JLPT N4 - Core Kanji, Sentence Structures & Expressive Particles Flashcards

Question 1

JLPT N4 Kanji: 話

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Speak, Talk.
Onyomi: ワ (WA)
Kunyomi: はなす (hanasu), はなし (hanashi)
Example Word: 電話 (でんわ - denwa) - telephone
Example Sentence: 友達と話します。(Tomodachi to hanashimasu.) - I talk with friends.

Question 2

JLPT N4 Kanji: 聞

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Hear, Ask, Listen.
Onyomi: ブン (BUN)
Kunyomi: きく (kiku)
Example Word: 新聞 (しんぶん - shinbun) - newspaper
Example Sentence: 音楽を聞きます。(Ongaku o kikimasu.) - I listen to music.

Question 3

JLPT N4 Kanji: 書

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Write.
Onyomi: ショ (SHO)
Kunyomi: かく (kaku)
Example Word: 辞書 (じしょ - jisho) - dictionary
Example Sentence: 手紙を書きます。(Tegami o kakimasu.) - I write a letter.

Question 4

JLPT N4 Kanji: 読

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Read.
Onyomi: ドク (DOKU)
Kunyomi: よむ (yomu)
Example Word: 読書 (どくしょ - dokusho) - reading (as a hobby)
Example Sentence: 本を読みます。(Hon o yomimasu.) - I read a book.

Question 5

JLPT N4 Kanji: 買

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Buy.
Onyomi: バイ (BAI)
Kunyomi: かう (kau)
Example Word: 買い物 (かいもの - kaimono) - shopping
Example Sentence: スーパーで野菜を買います。(Sūpā de yasai o kaimasu.) - I buy vegetables at the supermarket.

Question 6

JLPT N4 Kanji: 売

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Sell.
Onyomi: バイ (BAI)
Kunyomi: うる (uru)
Example Word: 販売 (はんばい - hanbai) - sales
Example Sentence: この店はパンを売っています。(Kono mise wa pan o utte imasu.) - This shop sells bread.

Question 7

JLPT N4 Kanji: 行

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Go, Conduct.
Onyomi: コウ (KŌ), ギョウ (GYŌ)
Kunyomi: いく (iku), おこなう (okonau)
Example Word: 旅行 (りょこう - ryokō) - travel
Example Sentence: 日本へ行きます。(Nihon e ikimasu.) - I go to Japan.

Question 8

JLPT N4 Kanji: 来

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Come, Next.
Onyomi: ライ (RAI)
Kunyomi: くる (kuru), きたる (kitaru)
Example Word: 来週 (らいしゅう - raishū) - next week
Example Sentence: 友達が家に来ます。(Tomodachi ga ie ni kimasu.) - My friend comes to my house.

Question 9

JLPT N4 Kanji: 立

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Stand, Establish.
Onyomi: リツ (RITSU)
Kunyomi: たつ (tatsu), たてる (tateru)
Example Word: 国立 (こくりつ - kokuritsu) - national
Example Sentence: 彼はドアの前に立っています。(Kare wa doa no mae ni tatte imasu.) - He is standing in front of the door.

Question 10

JLPT N4 Kanji: 座

Accepted Answer

Meaning: Sit, Seat.
Onyomi: ザ (ZA)
Kunyomi: すわる (suwaru)
Example Word: 座席 (ざせき - zaseki) - seat
Example Sentence: 椅子に座ってください。(Isu ni suwatte kudasai.) - Please sit on the chair.

Question 11

Conditional: ~たら (if/when)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Verb-た form + ら, い-adj-かった + ら, な-adj/Noun + だった + ら.
Meaning: "If/When (A happens), then (B happens/will happen)." Expresses a condition that, once met, leads to a result. Can be used for sequential actions, unexpected discoveries, or general conditions.
Example: 雨が降ったら、家で本を読みます。(Ame ga futtara, ie de hon o yomimasu.) - If it rains, I will read a book at home.
Example: 駅に着いたら、電話してください。(Eki ni tsuitara, denwa shite kudasai.) - When you arrive at the station, please call me.

Question 12

Conditional: ~ば (if)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Verb-ば form (e.g., 行けば), い-adj-ければ (e.g., 高ければ), な-adj/Noun + ならば (e.g., 静かならば/学生ならば).
Meaning: "If (A), then (B)." Expresses a general condition or a hypothetical situation. Often used for advice, suggestions, or stating a natural consequence. The result (B) cannot be a request, command, or intention of the speaker.
Example: 時間があれば、映画を見に行きます。(Jikan ga areba, eiga o mi ni ikimasu.) - If I have time, I will go to see a movie.
Example: もっと勉強すれば、合格できます。(Motto benkyō sureba, gōkaku dekimasu.) - If you study more, you can pass.

