Grammar by level
JLPT N4 grammar
Connect ideas with conditionals and explanations, and express permission, obligation, experience, intention, impressions, and reported information.
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.
Find a JLPT N4 grammar point
Filter this level by Japanese form, romaji, or English meaning.
146 available
Furigana
Start with a connected overview
Compare related forms before studying them one by one.
これ・
Foundations
12- 書ける・
食べられる・ できる・ 来られるPotential form - 見える・
聞こえるBe visible; be audible - こんな・
そんな・ あんな・ どんなThis, that, or what kind of - こういう・
そういう・ ああいう・ どういうThis, that, or what kind of - らPlural or associated group suffix
- 書かれる・
食べられる・ される・ 来られるPassive form - 書かせる・
食べさせる・ させる・ 来させるCausative form - 書かせられる・
食べさせられる・ させられる・ 来させられるCausative-passive form - 開く・
開ける／ 上がる・ 上げるIntransitive and transitive verbs - でRange, group, or total marker
- さAdjective-to-noun suffix
- から作る・
でできるMade from / made of
Relations & manner
2Comparison & degree
6- をDeparture point
- でCompletion time or sufficient quantity
- 三時間もかかった・
三十人も並んでいたUnexpectedly large quantity - 三人しか来ない・
一万円しかないOnly a small or insufficient quantity - 十万円は必要だ・
三十分はかかるAt least (quantity) - 以上・
以下Inclusive upper and lower thresholds
Cause & purpose
6- でCause or reason marker
- ためにFor the purpose of
- ようにSo that; toward a desired result
- て・
なくてCause leading to a result - ため・
ためにCause or reason - のにFor use in; useful for
Conditions & concession
9- ではなく（て）・
じゃなく（て）Not A, but B - ばIf; condition
- たらIf; when a possible condition is met
- ならIf that is the case; as for
- と・
ですとAutomatic or regular conditional - ても・
でもEven if; even though - 場合はIn case / if
- のにAlthough; even though
- それでもEven so; nevertheless
Agency & control
19- 書け・
食べろ・ しろ・ 来いImperative form (direct commands) - なさいAuthoritative but softened command
- （よ）うVolitional form
- （よ）うと思うThink I'll; intend to
- ようと思っているContinuing intention
- づらいHard or uncomfortable to do
- てほしいWant someone or something to act
- たがるShows signs of wanting to
- ても・
なくてもかまわないMay; need not (no problem either way) - ないとHave to; must (spoken)
- 必要がある・
必要がない・ 必要はないNecessary or unnecessary - たらどう・
たらどうかWhy not...?; How about...? - ばよかったWish one had or had not
- ようにするMake an effort to; make sure to
- ことにするDecide to do or not do
- ことになるBe decided or come to be the case
- ことにしているMake it a regular practice
- ことになっているEstablished rule or arrangement
- 予定だScheduled plan
Time & aspect
27- てみるTry doing
- ておくPrepare in advance; leave as is
- てしまうComplete; end up doing
- ちゃう・
じゃうCasual contraction of completion or an unwanted result - てあるAn intentionally arranged state
- ていくMovement away or development from now onward
- てくるCome toward or develop up to now
- 始めるBegin doing
- 終わるFinish doing
- 続けるContinue doing; keep doing
- 出すSuddenly start doing
- 直すRedo to correct or improve
- 間・
間にDuring; while - までにBy; no later than
- るところだJust about to do
- ているところだIn the middle of doing
- たところだHave just done
- たばかりだHave just done; did only recently
- まま・
ままにLeaving a state unchanged - 中In progress or during
- ころ・
ごろAround; approximately when - おきにAt regular intervals
- ごとにEvery; for each
- ている間にWhile; during an ongoing action
- たらOnce/when, after completion
- ようになるCome to be able to; reach a new state
- ようになるCome to do regularly
Interaction & register
25- とく・
どくCasual contractions of te oku - てあげるDo something for someone
- てくれるDoes something for me or my side
- てもらうHave someone do something for you
- どうしたら・
どうすればいいですかHow or what should I...? - かな・
かしらI wonder; tentative question - かいCasual addressed question
- ではないか・
じゃないか・ んじゃない・ ではありませんかSeeking agreement or pressing a claim - てCasual request
- てくれない・
てもらえないCasual requests - でしょうかPolite, cautious questions and requests
- ていただけませんかHighly deferential request
- させてくださいPlease let me...
- お・
ご～になるRespectful action - いらっしゃる・
おっしゃる・ なさる・ 召し上がる・ ご覧になるSpecial respectful verbs - お・
ご～するHumbly perform an action - 参る・
伺う・ 申す・ いたすSpecial humble verbs - ございます・
でございますVery polite existence and identification - ていらっしゃるRespectful ongoing action, habit, or state
- ていただくDeferentially receive someone's action
- 差し上げる・
やる・ いただく・ くださるStatus-sensitive giving and receiving - お・
ご～くださいRespectful requests - お・
ご～ですCompact respectful description - て・
なくてすみません（でした）Apologizing for an action or omission - って感じIt feels like; kind of
Modality & evaluation
17- やすい・
にくいEasy or hard to do; prone or resistant to occurring - がるShow signs of a feeling
- そうだLooks/seems (appearance)
- ようだSeems; apparently
- ようだ・
ような・ ようにLike, as, or such as - みたいだSeems/looks like
- みたいだ・
みたいな・ みたいにLike, as if, or such as - らしいApparently; reportedly
- らしいCharacteristic of; typical of
- はずだExpected to; should be
- はずがないCannot reasonably be expected
- かもしれないMay or might
- に見えるLooks or appears
- てよかったGlad that; relieved that
- といいHope for an outcome
- ように祈るPray or earnestly hope that
- がするPerceiving a sound, smell, taste, or sensation
Reporting & discourse
12- そうだI hear that; reportedly
- と思うThink that; in my opinion
- と言う・
と言っていたReporting what someone said - という意味だIt means; that means
- かどうかWhether or not
- どこに住んでいるか・
何を注文したかEmbedded open questions - ように言う・
頼む・ 言われるReport an instruction or request - またAlso; in addition
- またはOr (alternatives)
- それにBesides; and also
- それでSo; and then
- んですがPolite preface to a request or question
Scope & focus
11- 中Throughout, all over, or by the end of
- しListing reasons and facts
- たりしてMaybe do ... or something
- など・
なんかExamples such as; things like - とか～とかThings like A and B
- しか～ないOnly; no more than
- までEven; as far as an unexpected extreme
- 以外Except; other than; outside
- の中でWithin or among
- だけでなくNot only A, but also B
- でもAn example or casual suggestion