Are you preparing for the JLPT and learning the N2 grammar now? In total, there are around 200 grammar lessons that you need to know in order to pass the JLPT N2, including grammars you have learned from lower levels.
This article explains 30 of the must-know grammar points for JLPT N2 that have been featured on previous tests, from the meaning to sentence structures and sentence examples!
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This grammar point is used to express something that “has a strong tendency of~” or simply put, it means “like” or “ish”. For example, you can add this grammar point at the back of the noun-て form to make them adjective-forms.
こども ＋ っぽい ＝ こどもっぽい (Childish)
2. がち (gachi)
がち is usually used for something negative or to express a tendency to do something. For example, 疲れがち which means tend to be tired easily as compared to 疲れ, which just means tired.
3. ていられない (te irarenai)
You may use this grammar point if you have no time to do something or do not find the activity time-worthy. This grammar point means you “can’t afford” or “can’t” do something.
For example, のんびりしてはいられない means I can’t afford to slack off. You add the noun-て form in front of the grammar point.
4. てはならない (tewanaranai)
てはならない is more subjective. It means must not, cannot or should not. You can use this grammar point with a verb-て form and add the grammar at the back of the verb.
For example, 忘れ＋てはならない which means never forget.
5. ねばならない (nebanaranai)
This grammar point means you have to do something or there is something that you must do. Add this grammar point to a verb-ない form. When you add in the grammar point, be sure to remove the ない at the back of the verb.
6. ずにはいられない (zu ni wa irarenai)
This grammar point describes naturally irrepressible actions. It means “can’t help but do something” or “have to do something”. This grammar point can only be used in writing.
When spoken, it is changed to 「…ないではいられない」 instead. This grammar point is being added to a verb-ない form. When placing the grammar point, remove the ない at the back of the verb.
7. ないではいられない (nai de wa irarenai)
This grammar point means you “can’t help it but feel” or you “can’t help but do”. You need to place this grammar point with a verb-ない form. You do not need to take out the ない when placing the grammar point at the back.
8. ないこともない (nai koto mo nai)
This means you “can do something” or “something is not impossible to do”. Another way to put it is “it isn’t the case that ~ not ~.”
For example, I can eat natto, but I don’t like it very much. You can eat natto, but if given another kind of food, you would not pick natto because you don’t like it very much.
9. しょうがない (shou ga nai)
You may have heard this used in a sentence before in dramas or anime. しょうがない means “there is no other way but…” or “very, extremely.”
Note that しょうがない is a contraction of しようがない, which is used in informal spoken conversations.
10. てたまらない (tetamaranai)
This grammar point comes from the word たまる, which means to endure something. With the ない at the back, the word comes in a negative form. This means “cannot endure something”.
Verbs and い adjectives would use the てたまらない whileな adjectives would use でたまらない。
11. は抜きにして (wa nuki ni shite)
This grammar point is used in both positive and negative situations. For positive situations, rather than は抜きにして, we use 抜きに。As for negative situations, we use 抜きで。
12. てばかりはいられない (te bakari wa irarenai)
Based on the word ばかり, we change it into a て form to express that one cannot do something repeatedly. The grammar point can be written in two ways; てばかりはいられない and てばかりもいられない。
13.まだしも (mada shimo)
This grammar point is used when comparing with different opinions and choosing a better opinion. For example, if we say [A]まだしも, [B], it means [A] is better or more preferred than [B]. Another way we can look at it is [B] is disliked over [A]
14. ものの (mono no)
This grammar point is normally used to express a contradiction. For example, [A]ものの + [B] means you want to go to [A] but you have something on [B].
15. ものだから (mono da kara)
ものだから is used when saying the reason is … for something which is unavoidable. For example, “the dog ate my homework, therefore (ものだから), I can’t turn in my homework.
16. ものなら (mono nara)
This is used when saying if [A] is possible, then [B]. Simply put, it is either impossible or very unlikely to be done. For example, (if I can go, then..) or (if I can return this, then…).
17. 気味 (kimi)
気味 means something looks like or seems to be in a certain way.
For example, 疲れ気味 which means seems tired. You can add the grammar point with any noun or verb ます form. When you add 気味 with a verb ます form, be sure to take out ます before adding in.
18. もの (mono)
This is used when you want to explain a reason for something. However, this expression is usually used most by girls and children. You add the reason with もの when you want to justify what you said.
