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JLPT N4: the guide to the second level
N4 is the second step of the JLPT, and it tests comprehension of the basic Japanese used in everyday situations. If you passed N5 it feels like a natural extension, not a leap into the dark.
Compared with N5 the kanji count triples and the vocabulary nearly doubles, but the real difference is grammar: this is where the plain form, the te-form and the verbs that shift the sentence's point of view come in.
What N4 requires
The common estimates: about 300 kanji and 1,500 words, plus everyday grammar. You are asked to read short passages on familiar topics written in simple Japanese, and to follow slow but genuine conversations. As at N5 there is no writing or speaking: the test is entirely multiple choice.
How the exam is structured
Three parts for 115 minutes in total: vocabulary (25 minutes), grammar and reading (55), listening (35). The score runs from 0 to 180, split into two sections: language knowledge plus reading (0–120) and listening (0–60). To pass you need 90 points overall and the required minimum in both sections.
The grammar that separates N5 and N4
This is the level of the plain form, which opens up subordinate clauses, of the te-form and its uses, the potential, the volitional, the たら and ば conditionals, transitive/intransitive pairs, and the giving-and-receiving verbs あげる・くれる・もらう. People who stall at N4 almost always stall here, not on kanji.
When and how to register
In most countries the exam is held twice a year, in July and December, at official test sites; registration opens a few months earlier and seats in bigger cities go fast. Check the official JLPT website or your country's Japanese cultural institute.
The study plan from N5 to N4
Grammar first: the plain form and the te-form are the scaffolding for everything that follows. Then kanji, tied to words you already use instead of isolated lists. Finally short reading and listening every day: listening is worth a third of the score and is the part most people neglect.
The five levels side by side
| Level | Kanji | Words | To pass | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | ≈ 100 | ≈ 800 | 80/180 | 90 min |
| N4 | ≈ 300 | ≈ 1,500 | 90/180 | 115 min |
| N3 | ≈ 650 | ≈ 3,750 | 95/180 | 140 min |
| N2 | ≈ 1,000 | ≈ 6,000 | 90/180 | 155 min |
| N1 | ≈ 2,000 | ≈ 10,000 | 100/180 | 165 min |
Kanji and word counts are estimates: since 2010 the JLPT no longer publishes official character or vocabulary lists. Test durations and pass marks, on the other hand, are official.
Prepare for N4 with Yukigo
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Frequently asked questions
The most cited estimates say 575–1,000 hours in total from zero, so roughly 250–400 hours after N5. At an hour a day, somewhere between six months and a year.
About 300 kanji and 1,500 words, according to the most widely used unofficial lists. Since 2010 the JLPT no longer publishes official lists: these are estimates derived from past papers.
If you are studying for the certificate, yes: nobody requires N4 and no level is a prerequisite for another. If you are studying to learn, no: N4 grammar underpins everything that comes later, and skipping the exam doesn't mean skipping the content.
Usually not: work visas and most employers expect N2 or N1. N4 is still useful as an intermediate milestone and for some exchange or internship programmes.
60 points out of 180, a third of the total, with a mandatory minimum: you can be excellent at grammar and still fail because of listening.