JLPT N4 - Essential Kanji & Grammar Flashcards

Question 1

Kanji: 日 (Day, Sun)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: にち, じつ
- Kunyomi: ひ, び, か

Examples:
- 毎日 (まいにち): Every day
- 日本 (にほん): Japan
- 誕生日 (たんじょうび): Birthday

Question 2

Kanji: 月 (Month, Moon)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: げつ, がつ
- Kunyomi: つき

Examples:
- 一月 (いちがつ): January
- 月曜日 (げつようび): Monday
- 今月 (こんげつ): This month

Question 3

Kanji: 年 (Year)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: ねん
- Kunyomi: とし

Examples:
- 去年 (きょねん): Last year
- 来年 (らいねん): Next year
- 今年 (ことし): This year

Question 4

Kanji: 人 (Person)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: じん, にん
- Kunyomi: ひと

Examples:
- 日本人 (にほんじん): Japanese person
- 一人 (ひとり): One person
- 大人 (おとな): Adult

Question 5

Kanji: 大 (Big, Large)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: だい, たい
- Kunyomi: おお-

Examples:
- 大きい (おおきい): Big
- 大学 (だいがく): University
- 大切 (たいせつ): Important

Question 6

Kanji: 小 (Small)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: しょう
- Kunyomi: ちい-, こ-, お-

Examples:
- 小さい (ちいさい): Small
- 小学校 (しょうがっこう): Elementary school
- 小鳥 (ことり): Small bird

Question 7

Kanji: 行 (Go, Conduct)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: こう, ぎょう
- Kunyomi: い-, ゆ-, おこな-

Examples:
- 行く (いく): To go
- 旅行 (りょこう): Travel
- 銀行 (ぎんこう): Bank

Question 8

Kanji: 来 (Come, Next)

Accepted Answer

Readings:
- Onyomi: らい
- Kunyomi: く-, き-, こ-

Examples:
- 来る (くる): To come
- 来週 (らいしゅう): Next week
- 来月 (らいげつ): Next month

Question 9

Passive Voice: 〜れる / 〜られる

Accepted Answer

Used to express an action done *to* the subject. The agent of the action is often marked with 〜に.

**Formation:**
- **Group 1 verbs (u-verbs):** Drop 〜う, add 〜れる (e.g., 読む → 読まれる - to be read)
- **Group 2 verbs (ru-verbs):** Drop 〜る, add 〜られる (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる - to be eaten)
- **Irregular verbs:** する → される (to be done), 来る (くる) → 来られる (こられる - to be come)

**Example:** 私は先生に褒められました。(I was praised by the teacher.)

Question 10

Passive Voice: 〜れる / 〜られる (Troublesome Passive)

Accepted Answer

Can also express a troublesome or annoying passive action, where the subject is negatively affected.

**Example:** 私は犬に手を噛まれました。(My hand was bitten by the dog. / I had my hand bitten by the dog.)

Question 11

Causative Form: 〜させる / 〜させる

Accepted Answer

Used to express making or letting someone do something.

**Formation:**
- **Group 1 verbs (u-verbs):** Drop 〜う, add 〜せる (e.g., 読む → 読ませる - to make/let read)
- **Group 2 verbs (ru-verbs):** Drop 〜る, add 〜させる (e.g., 食べる → 食べさせる - to make/let eat)
- **Irregular verbs:** する → させる (to make/let do), 来る (くる) → 来させる (こさせる - to make/let come)

**Usage:**
1.  **Make someone do:** 子供に野菜を食べさせます。(I make my child eat vegetables.)
2.  **Let someone do:** 先生は学生に自由に意見を言わせました。(The teacher let the students express their opinions freely.)

Question 12

Conditional Form: 〜ば

Accepted Answer

Expresses a condition where if A happens, B will naturally follow. Often used for general truths or advice.

**Formation:**
- **Verbs:** Drop final 〜う, add 〜えば (e.g., 読む → 読めば)
- **い-adjectives:** Drop 〜い, add 〜ければ (e.g., 寒い → 寒ければ)
- **な-adjectives/Nouns:** Add 〜なら(ば) (e.g., 静か → 静かならば, 学生 → 学生ならば)

**Example:** 時間があれば、映画を見に行きます。(If I have time, I'll go see a movie.)

Question 13

Conditional Form: 〜なら

Accepted Answer

Used when the condition is based on information or a situation already known or stated by the listener. It sets a premise for the following statement.

