JLPT N4Core Expansion
Build on your foundation. N4 expands your vocabulary, introduces more complex grammar patterns, and tests reading comprehension across everyday conversations and simple written texts.
~1,500
Words
~300
Kanji
~200
Grammar
Elementary
Difficulty
What You'll Master
Everything JLPT N4 tests — and how JLPT Mastery prepares you.
Vocabulary
~1,500 words across expanded topics: travel, health, shopping, weather, work, hobbies, emotions, nature. Includes all N5 words + ~700 new.
Grammar
~200 grammar patterns building on N5: conditional forms, volitional, passive, causative basics, giving/receiving, quoting speech.
Kanji
171 kanji building on N5. Includes compound kanji used in everyday vocabulary, with readings, meanings, and example words.
8–12 months of consistent study
Strong N5 foundation significantly accelerates N4 prep.
Study Timeline Calculator
How many hours per week can you dedicate to Japanese study?
These estimates assume focused study with regular review. Immersion, native input, and consistent daily practice significantly accelerate progress.
Scoring & Certification
What you need to pass N4, how sections are weighted, and where it sits on the CEFR scale.
Passing score
90/ 180
Approximately 50% of total
You must also meet the sectional minimum for each section.
Pass rate
55.9%
December 2024 exam
Scores use Item Response Theory (IRT), so results are comparable across sessions.
CEFR equivalent
A2
Waystage / elementary user
JLPT score reports include a CEFR reference level since Dec 2025.
Section Minimum Scores
Score at or above the minimum in every section, even if your total exceeds the passing score.
See What N4 Looks Like
Preview the types of questions you'll encounter.
「けいけん」の意味は？
What does 「けいけん」 mean?
Tap an option to check your answer
雨が降った＿＿、試合は中止になった。
Choose the correct conjunction
Tap an option to check your answer
N4 Vocabulary by Theme
692 curated words organized into 20 study themes
Honorifics & Polite Speech
People & Relationships
Communication & Social
Work & Business
Education & Knowledge
Home & Daily Life
Travel & Transportation
Health & Body
Food & Cooking
Nature & Weather
Emotions & Adjectives
Actions & Movement
Change & Process
Thinking & Mental
Society & Rules
Adverbs & Expressions
General Adjectives
General Counters
General Nouns
General Verbs
What N4 Adds Beyond N5
N4 nearly doubles your vocabulary and unlocks complex grammar that brings you closer to real conversation.
Foundation
Next level
New Grammar Concepts
N4 introduces grammar that lets you express conditions, intentions, and nuanced actions.
Your Learning Journey
You've built the foundation. Now expand.
N4 — Core Expansion
Build on your foundation. N4 expands your vocabulary, introduces more complex grammar patterns, and tests reading comprehension across everyday conversations and simple written texts.
~1,500
Words
~300
Kanji
~200
Grammar
How to Study for JLPT N4
Build on N5 foundations -- review weak areas first before adding new material
Learn て-form and its many uses: 〜ている, 〜てください, 〜てもいい, and more
Expand vocabulary through compound words and verb pairs to accelerate word acquisition
Practice reading short paragraphs, not just isolated sentences -- N4 tests connected text
Common mistake: mixing up ので (objective reason) with のに (despite). They sound similar but have opposite meanings
Exam day: in the reading section, answer questions in order -- they follow the passage chronologically at N4 level
Your Target
171 kanji, 692 words, 96 grammar patterns
Ready to start your N4 preparation?
Adaptive practice. Mastery tracking. Build on your N5 foundation.
“You've proven you can learn. Now prove you can grow.”
Free to start · No credit card required