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.
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.