19. でならない (denaranai)
This is used to describe an emotion that is beyond control or used to describe “extremely”. でならない is mostly used for emotions, wishes, and feelings.
The grammar point is usually used in writing and is an old way used in spoken language.
20. ないことはない (nai koto wa nai)
This grammar point is used when something is not impossible to do. Another meaning would be “it isn’t the case that.. not..”.
For example, in the above example, “it’s not that I can’t drive, I just don’t do it very often”. You can do it, but you just do not do it often.
21. 何といっても (nanto ittemo)
何といっても is used to emphasize the most important or undeniable aspect of a situation. It means “after all” or “no matter what you say,” highlighting something that stands out above all else.
For example, “何といっても彼が一番だ” means “No matter what, he’s the best.”
Use: Emphasizes the most important point Example: 何といっても健康が一番大切だ。 After all, health is the most important.
22. ～ような気がする (you na ki ga suru)
～ような気がする expresses a personal feeling or hunch about something. It translates roughly to “I feel like…” or “It seems that…” and is often used when you’re uncertain but have a subjective impression.
23. ～ことにする (koto ni suru)
～ことにする indicates that someone has made a decision or chosen a course of action. It literally means “to make it a thing to…” and is used for deliberate decisions,
Like that, with our JLPT N2 Grammar list, you can pass your test with consistent effort and hard work! 頑張ってください！
Example: 彼は嘘をついているような気がする。 I feel like he’s lying.
24. 以外の (igai no)
Structure: Noun + 以外の + noun
以外の means “except for” or “other than” and is used to exclude something from a group or list. Example: 彼以外の人は全員来ました。 Everyone except him came.
25. ～に気をつける (～ni ki o tsukeru)
Structure: Noun + に気をつける The use of this JLPT N2 grammar means “to be careful about” or “pay attention to” something. Example: 健康に気をつけてください。 Please take care of your health.
26. ～限り (～gakiri)
Structure: Verb plain form / Noun + の + 限り ～限り is used to indicate a limitation or boundary. In English, you can translate it as “as long as” or “as far as.”
Example: 知っている限り、彼は無実です。 As far as I know, he is innocent.
27. ～ことなく (koto naku)
Structure: Verb dictionary form + ことなく
ことなく expresses not doing an action or a state not occurring. Example: 彼は一度も休むことなく働いた。 He worked without taking a single break.
28. ～にもかかわらず (ni mo kakawarazu)
Structure: Verb / adjective / noun + にもかかわらず
“にもかかわらず” means “despite” or “in spite of.” It’s used when the result goes against expectations or is surprising, and it often conveys the speaker’s sense of surprise, disappointment, or irony. Example: 雨にもかかわらず、彼は来ました。 He came despite the rain.
29. ～にすぎない (ni suginai)
Structure: Verb / noun + にすぎない
にすぎない means “nothing more than,” “no more than,” or “merely.” It is used to downplay or minimize the importance or value of something. In other words, something is not as important as it might seem. Example: それはうわさにすぎない。 That’s nothing more than a rumor.
30. とともに (to tomo ni)
Structure: Noun / verb (dictionary form) + とともに
The JLPT N2 grammar point とともに (to tomoni) has multiple uses, but all generally relate to the idea of “together with,” “at the same time,” or “as something happens.”
Example: インターネットの普及とともに、情報の流れが速くなった。」 As the internet became widespread, the flow of information sped up.
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JLPT N2 is one of the hardest levels to pass, but it’s a valuable certification often required for finding a job in Japan.
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FAQ
Can I rely only on grammar study to pass JLPT N2?
No, grammar is essential, but you also need vocabulary, kanji, listening, and reading comprehension skills. Combining all these areas will give you the best chance to pass the exam.
How many JLPT N2 grammars are there?
There are around 200 grammar points commonly recognized at the JLPT N2 level. These include a wide range of patterns, from basic conjunctions and conditionals to more complex expressions of nuance.
How can I effectively study JLPT N2 grammar?
Focus on learning grammar in context with example sentences, practice reading passages that use N2 grammar, do targeted exercises, and review with flashcards or quizzes. Regularly practicing listening and speaking also helps solidify your understanding.
Planning to take the JLPT N2 by yourself? Don’t forget to read our useful guide on:
Konnichiwa 「こんにちは」 is one of the first words you learn in Japanese. Often times, on social media posts, you may see it spelled as 「こんにちわ」. However, as you may have learned in your studies, the correct spelling is actually 「こんにちは」.
