Quick answer
JLPT N4 is the first real jump from beginner Japanese. You move from about 800 words to roughly 1,500, and from 100 kanji to about 300. The most reliable plan is 12 weeks at 75–90 minutes a day, splitting your time about 55% vocabulary and kanji, 25% grammar, and 20% reading and listening. Take at least three full mock tests in the final four weeks. The pass mark is 90/180, with sectional minimums — so listening still cannot be an afterthought.
What the JLPT N4 Tests
N4 checks whether you can understand basic Japanese used in everyday situations — slightly beyond the greetings and set phrases of N5. You should follow short conversations, read simple everyday texts, and catch the main point of slow spoken Japanese. Like N5, the exam is split into a combined Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) and Reading section, plus a separate Listening section. [VERIFY] — confirm section timings on jlpt.jp.
Passing Score
The JLPT N4 passing score is 90 out of 180. You also need two sectional minimums: at least 38 out of 120 on the Language Knowledge · Reading section, and at least 19 out of 60 on Listening. [VERIFY] — confirm exact sectional minimums on jlpt.jp. As with every JLPT level, a strong total does not save you if one section falls below its minimum — you fail the whole exam.
What You Need to Know for N4
The JLPT organisers do not publish an official word or kanji list. The widely cited working figures, compiled by textbooks and study communities, are roughly 1,500 vocabulary words and about 300 kanji cumulative (building on the ~100 from N5). [VERIFY] — these are community estimates, not official.
The grammar step-up from N5 is meaningful: you add more verb forms (potential, volitional, conditional ば, passive and causative start to appear), broader conditional patterns (たら, と, ば, なら), giving and receiving verbs (あげる, くれる, もらう), nominalisers (こと, の, とき), and more conjunctions. Reading passages get longer and listening gets faster than N5.
The 12-Week Study Plan
This plan assumes you have passed N5 or know its content (hiragana, katakana, ~800 words, ~100 kanji, basic grammar). It runs 12 weeks at 75–90 minutes a day, five days a week. Weeks 1–2 review N5 and bridge; weeks 3–8 build N4 vocabulary, kanji and grammar by theme; weeks 9–10 are reading and listening drilling; weeks 11–12 are mock tests and weak-spot review.
Vocabulary by Theme
N4 roughly doubles your vocabulary. Learn it thematically so related words reinforce each other — the same vocabulary-first principle that works at every level. Here are four core N4 themes with example words.
Daily life & routines
Feelings & opinions
Giving & receiving
Conditions & reasons
Aim for 15–20 new words a day with spaced repetition, always reviewing old words before adding new ones. At 18 words a day over 12 weeks you cover about 1,500 — the full estimated target. Pair each new kanji with the words that actually use it.
Reading and Listening
Reading passages at N4 are longer than N5 — short paragraphs, notices, diary entries, and simple letters. Use official sample questions on jlpt.jp for format accuracy, then add N4-graded readers. Read one short passage a day from week 9 onward.
Listening runs about 50 minutes and is worth 60 points with a 19-point minimum. The questions are faster and more task-based than N5. Start with official sample audio, then add slower podcasts and shadowing (repeating after the speaker) to train your ear for natural speed. Catch question words fast: 何 (なに), どこ, いつ, だれ, どうして, どう. [VERIFY] — confirm note-taking rules on the JLPT.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these to protect your score
- Treating N4 like "a bit more N5". The vocabulary nearly doubles and kanji triples. Schedule it as a real step-up, not a review month.
- Learning kanji readings in isolation. Always learn a kanji through the words that use it. Knowing 上 can be うえ, あがる, かみ or じょう means nothing if you cannot read 上着 (うわぎ) or 上手 (じょうず).
- Mixing up あげる / くれる / もらう. Direction of transfer is tested explicitly. Drill who gives to whom until it is automatic.
- One conditional, four uses. たら, と, ば, and なら are not interchangeable. Learn the nuance (と = natural consequence, たら = specific condition, なら = contextual) or you lose grammar marks.
- Neglecting listening until the end. 19/60 is a hard floor. Start listening drills by week 10 at the latest.
- Skipping mock tests. Take at least three full timed mocks before exam day.
If You Only Have 6 Weeks
A compressed plan needs 2–3 hours a day and assumes solid N5. Cut kanji scope to the ~150 most frequent, but never cut listening.
Key Takeaways
Remember these five points
- N4 roughly doubles vocabulary (~1,500) and triples kanji (~300) compared with N5. [VERIFY]
- Pass is 90/180, plus 38/120 reading and 19/60 listening — balance listening from the start.
- Spend ~55% of time on vocabulary and kanji, learned together by theme.
- Master the four conditionals and the giving/receiving verbs — both are heavily tested.
- Take at least three full mock tests in the final four weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much harder is N4 than N5?
Noticeably. N5 is a gentle introduction; N4 is where the vocabulary load roughly doubles and kanji triples. Grammar also broadens to include conditionals, giving/receiving verbs, and more verb forms. Plan for a real step-up in study time — most learners need a few hundred additional hours beyond N5. [VERIFY]
How many hours do I need to pass N4?
Cumulative study time to N4 is commonly estimated at roughly 400–600 hours total from zero, or a few hundred more on top of N5. At 75–90 minutes a day, that is several months. [VERIFY] — these are community estimates.
Can I skip N5 and take N4 directly?
Yes. The JLPT has no prerequisites — you can register for any level. If you already know hiragana, katakana, basic grammar and around 800 words, start directly with N4 preparation. Otherwise, build the N5 base first; skipping it leaves gaps that N4 assumes.
Is N4 useful for work or study?
N4 is a solid personal milestone but rarely sufficient for employment or university admission in Japan, where N2 is the common threshold. N4 can help with some short-term programs, internships, or daily life in Japan. [VERIFY]
What happens if I fail one section?
You fail the entire exam. The JLPT requires both the overall pass mark (90/180) and each sectional minimum (38/120 reading, 19/60 listening). There is no partial pass — you retake the whole exam. [VERIFY]