Grammar by level
JLPT N3 grammar
Bridge basic and advanced Japanese with more flexible ways to express time, cause, contrast, evaluation, viewpoint, and the speaker's attitude.
How to use this page. Start with a connected overview when one is available, then browse by category or search for a form or meaning. Open individual points for formation, usage notes, contrasts, and examples.
About the level labels. These are Kotomora's editorial study groupings, not an official syllabus. The JLPT does not publish a fixed grammar-point list for the current test. See the official JLPT FAQ.
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181 available
Furigana
Start with a connected overview
Compare related forms before studying them one by one.
に・
Time & aspect
23- うちに・
ないうちにWhile; before a temporary condition changes - 最中だ・
最中にRight in the middle of - ところに・
ところへ・ ところをAt or into a particular scene or moment - ところだったWas about to; almost
- たとたん（に）The instant that
- と～た・
たら～たUnexpected discovery after an action - たびにEvery time; whenever
- につれてAs one thing changes, another changes with it
- とともにAs something changes; at the same time
- と同時にAt the same time as; immediately as
- て初めてOnly after doing
- かけ・
かけるPartly done or on the verge of happening - っぱなしLeft as is; continuously
- 上がる・
上げるBring something to completion - 切るComplete fully; reach an extreme
- 切れないCannot finish or exhaust
- 込むMove inward or become deeply involved
- ぬくCarry through to the end
- 通すContinue all the way through
- たものだUsed to; looking back on the past
- てばかりいるKeep doing nothing but...
- ばかりだKeeps changing in one direction
- ことがある・
こともあるSometimes; there are times when
Relations & manner
23- ついでにWhile at it; taking the opportunity
- とおり・
どおりAs stated or modeled - 合うMutual or joint action
- ずにWithout doing
- かわりにInstead of; in place of
- についてAbout; regarding
- に対して・
に対するToward; directed at - にとってFrom the standpoint of
- 点Aspect or criterion
- としてActing or functioning as
- に当たるCorrespond to; count as
- で言うとIn terms of; the equivalent in
- によって・
によっては・ によるDifferences depending on a factor - によってBy means of; through
- によってDoer in a formal passive sentence
- によるBy, due to, or depending on—before a noun
- を通してThrough; by means of a channel or intermediary
- 向けIntended for; aimed at
- 向き・
向きのSuitable for; well suited to - に合わせてAdjusting to match
- 同士Fellow members; among themselves
- において・
におけるFormal setting or domain - に代わってIn place of; replacing
Conditions & concession
22- てからでないと・
てからでなければNot until after - くらいならRather than; if the alternative is
- に対してIn contrast to
- 反面On the other hand; while
- 一方（で）On the one hand; while
- わりに（は）Unexpectedly, given the benchmark
- にしてはUnexpected for; considering
- くせにEven though (with blame)
- さえ～ば・
さえ～ならIf only; as long as - たとえ～ても・
たとえ～でもEven if; no matter if - どんなに～ても・
いくら～てもNo matter how much - ては・
ではIf that happens, the result will be bad - としたら・
とすれば・ とするとAssuming that; if we suppose - ようならIf it seems that
- もしも～ならExplicit hypothetical “if”
- ば～のに・
たら～のにIf only; would have, but did not - ても～なくてもWhether or not
- ことは～がAdmittedly, but
- たってEven if (casual)
- かえってInstead; contrary to expectations
- もっともAdmittedly; with one qualification
- ところがUnexpected turn: however
Agency & control
14- ばいい・
たらいい・ といいA good course of action - ばいいのに・
たらいいのにFrustrated advice or criticism - わけにはいかない・
わけにもいかないCannot reasonably do - ないわけにはいかないCannot avoid doing; have to
- しかないHave no choice but to
- ことはないNo need to; you do not have to
- べきだ・
べきではないShould; should not - ことだConsidered advice
- ことRules and instructions
- させてもらうBe allowed to do something as a favor
- てごらんTry doing...
- （よ）うとするTry to; be about to
- （よ）うとしないWill not try to
- ようにしているMaintaining a conscious habit
Comparison & degree
12- ば～ほどThe more..., the more...