「こんにちは」is usually written in hiragana, but if you write it in kanji, it’s「今日は」, which can also be read as 「きょうは〜, kyo wa〜」 . This directly translates to “today is ~ ”. Originally, people often greeted each other with 「今日は天気が良いですね、kyou wa tenki ga ii desune- Today, the weather is nice.」or「今日は暑いですね、kyou wa atsui desune- Today, it is hot.」. Over time, people began to shorten their greetings by cutting off the latter portions, eventually resulting in 「こんにちは, konnichiwa」.
What Part of Speech is Konnichiwa?
At times, people ask me, “What part of speech is 「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day」? Is it a noun? Greetings, including 「おはよう,ohayo- good morning」,「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day, 」, and「こんばんは, konbanwa- good evening」are not nouns, but interjection s. Interjections are words which we use when our hearts are stirred.
For example, the 「わぁー。」in「わぁー。きれいだなぁ。Waa-, kireidanaa- Waa, it’s so beautiful!」, and the 「あっ。」in「あっ。宿題を忘れた。 Aa, shukudai o wasureta- Aa, I forgot my homework!」are interjections. Therefore, greetings are words which encompass the stirring of our hearts when we meet someone, and the feeling of wanting to communicate with the people we meet.
Other Greetings Besides Konnichiwa
When do I use おはよう (Ohayou) then?
Well then, everyone, at what time do you change your greeting from 「おはよう, ohayo- good morning」to「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day」? This is quite a difficult question! There is actually no fixed rule. The television and radio station NHK, which uses the most correct Japanese in Japan, states that “The greeting「おはよう,ohayo, good morning」is generally acceptable until 9:00 am.
However, you should be cautious when using it after 9:00 am.” In addition, a famous Tokyo hotel states that “For guests, we use 「おはようございます, ohayogozaimasu- good morning (polite)」until around 10:30 am, and after that we use 「いらっしゃいませ, irasshaimase- welcome」.
What about こんばんは (Konbanwa)?
How about the transition from 「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day」to「こんばんは, konbanwa- good afternoon」? This is actually even more difficult! NHK states that “「こんばんは,konbanwa- good afternoon」is generally used after the sun has gone down and it gets pretty dark. It is better not to use it when the sun is still out.” In short, when you transition greeting is dependent on the season. For me, I think in the summer I switch greetings around 7:00 pm, and in the winter around 5:30 pm.
Japanese greetings allow you to communicate with the people you meet, while also keeping the seasons and time in mind. However, do you ever think that the greetings used by some store clerks in Japan are a little too obnoxious? I think those type of greetings might just be the requirements of the store manual and perhaps aren’t the most sincere.
After having learned all of these, why not try putting these to use by greeting people over the phone? Or, if you have a friend that you haven’t met in awhile, why not try using “Hisashiburi” with them!
“Konnichiwa” is a common Japanese greeting that translates to “Hello.” However, the most appropriate English equivalent can vary depending on the time of day.
When do you use "Konnichiwa"?
“Konnichiwa” is a versatile greeting used in various situations. It’s a polite way to greet someone, especially when meeting someone for the first time or addressing someone of higher status. While it can be used at any time of day, it’s more commonly used as a general greeting.
What's the difference between "Ohayō" and "Konnichiwa"?
“Ohayō” means “Good morning” and is primarily used in the morning. “Konnichiwa” is a more general greeting, but “Ohayō” is considered more appropriate in the morning.
What's the difference between "Konbanwa" and "Konnichiwa"?
“Konbanwa” means “Good evening” and is primarily used in the evening. “Konnichiwa” is a more general greeting, but “Konbanwa” is more appropriate in the evening.
Basic Japanese Grammar – Basic Sentence Patterns Cheat Sheet
Sentence Structure
In this guide to Basic Japanese Grammar, we will explain in broad terms the most used Japanese sentence patterns, how to alter them to change them from positive statements to negative statements, and how to ask questions while using them. We will continue this series with part II – Grammar Particles
Basic Japanese Sentence Patterns
In broad terms, Japanese sentences can be divided into the following three patterns.
