? You can register for N3 without having passed N4. There is no required sequence. However, the vocabulary, kanji, and grammar from N4 all appear in N3, so skipping N4 study while aiming for N3 simply means you have more to learn before the N3 exam. Most candidates who skip N4 study find N3 significantly harder than it would be if they had built the N4 foundation first.