**Formation:** Noun/Verb/Adjective (plain form) + なら

**Example:**
- A: ラーメンを食べたいです。(I want to eat ramen.)
- B: ラーメンなら、あそこの店がおいしいですよ。(If it's ramen you're talking about, that shop over there is delicious.)

Question 14

Conditional Form: 〜たら

Accepted Answer

The most versatile conditional form. Expresses 'if/when A, then B.' Can be used for definite results, discoveries, or hypothetical situations.

**Formation:** Verb past tense (た-form) + ら

**Example:** 雨が降ったら、家で映画を見ます。(If it rains, I'll watch a movie at home.)

Question 15

Giving/Receiving Verbs: あげる / さしあげる

Accepted Answer

**あげる (to give):** Used when the giver is the speaker or someone in the speaker's group, and the receiver is outside the speaker's group, or when giving to an equal/inferior.

**さしあげる (to give - humble):** Humble form of あげる, used when giving to a superior.

**Example:**
- 私は友達にプレゼントをあげました。(I gave a present to my friend.)
- 私は先生に本を差し上げました。(I humbly gave a book to my teacher.)

Question 16

Giving/Receiving Verbs: くれる / くださる

Accepted Answer

**くれる (to give):** Used when the giver is outside the speaker's group, and the receiver is the speaker or someone in the speaker's group.

**くださる (to give - honorific):** Honorific form of くれる, used when a superior gives something to the speaker or someone in the speaker's group.

**Example:**
- 友達が私にプレゼントをくれました。(My friend gave a present to me.)
- 先生が私に本をくださいました。(The teacher honorably gave a book to me.)

Question 17

Giving/Receiving Verbs: もらう / いただく

Accepted Answer

**もらう (to receive):** Used when the receiver is the speaker or someone in the speaker's group, and the giver is outside the speaker's group, or when receiving from an equal/inferior.

**いただく (to receive - humble):** Humble form of もらう, used when receiving from a superior.

**Example:**
- 私は友達にプレゼントをもらいました。(I received a present from my friend.)
- 私は先生に本をいただきました。(I humbly received a book from my teacher.)

Question 18

Particle Usage: 〜に (Purpose)

Accepted Answer

Indicates the purpose of movement, often used with verbs like 行く (いく), 来る (くる), 帰る (かえる).

**Formation:** Noun (action) + に + movement verb

**Example:** 買い物に行きます。(I'm going shopping.)

Question 19

Particle Usage: 〜で (Means/Method)

Accepted Answer

Indicates the means, method, or tool used to perform an action.

**Formation:** Noun (tool/means) + で

**Example:** 箸でご飯を食べます。(I eat rice with chopsticks.)
- Also indicates location of action: 図書館で勉強します。(I study at the library.)

Question 20

Particle Usage: 〜と (Quotation/Comparison)

Accepted Answer

Used to quote direct or indirect speech/thoughts, or to indicate comparison/similarity.

**Formation:** Sentence (plain form) + と + 言う/思う/聞く etc.

**Example:**
- 彼は「行かない」と言いました。(He said, "I won't go.")
- 私はそう思います。(I think so.)

Question 21

Particle Usage: 〜しか〜ない (Only/Nothing but)

Accepted Answer

Expresses 'only' or 'nothing but' and *always* requires a negative verb ending. It emphasizes limitation.

**Formation:** Noun/Quantity + しか + Negative verb

**Example:** 私は日本語しか話せません。(I can only speak Japanese. / I can't speak anything but Japanese.)

Question 22

Particle Usage: 〜から〜まで (From〜To〜)

Accepted Answer

Indicates a range in time or space.

**Formation:** Start point + から + End point + まで

**Example:** 私は朝9時から夕方5時まで働きます。(I work from 9 AM to 5 PM.)

JLPT N4 - Essential Kanji & Grammar

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