The N4 is the second level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). To pass the N4, you will need to know about 300 kanji and about 1500 vocabulary words.
What is Kanji?
Kanji is one of three Japanese writing systems along with hiragana and katakana. Both hiragana and katakana are phonetic, meaning that each character represents a single syllable, and that character will never be pronounced any other way. Kanji is a system of symbols that represent words or ideas, and that can have different meanings and pronunciations depending on their context.
Kanji are believed to have originated in China, though it is not certain exactly when they were first written. The original kanji are meant to be pictograms, meaning that they express an idea through a picture. Over time, those representations evolved through a picture. When kanji came to Japan, the Japanese had no written language of their own. Everything was written and read in Chinese.
Preparing for the JLPT N4 test
As we mentioned above, to pass the JLPT N4 test, you will need to know about 300 kanji, about 1500 vocabulary words and you need to have the ability to take part in everyday conversation and also to be able to read and write simple sentences.
For students with kanji knowledge, it takes about 550 hours of study to pass the JLPT N4 test. If you are a non-native English speaker-that is about the same as studying to improve your TOEIC score from 500 to 700. Also, for other students, it takes 787 hours.
Passing the JLPT is all about the right preparation. The way you prepare for the test will determine how well you pass it, or how badly you fail it.
Reading
The N4 test has a literary knowledge of approximately 300 kanji along with hiragana and katakana. Compared to the N5, the N4 has less kanji with furigana, which shows the phonetics of the kanji above it in hiragana. As a test taker, you should familiarize yourself with the phonetic reading and meaning of more kanji than was required for the N5. The N4 requires a vocabulary of about 1500 words which is almost double the requirement for the N5.
According to the JLPT website, it will test the comprehension of Japanese passages about usual daily activities. The questions are generally straightforward, similar to the N5. However, the N4 requires a more-in-depth and nuanced understanding of Japanese vocabulary and grammar. In order to pass this section, it’s important to understand the small differences between terminologies that have similar meanings or use.
Listening
The listening section of the N4 test consists of one’s ability to comprehend and follow conversations about familiar topics and situations. Just like in the N5, the audio is spoken at a slow pace. It will use expressions and vocabulary that are slightly more advanced and complex than the N5, so it’s important to have more listening experience and ability.
Study methods
Students who want to take the N4 would be likely to have textbooks or other materials that will help them study and pass the test. It is highly recommended to use the audio CDs that come attached to the textbooks to practice and gauge what the listening section of the N4 will be like.
It is also recommended that students read sections of beginner-level textbooks and make flashcards. It is required to focus on kanji literacy and reading comprehension. Since the N4 requires a deeper level of understanding Japanese than the N5, using children’s movies, TV shows and books to study can also be helpful.
There are lots of quizzes and other helpful study materials on the JLPT site that can aid in preparation for both sections as well. Usually, these websites are created by people who have taken and passed all 5 JLPTs so they offer reliable sources of information and tools you need to study and pass the N4 successfully.
The N4 is a useful benchmark for students to gauge their abilities in basic Japanese. Since it is the second-easiest JLPT, it does not require advanced knowledge of the language, but the understanding of the nuanced differences between uses and meanings of kanji and grammar elements is essential in passing both reading and listening parts of the exam. To increase your chances of passing the N4, make sure you use textbooks and internet sources to help you study.
Resources for JLPT N4 Prep
- Genki II- Genki II is a direct sequel to Genki I which is a textbook recommended to study for the N5 test. It covers most of the kanji and vocabulary you need for the N4 and the greater part of grammar that you need.
- Tanos.co.uk-We also recommend this website, it is very useful, it has lists of recommended kanji, vocabulary and grammar points for each level of the JLPT. It can be very helpful after you complete Genki II, in order to check for gaps in grammar knowledge.
Note:
We do not recommend using movies or television as the main source of listening practice before reading Genki II, because that contains many important grammar patterns and vocabulary words that will appear frequently in colloquial speech.
Conclusion
In this article, we talked about the steps to take to pass the N4 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). It usually takes about 550 hours of study and preparation to pass the N4 test successfully.
Make sure that you are consistent with studying and you take into consideration the study methods we mentioned above in the article.
These are the steps to take to successfully pass the N4 JLPT test.