Watashi wa Nihon-jin desu. I am a Japanese person. [Noun Phrase] 私は日本人です。 Meari-san wa isogashii desu. Mary-san is busy. [Adjective phrase] メアリーさんは忙しいです。 Tanaka-san wa ramen o tabemasu. Tanaka-san eats ramen. [Verb Phrase] 田中さんはラメンを食べます。
“Desu” has a similar function to “to be” in English and comes at the end of Noun and Adjective Phrases. Verb Phrases end with [-masu]. “Wa” is a particle that denotes topics and subjects. (The particles “ga” and “mo” can also indicate a subject.
Negative Sentences
Negative Sentences are made by modifying the end of a predicate, which is typically the last part of a sentence. This grammatical structure is why one must listen to the very end of a Japanese sentence to know whether it is negative or affirmative.
Watashi wa Nihon-jin jya-arimasen. I am not a Japanese person. [Neg. Noun Phrase] 私は日本人じゃありません. Meari-San wa isogashiku nai desu. Mary-San is not busy. [Negative Adjective Phrase] メアリーさんは忙しくないです. Tanaka-San wa ramen o tabemasen. Tanaka-San does not eat ramen. [Neg. Verb Phrase] 田中さんはラーメンを食べません.
Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Attach “ka” to the end of a Declarative Sentence to create an Interrogative Sentence.
Meari-san wa isogashii desu ka. Is Mary san busy? メアリーさんは忙しいですか？ Tanaka-san wa ramen o tabemasu ka. Does Tanaka-San eat ramen? 田中さんはラーメンを食べますか?
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Start taking Japanese lessons and master basic Japanese grammar!
For Japanese learners, a significant milestone to aim for is the JLPT N5 exam, which evaluates basic proficiency in the language. But whether you’re taking the test or not, you’ll come across JLPT N5 grammar points either way, especially during the first year of your study, as it covers the very basic foundation of the Japanese language.
Although mastering these 30 grammar points alone won’t make you speak Japanese like a native, they are incredibly common and widely used in everyday conversations regardless of your fluency. So, let’s delve into some essential JLPT N5 grammar points that are crucial to know!
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This is the most basic grammar point that you’ll learn right after hiragana and katakana.
In Japanese, “da” (だ) and “desu” (です) are both copula verbs used for different levels of politeness and formality that make up the very basic sentence pattern. They serve as the equivalent of the English verb “to be” and are used to make statements or descriptions about nouns or noun phrases.
“Da” is the informal form of the copula verb and is commonly used in casual conversations or when speaking with close friends and family. It is often used in plain sentences or in informal situations. For example:
これはペンだ。 Kore wa pen da. This is a pen.
“Desu” is the polite form, and it’s widely used in formal situations, polite conversations — or when addressing people you are not familiar with. For example:
彼は学生です。 Kare wa gakusei desu. He is a student.
You can conjugate だ/です (da/desu) into negative, past tense, and past-negative forms that are similar to the English language.
Present
Negative
Past tense
Past negative
です
じゃありません/ではありません
でした
ではありませんでした/じゃありませんでした
だ
じゃない/ではない
だった
じゃなかった/ではなかった
2. にいます/あります (ni imasu/arimasu)
For basic Japanese grammar rules, に (ni) is used as a general preposition that means “in” in English to indicate the location of a person or object. If you are just starting to learn the language, the sentence structure you should first be learning is below:
Subject + Location + に + います/あります (Subject) is in (Location)
います and あります are both Japanese verbs used to indicate the existence or presence of animate and inanimate objects, respectively. あります is used for inanimate objects or things, while います is used for animate objects or people.
3. に/へ (ni/e)
In Japanese, both “に” (ni) and “へ” (e) are particles used to indicate direction or destination. While they can be translated as “to” or “towards” in English, they have slight differences in usage.
“へ” is a particle that describes a direction, while に is used to indicate the specific destination or target of an action. The basic structure for the N5 grammar point is below:
Subject + Location + へ + Verb
For example:
学校に行きます。 Gakkou ni ikimasu. I am going to school.
公園へ行きます。 Kouen e ikimasu. I am going to the park.
Of course, there are a lot of verbs you need to memorize to hold simple conversations with. aJapanese native. Check out our top 100 basic Japanese verbs here.
4. も (mo)
In Japanese grammar, the particle “も” (mo) is a versatile particle that has multiple uses and can be translated into English as “also,” “too,” or “even.”
For beginner and N5-level Japanese grammar, the “も” (mo) particle replaces the topic maker は (ha). For example:
彼も学生です。 Kare mo gakusei desu. He is also a student.
