JLPT N4 Grammar Roadmap: What to Study After N5

Move from N5 to N4 with a structured roadmap for verb forms, sentence linking, explanations, conditions, reading, listening and mock-test practice.

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Quick Answer

After N5, N4 requires stronger control of basic Japanese, longer connected sentences and better everyday reading/listening. Build automatic verb and adjective forms first, then add explanations, conditions, intentions, experience, giving/receiving and relative clauses. Do not study grammar points as disconnected English translations.

N4 Roadmap

PhaseGrammar and skill focus
FoundationPlain forms, て-form, ない-form, past and potential
Connectionから, ので, のに, し, たり〜たり, ながら
Time/orderまえに, あとで, とき, てから, あいだ
Intention/changeつもり, よてい, ようになる, ことにする
Experience/adviceたことがある, ほうがいい, なければならない
Explanation/inferenceんです, そうです, かもしれません, でしょう
Conditionsと, たら, なら, ば at an introductory level
Interactionあげる, くれる, もらう; requests and permission

16-Week Plan

  1. Weeks 1–4: repair N5 particles and master transformations.
  2. Weeks 5–8: learn 3–4 patterns weekly through short dialogues.
  3. Weeks 9–12: read graded passages and shadow everyday audio.
  4. Weeks 13–14: timed vocabulary/grammar/reading sets.
  5. Weeks 15–16: full mocks, sectional score checks and error repair.

N4 Passing Rules

N4 requires at least 90/180 overall, 38/120 in Language Knowledge/Reading and 19/60 in Listening. You must meet both overall and sectional minimums.

Grammar Notebook Format

For each pattern record: meaning in one line, formation, two natural examples, one contrast with a similar form, one personal sentence and one mistake. Review by producing the sentence, not only recognising the answer.

Official Sources

  • N4 ability description: jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html
  • Official scoring rules: jlpt.jp/e/guideline/results.html
  • Official samples: jlpt.jp/e/samples/sampleindex.html
N4 is not simply “more N5 words.” It tests whether basic Japanese connects into usable meaning.