JLPT N4 - Essential Grammar Patterns, Sentence Structures & High-Yield Kanji Flashcards

Question 1

Grammar: Potential Form (可能形 - Kanōkei)

Accepted Answer

Expresses the ability or possibility to do an action ("can do").

**Conjugation Rules:**
- **Group 1 (u-verbs):** Change last *u* sound to *e* sound + る (e.g., 書く → 書ける *kakeru*)
- **Group 2 (ru-verbs):** Drop る + 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*)

**Example:**
日本語で話せます。(Nihongo de hanasemasu.) - *I can speak in Japanese.*

Question 2

Grammar: Passive Form (受身形 - Ukemikei)

Accepted Answer

Used when the subject experiences an action performed by someone else, often expressing inconvenience or being affected.

**Conjugation Rules:**
- **Group 1:** Change *u* sound to *a* sound + れる (e.g., 押す → 押される *osareru*)
- **Group 2:** Drop る + られる (e.g., 褒める → 褒められる *homeraru*)
- **Group 3:** する → される (*sareru*), 来る → 来られる (*korareru*)

**Example:**
先生に褒められました。(Sensei ni homerarimashita.) - *I was praised by the teacher.*

Question 3

Grammar: Causative Form (使役形 - Shiekikei)

Accepted Answer

Expresses making or allowing someone to perform an action ("make/let do").

**Conjugation Rules:**
- **Group 1:** Change *u* sound to *a* sound + せる (e.g., 行く → 行かせる *ikaseru*)
- **Group 2:** Drop る + させる (e.g., 食べる → 食べさせる *tabesaseru*)
- **Group 3:** する → させる (*saseru*), 来る → 来させる (*kosaseru*)

**Example:**
母は子供に野菜を食べさせました。(Haha wa kodomo ni yasai o tabesasemashita.) - *The mother made her child eat vegetables.*

Question 4

Grammar: Causative-Passive Form (使役受身形)

Accepted Answer

Expresses being forced or coerced into doing an action against one's preference ("was made to do").

**Conjugation Rules:**
- **Group 1:** Change *u* sound to *a* sound + される (e.g., 書く → 書かされる *kakasaseru* / *kakasareru*)
- **Group 2:** Drop る + させられる (e.g., 食べる → 食べさせられる *tabesaserareru*)
- **Group 3:** する → させられる (*saserareru*), 来る → 来させられる (*kosaserareru*)

**Example:**
昨日は遅くまで残業させられました。(Kinō wa osoku made zangyō saseraimashita.) - *I was forced to work overtime late yesterday.*

Question 5

Grammar Pattern: Verb + ほうがいい (hō ga ii)

Accepted Answer

Used to give direct advice or recommendations ("It is better to..." / "You should...").

**Structure:**
- **Affirmative advice:** Verb [Ta-form] + ほうがいい
- **Negative advice:** Verb [Nai-form] + ほうがいい

**Examples:**
1. 薬を飲んだほうがいいです。(Kusuri o nonda hō ga ii desu.) - *You had better take some medicine.*
2. 今日は出かけないほうがいい。(Kyō wa dekakenai hō ga ii.) - *It is better not to go out today.*

Question 6

Grammar Pattern: 〜ていく (te iku) vs 〜てくる (te kuru)

Accepted Answer

Indicates directional or temporal progression of an action or change over time.

**1. 〜ていく (te iku):** Action moving away from the speaker, or continuing from now into the future.
- これから寒くなっていく。(Kore kara samuku natte iku.) - *It will get colder from now on.*

**2. 〜てくる (te kuru):** Action moving toward the speaker, or a state changing up until the present moment.
- だんだん寒くなってきた。(Dandan samuku natte kita.) - *It has gradually gotten colder.*

Question 7

Grammar Pattern: 〜ようとする (yō to suru)

Accepted Answer

Indicates an attempt to do something, or that something is just about to happen.

**Structure:** Verb [Volitional Form] + とする / としている

**Examples:**
1. 家を出ようとしたとき、雨が降り出した。(Ie o deyō to shita toki, ame ga furidashita.) - *Just as I was about to leave the house, it started raining.*
2. 猫が魚を食べようとしている。(Neko ga sakana o tabeyō to shite iru.) - *The cat is trying to eat the fish.*

Question 8

Grammar Pattern: 〜ために (tame ni) vs 〜ように (yō ni)

Accepted Answer

Both express purpose ("in order to"), but differ in volition and control:

**1. Verb [Dictionary Form] + ために:** Direct purpose with controllable action/intention (same subject).
- 車を買うために、お金を貯めています。(Kuruma o kau tame ni, okane o tamete imasu.) - *I am saving money to buy a car.*

**2. Verb [Potential/Nai Form] + ように:** State aimed for, indirect result, or non-controllable target.
- 日本語が話せるように、毎日練習します。(Nihongo ga hanaseru yō ni, mainichi renshū shimasu.) - *I practice every day so that I can speak Japanese.*

Question 9

Grammar Pattern: 〜そうだ (sō da) - Visual Appearance vs. Hearsay

Accepted Answer

**1. Visual Conjectures ("Looks like / Seems like"):**
- Verb [Stem] + そうだ / I-Adj [drop い] + そうだ / Na-Adj + そうだ
- 雨が降りそうだ。(Ame ga furisō da.) - *It looks like it will rain.*

**2. Hearsay ("I heard that / They say"):**
- Plain Form (Verb / Adj / Noun + だ) + そうだ
- 明日は雨だそうだ。(Ashita wa ame da sō da.) - *I heard that it will rain tomorrow.*

Question 10

Grammar Pattern: Verb Stem + やすい (yasui) / にくい (nikui)

Accepted Answer

Expresses that an action is easy or difficult to perform.

