JLPT N3 grammar doesn’t have to feel like a dry textbook march. This list pulls together about 150 of the patterns you’ll actually need to sound more human in Japanese-less robot, more you. Each one comes with a straightforward meaning and a real-life example sentence so you can see how it works in a natural conversation, not just a stiff grammar explanation.
At N3, you’re past the basics and ready to twist your sentences in new ways: expressing reasons, making comparisons, talking about things you’ve heard, and handling those tricky “if” situations. This collection skips the dusty patterns nobody uses and focuses on the grammar that shows up in daily chats, TV shows, and JLPT exams alike. Pair these patterns with JLPT N3 vocabulary for more complete exam preparation.
Grammar goblins beware: this page is packed with JLPT N3 Japanese Grammar, and you’ll want to SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM for the good stuff. There you’ll find the free printable JLPT N3 Japanese Grammar vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable JLPT N3 Japanese Grammar flashcards, ready for your study session.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Japanese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
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| Word | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜たばかり | ~ta bakari | この本は買ったばかりです。 | |
| 〜たびに | whenever, every time | この曲を聞くたびに、学生時代を思い出す。 | Every time I hear this song, I remember my school days. |
| 〜たものだ | used to do (habitual past) | 子供の頃、よくこの公園で遊んだものだ。 | I used to play in this park often when I was a child. |
| 〜ついでに | while you're at it; taking the opportunity | 買い物のついでに、本屋に寄った。 | While shopping, I dropped by the bookstore. |
| 〜っぽい | -ish; seems like; tends to | 彼は飽きっぽい性格だ。 | He tends to get bored easily. |
| 〜ておく | ~te oku | 会議の前に資料を読んでおく。 | |
| 〜てしまう | ~te shimau | 宿題を忘れてしまった。 | |
| 〜てたまらない | can't stand; extremely | 暑くてたまらないから、エアコンをつけてください。 | It's so hot I can't stand it, so please turn on the air conditioner. |
| 〜てならない | can't help but feel; very much | 次の試験が不安でならない。 | I can't help but feel anxious about the next exam. |
| 〜てはいけない | must not (prohibition) | ここでタバコを吸ってはいけない。 | You must not smoke here. |
| 〜てほしい | want someone to do something | 先生にこの問題を説明してほしいです。 | I want the teacher to explain this problem. |
| 〜てもかまわない | it's okay even if (permission) | 遅れてもかまわない。 | It doesn't matter if you're late. |
| 〜て以来 (ていらい) | ever since (and still continuing) | 大学を卒業して以来、彼に会っていない。 | I haven't seen him since graduating from college. |
| 〜とおりに | just as, exactly like | 私の言うとおりにやってください。 | Please do exactly as I say. |
| 〜ところだ | ~tokoro da | 今、出かけるところです。 | |
| 〜ところだった | was about to; almost did | 危うく財布を忘れるところだった。 | I almost forgot my wallet. |
| 〜としても | even if; assuming that | 雨が降ったとしても、試合は行われるだろう。 | Even if it rains, the game will probably be held. |
| 〜ないことはない | it's not that ... not; it's possible | 難しいけど、できないことはない。 | It's difficult, but it's not that I can't do it. |
| 〜ながら | ~nagara | 音楽を聞きながら勉強する。 | |
| 〜にしては | ~ni shite wa | 初めてにしては、よくできた。 | |
| 〜にすぎない | no more than; merely | それは単なる噂にすぎない。 | That is merely a rumor. |
| 〜につれて | as, in proportion to, along with | 時間が経つにつれて、痛みがひどくなった。 | As time passed, the pain got worse. |
| 〜にとって | ~ni totte | 子どもにとって、遊びは大切だ。 | |
| 〜にもかかわらず | ~ni mo kakawarazu | 雨にもかかわらず、試合は行われた。 | |
| 〜によって | by (means), depending on, due to | 人によって考え方が違います。 | Ways of thinking differ depending on the person. |
Free JLPT N3 Japanese Grammar Vocabulary List and Printable Flashcards
Grab the purple vocab-list button for the JLPT N3 Japanese Grammar vocabulary list, or tap the teal flashcards button for the JLPT N3 Japanese Grammar flashcards. Both downloads are 100% free and need no signup.
