Master key N3 grammar patterns and expressions for everyday Japanese communication!

JLPT N3 Level: Grammar & Expressions

Meaning: tending to, slightly

Form: Verb stem / Noun + 気味

eg. 最近、風邪(かぜ)気味で体がだるいです。 I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately with a slight cold.

Meaning: thanks to (positive)

Form: Plain form / Noun + の / Na-adj + な + おかげで

先生のおかげで合格(ごうかく)できました！ Thanks to my teacher, I was able to pass!

Meaning: covered with, full of (negative)

Form: Noun + だらけ

eg. このテストは間違いだらけです。 This test is full of mistakes.

Meaning: because of, due to (negative)

Form: Plain form / Noun + の / Na-adj + な + せいで

eg. 雨のせいで、キャンプが中止(ちゅうし)になりました。 The camp was canceled because of the rain.

Meaning: while, before it changes

Form: Plain form / Noun + の / Na-adj + な / I-adj + うちに

eg. 忘れないうちに、メモしておきます。 I'll make a note of it before I forget.

Meaning: instead of, in exchange for

Form: Plain form / Noun + の + 代わりに

eg. 日曜日に働いた代わりに、月曜日に休みます。 I'm taking Monday off instead of having worked on Sunday.

Meaning: difficult to, hard to

Form: Verb stem + がたい

eg. 彼の行動(こうどう)は理解(りかい)しがたい。 His behavior is difficult to understand.

Meaning: to finish doing, completely

Form: Verb stem + 切る

eg. 長い小説(しょうせつ)を一日で読み切りました。 I finished reading a long novel in one day.