**Structure:** Verb [Masu-stem] + やすい / にくい

**Examples:**
1. このペンは書きやすい。(Kono pen wa kakiyasui.) - *This pen is easy to write with.*
2. 彼の名前は覚えにくい。(Kare no namae wa oboenikui.) - *His name is hard to remember.*

Question 11

Grammar: N4 Conditionals (〜たら, 〜ば, 〜なら)

Accepted Answer

Key Japanese conditional structures meaning "if" or "when":

1. **〜たら (tara):** Most versatile conditional. Action B happens after Action A.
- 安かったら買います。(Yasukattara kaimasu.) - *If it's cheap, I'll buy it.*
2. **〜ば (ba):** Formal hypothetical condition ("provided that A happens").
- 安ければ買います。(Yasukereba kaimasu.) - *If it is cheap, I'll buy it.*
3. **〜なら (nara):** Contextual condition based on topic/speaker's information ("if it's true that...").
- 行くなら、バスがいいよ。(Iku nara, basu ga ii yo.) - *If you are going, taking the bus is good.*

Question 12

Grammar Pattern: Verb [Te-form] + しまう (teshimau)

Accepted Answer

Expresses either **total completion** of an action or **regret/accidental action**.

**1. Completion:**
宿題をやってしまいました。(Shukudai o yatte shimaimashita.) - *I finished doing my homework completely.*

**2. Regret / Accident:**
鍵を忘れてしまった。(Kagi o wasurete shimatta.) - *I accidentally forgot my key (and regret it).*
*(Casual spoken forms: 〜ちゃう / 〜じゃう)*

Question 13

Grammar Pattern: 〜あいだ (aida) vs 〜あいだに (aida ni)

Accepted Answer

**1. 〜あいだ (aida):** Action B continues for the **entire duration** of state A ("while/during").
- 夏休みのあいだ、毎日泳いだ。(Natsuyasumi no aida, mainichi oyoida.) - *During the summer vacation, I swam every day.*

**2. 〜あいだに (aida ni):** Action B occurs at a **specific point within** state A.
- お母さんが寝ているあいだに、手紙を書いた。(Okāsan ga nete iru aida ni, tegami o kaita.) - *While my mother was sleeping, I wrote a letter.*

Question 14

Grammar Pattern: Verb [Dict Form] + 方法がある (hōhō ga aru)

Accepted Answer

Means "there is a method or way to do something".

**Structure:** Verb [Plain form] + 方法がある / 方法がない

**Example:**
漢字を早く覚えるいい方法がありますか。(Kanji o hayaku oboeru ii hōhō ga arimasu ka?) - *Is there a good way to memorize kanji quickly?*

Question 15

JLPT N4 Kanji: 旅 (Trip / Travel)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning:** Trip, Travel
**Onyomi:** リョ (ryo)
**Kunyomi:** たび (tabi)

**High-Yield N4 Vocabulary:**
- 旅行 (りょこう / ryokō) - *Travel / Trip*
- 旅人 (たびびと / tabibito) - *Traveler*
- 旅館 (りょかん / ryokan) - *Traditional Japanese inn*

Question 16

JLPT N4 Kanji: 業 (Business / Work / Industry)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning:** Business, Work, Performance
**Onyomi:** ギョウ (gyō), ゴウ (gō)
**Kunyomi:** わざ (waza)

**High-Yield N4 Vocabulary:**
- 授業 (じゅぎょう / jugyō) - *Class / Lesson*
- 産業 (さんぎょう / sangyō) - *Industry*
- 卒業 (そつぎょう / sotsugyō) - *Graduation*

Question 17

JLPT N4 Kanji: 医 (Medicine / Doctor)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning:** Doctor, Medicine, Healing
**Onyomi:** イ (i)
**Kunyomi:** N/A

**High-Yield N4 Vocabulary:**
- 医者 (いしゃ / isha) - *Doctor*
- 医学 (いがく / igaku) - *Medical science*
- 医院 (いいん / iin) - *Doctor's clinic*

Question 18

JLPT N4 Kanji: 習 (Learn / Custom)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning:** Learn, Custom, Practice
**Onyomi:** シュウ (shū)
**Kunyomi:** なら・う (nara.u)

**High-Yield N4 Vocabulary:**
- 習う (ならう / narau) - *To learn*
- 練習 (れんしゅう / renshū) - *Practice / Exercise*
- 習慣 (しゅうかん / shūkan) - *Habit / Custom*

Question 19

JLPT N4 Kanji Contrast: 貸 (Lend) vs 借 (Borrow)

Accepted Answer

**1. 貸 (Lend / Rent out):**
- Onyomi: タイ (tai) | Kunyomi: か・す (ka.su)
- 貸す (かす / kasu) - *To lend*
- 賃貸 (ちんたい / chintai) - *Lease / Rent*

**2. 借 (Borrow / Rent):**
- Onyomi: シャク (shaku) | Kunyomi: か・りる (ka.riru)
- 借りる (かりる / kariru) - *To borrow*
- 借金 (しゃっきん / shakkin) - *Debt / Loan*

Question 20

JLPT N4 Kanji Compound: 試験 (Test / Exam)

Accepted Answer

**1. 試 (Try / Test):**
- Onyomi: シ (shi) | Kunyomi: ため・す (tame.su)
- 試す (ためす / tamesu) - *To test/try*

**2. 験 (Effect / Test):**
- Onyomi: ケン (ken), ゲン (gen)

**Essential N4 Compound Words:**
- 試験 (しけん / shiken) - *Examination / Test*
- 実験 (じっけん / jikken) - *Experiment*

JLPT N4 - Essential Grammar Patterns, Sentence Structures & High-Yield Kanji

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