“も” (mo) can also emphasize a surprising or unexpected inclusion. It is used to express that the described action or situation is true even for the specific item or person mentioned.
彼は日本語を話すこともできます。 Kare wa nihongo o hanasu koto mo dekimasu. He can even speak Japanese.
For a more comprehensive guide on basic Japanese particles and their functions, head here.
5. ～があります (ga arimasu)/～がいます (ga imasu)
The phrase “～があります” (“ga arimasu”) is used in Japanese to indicate the existence or presence of something. It is typically used with inanimate objects or non-living things.
つくえの上に本があります。 Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu. There is a book on the table.
On the other hand, “～がいます” (“ga imasu”) is used in Japanese to indicate the existence or presence of animate objects or living beings. It can also be used to express the idea of someone or something “having” or “possessing” a certain characteristic or quality. For example:
猫がいます。 Neko ga imasu. There is a cat or (I) have a cat.
6. だけ (Dake)
“Dake” (だけ) is a particle that is used to indicate “only” or “just.” It is used to specify a limited quantity or extent of something. “Dake” is placed after a noun or a quantity expression to indicate that there is no more than that amount or that it is the maximum.
Adjective/noun + だけ
Here are a few examples to illustrate the usage of “dake” in JLPT N5 Japanese grammar:
このチケットは子供だけ無料です。 Kono chiketto wa kodomo dake muryou desu. This ticket is free for children only.
彼女は日本語だけでコミュニケーションができます。 Kanojo wa nihongo dake de komyunikēshon ga dekimasu. She can communicate only in Japanese.
7. ～ませんか (~masenka)
For inviting someone or suggesting something, you can use the phrase “～ませんか” (“masen ka”). It is formed by adding the negative form of a verb and then attaching “か” at the end. It is commonly translated as “won’t you” or “shall we” in English.
一緒に映画を見ませんか？ Goissho ni eiga o mimasen ka? Would you like to watch a movie together?
8. ～ましょう (mashou)
“ましょう” (mashou) is a volitional form commonly used to make suggestions or propose an action. It can be translated as “let’s” or “shall we” in English. You’ll use this when you want to suggest your friends or the other speaker do something — just remember that it has to be a verb!
To conjugate a verb into this form, you simply remove the ます and add ましょう:
Verb ます + ましょう
映画を見ましょう。 Eiga o mimashou. Let’s watch a movie.
9. ～ましょうか (mashouka)
“ましょうか” (mashouka) is a polite form derived from “ましょう” (mashou) by adding the question particle “か” (ka) at the end. It is used to make a polite invitation or ask for the other person’s agreement.
It has a similar meaning as ～ませんか (masenka), but it has a more direct nuance. Think of ～ましょうか as “Shall we?”, and ～ませんか as “Won’t you?”
10. ～てください (te kudasai)
ください is used when you want to get something from the other speaker or party. In English, we can translate it to “Please give me (this).”
To form ～てください, you will need to know how to conjugate Japanese verbs into ~te (~て). There are three different conjugation groups, with some irregular verbs that have exceptions to the て form rules. If you haven’t learned them already, we’ve made a separate blog post on how to transform a verb into a ~te verb, complete with handy illustrated cards
ちょっとまってください。 Chotto matte kudasai. Please wait a moment.
In Japanese N5 grammar, “ないでください” (“naide kudasai”) is a phrase used to make a negative request or ask someone not to do something. It is formed by combining the negative form of a verb and then adding “でください” (“de kudasai”) at the end.
Verb ない form + でください
For example:
迷惑しないでください。 Meiwaku shinaide kudasai. Please don’t be a nuisance to others.
12. ～てはいけません (te wa ikemasen)
The phrase “～てはいけません” (“te wa ikemasen”) is used in Japanese to express prohibition or to indicate that an action is not allowed. It is formed by taking the te-form of a verb and adding “はいけません” (“wa ikemasen”) at the end.
The structure of “～てはいけません” is as follows:
[Verb in te-form] + はいけません
For example:
入口から出てはいけません。 Iriguchi kara dete wa ikemasen. You must not exit from the entrance.
Important: “～てはいけません” (“te wa ikemasen”) and “～ないでください” (“naide kudasai”) have similar meanings in that they both express prohibition or a request to refrain from doing something. However, there is a slight difference in tone and usage between the two. ～てはいけません emphasizes a strict prohibition or rule, while ～ないでください is a polite request to refrain from doing something.