- ほど～ないNot as ... as
- くらい・
ほどTo the extent that; so much that - くらい～はない・
ほど～はないNothing is as ... as - に比べてCompared with
- と同じで・
と違ってSame as / unlike, followed by a statement - と同じくらいAbout as ... as; roughly the same degree
- と並んでAlongside; ranked with
- だらけCovered with or full of
- ずつEach; at a time; little by little
- につきPer unit
- 当たりPer unit; per
Modality & evaluation
26- に限るNothing beats; the best choice is
- かと思ったMistaken impression or unexpected outcome
- と言えるCan reasonably be said
- かのようだ・
かのようにAs if - まるで～ようだJust like / as if
- ふりをするPretend to; act as if
- たつもりでActing on an imagined completed premise
- ような気がするHave a feeling that; vaguely feel as though
- わけだNatural conclusion; that explains it
- わけではない・
というわけではないNot necessarily; it is not that - わけがないThere is no way
- とは限らないNot necessarily; not always
- ないことはないNot impossible; somewhat true
- ものだEmotional reaction to a fact
- に違いないMust be; surely
- っこないThere is no way
- とても～ないCannot possibly
- そうもない・
そうにないDoes not look likely to happen - のではないだろうか・
のではないかと思うHedged opinion or interpretation - 気味Slight tendency or early sign
- がちTends to; prone to
- っぽいHaving a quality; prone to
- ことにTo my delight, surprise, regret, etc.
- ことか・
ことだろうHow...! / How much...! - ことといったらRemarkably, incredibly
- なんて・
なんかDismissal or surprise
Reporting & discourse
25- というよりRather than saying; more accurately
- なぜ・
どうして＋ かというと・ かといえばIntroducing a reason with a why-frame - かというと・
かといえばFraming a question and giving the answer - ということだ・
とのことだReported information or close restatement - と言われているIs generally said or believed
- とされている・
と考えられているIs considered; is thought - によると・
によればAccording to - とかTentative hearsay
- というのはWhat X means is; X is
- というと・
といえば・ といったらSpeaking of; when you say - っけWhat was it again?
- んだって・
だってCasual hearsay - だってBut/because (defensive reason)
- であるFormal written is/are
- つまり・
すなわちIn other words; namely - そこで・
そのため・ その結果Response, consequence, and outcome connectors - むしろRather; if anything
- すると・
そうするとThen; when that happens - あるいはOr; perhaps
- それともOr (in a choice question)
- それとAnd; one more thing
- その上On top of that; what is more
- 言うまでもないNeedless to say
- ところでBy the way
- さてNow; well then
Cause & purpose
11- ことからFact-based reason or grounds
- おかげで・
おかげだThanks to; owing to a helpful cause - せいで・
せいだBecause of; the fault of - ものだから・
もので・ ものですからExcuse-like explanation - のだからSince; given that
- からこそPrecisely because
- という理由でOn the grounds that
- なぜなら～からThe reason is that...
- にはRequirements for achieving a goal
- によってDue to; caused by
- ばかりにSolely because, with a regrettable result
Foundations
8- というContent before a noun
- からの・
までの・ での・ への・ とのParticle plus no before a noun - が・
のSubject markers in noun-modifying clauses - 的Adjective-forming suffix
- 型Type, model, or form
- みNouns for sensed qualities and character
- 化・
化するChange, conversion, or transformation - 確認し、報告したWritten clause linking with a verb stem
Interaction & register
10- てもらいたい・
ていただきたいWant someone to do something for you - させてもらいたい・
させていただきたいWould like permission to do - させてほしいWant someone to allow an action
- てる・
てた・ てます・ てましたConversational contractions of ongoing and resulting states - もの・
もんBecause; after all (defense or complaint) - じゃないCriticism, reminders, and discovery
- お・
ご～いただくRespectfully receive or request an action - でいらっしゃるRespectful form of be
- させていただくHumbly act with permission
- 存じる・
存じ上げるHumble know or think
Scope & focus
7- きり・
っきりOnly; just; all alone - ばかりOnly/nothing but; about
- ばかりでなくNot only A, but also B
- はもちろんNot only A; B too, as expected
- も～ば～も・
も～なら～もBoth A and B - さえEven (an extreme example)
- こそPrecisely; this very