Question 13

Conditional: ~なら (if, in that case)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Noun + なら, Verb (plain form) + なら, い-adj + なら, な-adj + なら.
Meaning: "If it's the case of (A), then (B)." Used to respond to a previous statement or situation, giving advice or making a suggestion based on that information. The condition (A) is usually already known or stated by the other person.
Example: 「京都へ行きます。」「京都へ行くなら、お寺を見るのがいいですよ。」("Kyōto e ikimasu." "Kyōto e iku nara, otera o miru no ga ii desu yo.") - "I'm going to Kyoto." "If you're going to Kyoto, it's good to see the temples."

Question 14

Potential Form of Verbs

Accepted Answer

Structure:
*   Group 1 (u-verbs): Change final う to える (e.g., 読む → 読める - yomeru)
*   Group 2 (ru-verbs): Replace る with られる (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる - taberareru)
*   Group 3 (irregular): する → できる (dekiru), 来る → 来られる (korareru)
Meaning: "Can do," "be able to do." Indicates ability.
Note: The object particle changes from を to が when using the potential form (e.g., 日本語を話します → 日本語が話せます).
Example: 私は日本語が話せます。(Watashi wa Nihongo ga hanasemasu.) - I can speak Japanese.

Question 15

Transitive (他動詞) vs. Intransitive (自動詞) Verbs

Accepted Answer

*   **Transitive Verbs (他動詞 - tadōshi)**: Take a direct object (marked by を). The action affects something/someone else. The subject performs the action *on* the object.
    *   Example: ドア**を**開けます。(Doa o akemasu.) - I open the door. (Subject: I, Object: door)
*   **Intransitive Verbs (自動詞 - jidōshi)**: Do not take a direct object. The action happens *to* or *by* the subject itself.
    *   Example: ドア**が**開きます。(Doa ga akimasu.) - The door opens. (Subject: door, no direct object)
Key: Many verbs come in pairs (e.g., 開ける/開く, 閉める/閉まる, 消す/消える).

Question 16

Particle Usage: に vs. で for Location

Accepted Answer

*   **に (ni)**: Indicates the *existence* or *destination* of something/someone. Used with verbs like います (imasu - exist, animate), あります (arimasu - exist, inanimate), 行きます (ikimasu - go), 来ます (kimasu - come), 帰ります (kaerimasu - return).
    *   Example: 部屋**に**猫がいます。(Heya ni neko ga imasu.) - There is a cat in the room.
    *   Example: 日本**に**行きます。(Nihon ni ikimasu.) - I go to Japan.
*   **で (de)**: Indicates the *location where an action takes place*. Used with most action verbs.
    *   Example: 部屋**で**本を読みます。(Heya de hon o yomimasu.) - I read a book in the room.
    *   Example: レストラン**で**ご飯を食べます。(Resutoran de gohan o tabemasu.) - I eat a meal at the restaurant.

Question 17

Particle Usage: を vs. が with Potential Form

Accepted Answer

*   When a verb is in its **non-potential form**, the direct object is marked by **を (o)**.
    *   Example: 私は日本語**を**話します。(Watashi wa Nihongo o hanashimasu.) - I speak Japanese.
*   When a verb is in its **potential form**, the object that *can be done* is typically marked by **が (ga)**. This emphasizes the *ability* to do something.
    *   Example: 私は日本語**が**話せます。(Watashi wa Nihongo ga hanasemasu.) - I can speak Japanese.
Note: While が is standard, を can sometimes be used, especially in more casual speech, but が is generally preferred and more grammatically precise for potential.

Question 18

Usage of ~やすい / ~にくい (easy/difficult to do)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Verb (stem form) + やすい / にくい.
Meaning:
*   **~やすい (yasui)**: "Easy to do," "prone to doing." Indicates that an action is easy or tends to happen.
*   **~にくい (nikui)**: "Difficult to do," "hard to do." Indicates that an action is difficult or unlikely to happen.
Example: この本は読みやすいです。(Kono hon wa yomiyasui desu.) - This book is easy to read.
Example: このペンは書きにくいです。(Kono pen wa kakinikui desu.) - This pen is difficult to write with.

