You’ve moved past the basics-ordering ramen, introducing yourself, navigating train stations. But now you want to say more than ‘I like sushi.’ You want to explain why you’re late, compare two movies, or politely ask someone to wait just a moment. That’s where N4 grammar comes in. This list hands you around 120 of the patterns you’ll need to stop sounding like a phrasebook and start chatting like a real person.
JLPT N4 is that tricky in-between stage where you’re ready to stretch your sentences. Every entry gives you a straightforward meaning and a natural example sentence, so you can see how the pattern works in a real conversation-not just a stiff grammar explanation. No dusty textbook relics, just the structures that help you connect ideas, give reasons, and make your Japanese flow. Round out the same exam level with the JLPT N4 kanji list.
Ready to give your Japanese brain a friendly workout? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable JLPT N4 Japanese grammar vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable JLPT N4 Japanese grammar flashcards.
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.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve locked a few of these patterns into memory? Give the quick quiz below a spin-it’s a friendly way to spot which grammar points need a second look.
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～前に | ~mae ni | 寝る前に本を読みます。Neru mae ni hon o yomimasu. |
| ～始める | to start doing something | さっき雨が降り始めました。 |
| ～後で | ~ato de | 食事の後で薬を飲みます。Shokuji no ato de kusuri o nomimasu. |
| ～方 | way of doing something; how to | この漢字の読み方を教えてください。 |
| ～終わる | to finish doing something | レポートを書き終わったら、遊びに行こう。 |
| ～続ける | to continue doing something | 彼女は3時間も話し続けています。 |
| ～間に | ~aida ni | 休みの間に旅行しました。Yasumi no aida ni ryokō shimashita. |
| Common Mistake | Fix | Why |
| Confusing ～ので and ～から | Use ～ので for softer, more polite reasons | It sounds gentler in many situations. |
| Forgetting that ～てはいけない is prohibition | Translate it as “must not” | It is not “can’t,” it is stronger than that. |
| Kanji | Rōmaji | English |
| Mixing up ～たことがある and ～ことがある | Use ～たことがある for experience, ～ことがある for sometimes | Same words, different grammar. |
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
| Thinking ～そうです always means “I heard” | Remember there are two そうです patterns | One means “seems like,” the other means “I heard.” Context is king. |
| Using ～しか with a positive verb | しか needs a negative ending. | しか needs a negative ending. |
| Using ～たいです with a noun | たい attaches to verbs. | たい attaches to verbs. |
| ここで待ってもいいですか。 | Koko de matte mo ii desu ka. | May I wait here? |
| この問題は難しすぎます。 | Kono mondai wa muzukashisugimasu. | This problem is too difficult. |
| りんごを食べます。 | I eat an apple. | りんごを食べます。 |
| レストランで食べます。 | I eat at a restaurant. | レストランで食べます。 |
| 七時に起きます。 | I wake up at 7 o’clock. | 七時に起きます。 |
| 九時から勉強します。 | I study from 9 o’clock. | 九時から勉強します。 |
| 五時まで働きます。 | I work until 5 o’clock. | 五時まで働きます。 |
| 今、勉強しています。 | Ima, benkyō shite imasu. | I am studying now. |
| 今日は雨です。 | Today is rainy. | 今日は雨です。 |
Free JLPT N4 Japanese Grammar Vocabulary List and Flashcards to Download
Tap the purple button for the JLPT N4 Japanese grammar vocabulary list and the teal button for the JLPT N4 Japanese grammar flashcards. Both are 100% free, with no signup needed—just simple, handy study support.
