JLPT · JLPT N4
JLPT N4: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Study Plan
The second JLPT level. About 1,500 words and 300 kanji. Where Japanese starts feeling like a real second language.
Overview
- Vocabulary target
- 1,500words
- Kanji target
- 300kanji
- Study hours
- 300-600 hours of cumulative study
What you can do at this level
- Follow slow conversations about everyday topics
- Read short articles with kanji and furigana aid
- Express past, present, and future tense naturally
- Talk about plans, preferences, and experiences
- Recognize polite vs casual forms in context
Vocabulary examples
A small sample of the kind of words that appear at this level.
| Kanji | Kana | English |
|---|---|---|
| 旅行 | りょこう | travel, trip |
| 将来 | しょうらい | future |
| 説明する | せつめいする | to explain |
| 親切 | しんせつ | kind (na-adj) |
| 最近 | さいきん | recently |
Grammar examples
V-て form chains
Connecting verbs ('and then...')
朝起きて、コーヒーを飲んで、仕事に行きます。 (I wake up, drink coffee, then go to work.)
V-たい / V-たくない
Expressing desire
日本に行きたいです。 (I want to go to Japan.)
~ことができる
Can do / ability
日本語を話すことができます。 (I can speak Japanese.)
Study plan
- Month 1-3: Finish N5 if not already done.
- Month 4-6: Add N4 vocabulary (700 new words).
- Month 5-7: Learn 200 new kanji while reading.
- Month 6-9: Work through a full N4 grammar text like Genki 2.
- Month 9-12: Daily reading (NHK Web Easy, simple manga). Start speaking weekly.
Common questions
How long does N4 take after N5?+
Plan another 6 to 12 months at 30 to 45 minutes a day. Total cumulative time from zero to N4 is around 300 to 600 hours.
How many kanji are on JLPT N4?+
About 300 kanji total, including the ~100 from N5. The N4 syllabus also expects fluent reading of common compound words written in those kanji.
Should I skip N5 and go straight for N4?+
Only if you've already mastered N5 material. The JLPT does not require you to pass N5 first, but the levels build on each other; weak N5 grammar is the most common reason candidates fail N4.
Is N4 enough to live in Japan?+
For survival, mostly yes. For real conversation and reading, no. Most people aim for N3 as the 'comfortable in Japan' threshold.
Related guides
Inku's current curriculum focuses on N5 (complete) and N4 (expanding monthly). Start the 7-day free trial to see the full deck.