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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜に対して | ~ni taishite | 彼は誰に対しても親切だ。 | |
| 〜に決まっている | it is definitely, surely | あのチームが勝つに決まっている。 | That team is sure to win. |
| 〜に違いない | ~ni chigai nai | あの人は日本人に違いない。 | |
| 〜のに | ~no ni | 勉強したのに、忘れてしまった。 | |
| 〜ば〜ほど | the more... the more | 考えれば考えるほど、分からなくなる。 | The more I think, the less I understand. |
| 〜ばかりか | ~bakari ka | 彼は英語ばかりか、中国語も話せる。 | |
| 〜はずだ | ~hazu da | 彼はもう着いたはずです。 | |
| 〜べきだ | should (duty/obligation) | 約束は守るべきだ。 | You should keep your promises. |
| 〜まま | as it is; while (unchanged state) | 窓を開けたまま寝てしまった。 | I fell asleep with the window open. |
| 〜ものだ | used to do; should naturally be; deep emotion | 子供の頃はよくこの公園で遊んだものだ。 | I used to play in this park a lot as a child. |
| 〜ようにする | ~yō ni suru | 毎日、日本語を聞くようにしています。 | |
| 〜ようになる | ~yō ni naru | 日本語のニュースが少し分かるようになった。 | |
| 〜らしい | it seems that; I hear that | 彼は来年日本へ留学するらしい。 | I hear he's going to study in Japan next year. |
| 〜わけがない | there is no way that, cannot possibly | 彼がそんなことをするわけがない。 | There's no way he would do such a thing. |
| 〜わけだ | ~wake da | 毎日練習したなら、上手になるわけだ。 | |
| 〜わけではない | ~wake de wa nai | 高いからといって、必ずいいわけではない。 | |
| 〜わけにはいかない | cannot afford to; must not (due to circumstance) | 今日は大事な会議があるから、休むわけにはいかない。 | I have an important meeting today, so I can't afford to take a day off. |
| 〜を通して | ~o tōshite | 一年を通して忙しかった。 | |
| 〜一方だ | ~ippō da | 物価は上がる一方だ。 | |
| 〜上で (Vた上で) | after doing; upon; based on | よく考えた上で、返事をします。 | I will reply after thinking it over carefully. |
| 〜必要はない | there's no need to | 無理に参加する必要はないよ。 | There's no need to force yourself to participate. |
| 〜最中に | in the middle of doing | 勉強の最中に友達が来ました。 | A friend came while I was in the middle of studying. |
| 〜次第 (しだい) | as soon as; depending on | 準備ができ次第、出発します。 | We will leave as soon as preparations are ready. |
| ～うちに | while; before | 忘れないうちに書く。 | Write before you forget. |
| ～がち | tend to | 忘れがちだ。 | I tend to forget. |
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.
