A Study Plan for JLPT N4
N4 is where Japanese starts to feel like a real language rather than a set of textbook phrases. You learn to say what you can and can’t do, give reasons, make plans and talk about what might happen. It is a big step up from N5, but a very manageable one with a clear plan. Here is what the test covers and how to prepare.
What N4 covers
N4 tests whether you can understand basic Japanese used in everyday life. Like every JLPT level, it is multiple choice and covers reading and listening only.
- Vocabulary and kanji. Around twice the vocabulary of N5, and a few hundred kanji. Words for work, school, health, the weather, feelings and common verbs like 届ける (todokeru, to deliver) and 集める (atsumeru, to collect).
- Grammar. The forms that let you say much more with the verbs you already know: potential (話せる, can speak), volitional (行こう, let’s go), conditionals (〜たら, 〜ば, 〜と), giving and receiving (あげる・くれる・もらう), passive and causative forms, and patterns like 〜そうです and 〜ようです.
- Reading. Short passages on familiar topics: emails, notices, short stories about daily life.
- Listening. Everyday conversations at close to natural speed, where you need to catch what someone will do next or why.
As at N5, vocabulary, grammar and reading are scored together, and listening is scored on its own. You need a minimum score in each, plus a passing total.
Before you start
N4 builds directly on N5. If you are shaky on verb groups and the te-form, fix that first. Almost every N4 grammar point is built on the te-form, the plain form or the nai-form, so time spent here pays off many times over. If you are coming straight from N5, see our N5 study plan for what you should already know.
A phased study plan
| Phase | Focus | You’re ready to move on when… |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Verb forms | Drill plain, te, nai, potential and volitional forms until they are automatic. | You can produce any form of a common verb in a second or two. |
| 2. Grammar patterns | Work through an elementary textbook or N4 grammar book, a few patterns a week, writing your own example sentences. | You can use each pattern in a sentence about your own life. |
| 3. Kanji and vocabulary | Daily flashcards for words and kanji readings, learned in context from your reading. | You recognise most words in N4-level practice texts. |
| 4. Reading and listening | Graded readers, short articles for learners, textbook audio and podcasts. | You can follow a short conversation without reading the script. |
| 5. Exam practice | Timed practice tests and question-type drills. | You finish each section in time and score comfortably above the pass mark. |
The phases overlap. Keep flashcards and listening going every day from the start; they need the most time to build up.
The grammar that trips people up
- Giving and receiving. くれる and もらう depend on whose point of view you take. Practise with real situations: who gave you your last present, who you help at work.
- The four conditionals. たら, ば, と and なら overlap a lot. Learn the most flexible one, たら, first, then the typical uses of the others.
- Passive and causative. These look alike and are easy to mix up. Learn them a week or two apart, not on the same day.
- そう vs よう. 雨が降りそうです (looks like it will rain) is based on what you see; 雨が降ったようです (it seems it rained) is a conclusion from evidence. Exam questions love this difference.
Practice tests
The official JLPT website has free sample questions for N4. Do them once early to see the format, and again near the end. Prep books with full practice tests are worth buying for the last month. Time yourself strictly; many learners know the answers but run out of time in the reading section. Our JLPT reading tips and listening tips cover strategy for each section.
Don’t forget to speak
N4 does not test speaking, but this is the level where speaking practice helps the most. Using a grammar point in conversation is the fastest way to remember it, and N4 grammar is exactly what you need to talk about your plans, your opinions and your experiences. A weekly lesson where you use each new pattern out loud will make the exam easier and leave you able to actually use Japanese afterwards.
After N4, the next step is N3. Our guide to moving from N4 to N3 explains what changes.