Question 19

Usage of ~始める / ~終わる (begin/finish doing)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Verb (stem form) + 始める (hajimeru) / 終わる (owaru).
Meaning:
*   **~始める**: "To begin doing (verb)."
*   **~終わる**: "To finish doing (verb)."
Example: 彼は日本語を勉強し始めました。(Kare wa Nihongo o benkyō shi-hajimemashita.) - He began studying Japanese.
Example: 宿題をやり終わりました。(Shukudai o yari-owarimashita.) - I finished doing my homework.

Question 20

Usage of ~てある (result of intentional action)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Transitive Verb (て-form) + ある.
Meaning: Describes a state that has resulted from a deliberate action, often by someone else, and the result of that action remains. It implies preparation or a completed state with a purpose.
Example: ドアが開けてあります。(Doa ga akete arimasu.) - The door has been opened (by someone, and it's still open, perhaps for a reason).
Compare with ~ている (intransitive): ドアが開いています。(Doa ga aite imasu.) - The door is open. (Simply states the state, no implication of intentional action).

Question 21

Usage of ~ている (ongoing action vs. resulting state)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Verb (て-form) + いる.
Meaning:
*   **Ongoing Action**: "Is doing (verb)." (e.g., 走っている - hashitte iru - is running)
*   **Resulting State**: "Is in a state of (verb)." Often used with intransitive verbs or verbs of change. (e.g., 結婚している - kekkon shite iru - is married; 壊れている - kowarete iru - is broken)
Example (Ongoing): 彼は本を読んでいます。(Kare wa hon o yonde imasu.) - He is reading a book.
Example (State): 窓が開いています。(Mado ga aite imasu.) - The window is open.

Question 22

Usage of ~つもりだ (intend to)

Accepted Answer

Structure: Verb (plain form) + つもりだ / つもりです. Noun + のつもりだ.
Meaning: "Intend to," "plan to," "be going to." Expresses the speaker's firm intention or plan.
Example: 来年、日本へ行くつもりです。(Rainen, Nihon e iku tsumori desu.) - I intend to go to Japan next year.
Example: 私は医者になるつもりです。(Watashi wa isha ni naru tsumori desu.) - I intend to become a doctor.

Question 23

Passive Voice (V-られます)

Accepted Answer

Structure:
*   Group 1 (u-verbs): Change final う to あれる (e.g., 読む → 読まれる - yomareru)
*   Group 2 (ru-verbs): Replace る with られる (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる - taberareru)
*   Group 3 (irregular): する → される (sareru), 来る → 来られる (korareru)
Meaning: "Be (verb)ed by." The subject receives the action. The agent performing the action is marked by **に (ni)**.
Example: 私は先生に褒められました。(Watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita.) - I was praised by the teacher.
Example: この本は多くの人に読まれています。(Kono hon wa ooku no hito ni yomarete imasu.) - This book is read by many people.

Question 24

Giving/Receiving Verbs: あげる, くれる, もらう

Accepted Answer

*   **あげる (ageru)**: "To give." Speaker gives to someone else. (XがYにZをあげる)
    *   Example: 私は友達に本をあげました。(Watashi wa tomodachi ni hon o agemashita.) - I gave a book to my friend.
*   **くれる (kureru)**: "To give." Someone gives to the speaker or someone in the speaker's inner circle. (Xが私/私の家族にZをくれる)
    *   Example: 友達が私に本をくれました。(Tomodachi ga watashi ni hon o kuremashita.) - My friend gave me a book.
*   **もらう (morau)**: "To receive." Speaker receives from someone else. (XがYにZをもらう)
    *   Example: 私は友達に本をもらいました。(Watashi wa tomodachi ni hon o moraimashita.) - I received a book from my friend.
Note: These verbs also have honorific/humble forms (差し上げる, くださる, いただく) which are N3/N2, but the basic forms are N4.

Question 25

Particle Usage: までに vs. まで

Accepted Answer

*   **まで (made)**: "Until," "up to." Indicates the *duration* or *extent* of an action/state. The action/state continues up to the specified point.
    *   Example: 私は朝から晩まで働きます。(Watashi wa asa kara ban made hatarakimasu.) - I work from morning until night.
    *   Example: 東京まで行きます。(Tōkyō made ikimasu.) - I go as far as Tokyo.
*   **までに (made ni)**: "By (a certain time/deadline)." Indicates a *deadline* or *completion point* for an action. The action must be completed *by* that time.
    *   Example: 明日までにレポートを出してください。(Ashita made ni repōto o dashite kudasai.) - Please submit the report by tomorrow.
    *   Example: 5時までに帰ります。(Go-ji made ni kaerimasu.) - I will return by 5 o'clock.

JLPT N4 - Core Kanji, Sentence Structures & Expressive Particles

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