13. ～てもいいです (te mo ii desu)
The phrase “～てもいいです” (“te mo ii desu”) is used in Japanese to express permission or give someone the option to do something. It is formed by taking the te-form of a verb or an adjective and adding “もいいです” (“mo ii desu”) at the end.
The structure of “～てもいいです” is as follows:
Form
Example (Japanse)
English
Verb て-formもいいです
食べてもいい
Tabete mo ii
い-adjective + いくてもいいです
赤くてもいい
Akakute mo ii
な-adjectve + でもいいです
きれいでもいい
Kirei de mo ii
You can also ask for permission with this grammar structure by adding a か in the end to indicate a question.
店で食べてもいいですか？ Mise de tabete mo ii desu ka? Can I eat in the store?
14. から (kara)
“Kara” (から) is a conjunction in Japanese that is used to indicate a cause or reason. It is often translated as “because” or “since” in English.
Verb
から
い-adjective
から
な-adjectve + だ
から
Noun + だ
から
It’s important to note that “kara” expresses a cause-and-effect relationship and focuses on the reason or cause preceding the resulting action or situation.
雨が降ったから、外出をキャンセルしました。 Ame ga futta kara, gaishutsu o kyanseru shimashita. Because it is raining, we cancel our (plans) to go out.
15. ～ている (te iru)
“Te iru” (ている) is a verb conjugation in Japanese that indicates the progressive or continuous aspect. It is commonly used to describe ongoing actions or states. In English, this would be a present (or past) continuous tense marked by verb-ing. You can also conjugate it to past, negative and past-negative tense.
Conjugation
Meaning
Verb -いる
Is doing
いない
Is not doing
いった
Was doing
いなかった
Wasn’t doing
私は勉強しています。 Watashi wa benkyou shite imasu. I am learning.
16. ～にいく (ni iku)
“～にいく” (～ni iku) is a commonly used phrase in Japanese that means “to go to” or “to go towards.” It is formed by combining the particle “に” (ni), indicating the direction or destination, with the verb “いく” (iku), meaning “to go.”
Verb ます (stem form) + に行く
In Japanese, the combination of a verb followed by “にいく” (ni iku) indicates the action of going somewhere to perform that verb’s action. It expresses the movement or direction toward a specific location for the purpose of engaging in the described action.
クラスの前に食べに行きましょうか？ Kurasu no mae ni tabe ni ikimashouka? Before class, should we go out to eat?
17. ～てから (te kara)
“～てから” (te kara) is a Japanese grammar construction used to indicate the sequence of events or actions. It signifies that one action takes place after another action has been completed. For example:
手を洗ってから食事をします。 Te o aratte kara shokuji o shimasu. After you wash your hands, we eat.
18. ～のがじょうずです/～のがへたです (no ga jouzu desu/ no ga heta desu)
The phrase “～のがじょうずです” (no ga jouzu desu) and “～のがへたです” (no ga heta desu) are used in Japanese to express proficiency or lack of proficiency in a particular skill or activity. Let’s break it down:
Verb/Activity + のが (no ga)
+ じょうずです (jouzu desu)
Indicates proficiency or skillfulness.
Verb/Activity + のが (no ga)
+ へたです (heta desu)
Indicates lack of proficiency or being unskilled.
In both cases, the structure starts with the verb or activity in its dictionary form, followed by “のが” (no ga), which acts as a nominalizer, turning the verb or activity into a noun. Then, it is followed by either “じょうずです” (jouzu desu) or “へたです” (heta desu).
日本語を書くのがじょうずです。 Nihongo o kaku no ga jouzu desu. I am good at writing in Japanese.
歌うのがへたです。 Utau no ga heta desu. I am bad at singing.
19. ～のほうが～より (~no hou ga ~ yori)
Imagine you have two options or things to compare, and you want to express a preference or make a comparison. That’s where “～のほうが～より” (no hou ga ~ yori) comes in! It’s a JLPT N5 grammar that helps you highlight one option over another. The structure will look like this:
(Option A) + のほうが + Option B + より (yori) + Adjective
Let’s take a look at an example using this JLPT N5 grammar!
この映画とあのドラマ、どちらが面白いと思う？ Kono eiga to ano dorama, dochira ga omoshiroi to omou? Which do you think is more interesting, this movie or that drama?
僕はこの映画のほうがあのドラマより面白いと思うよ！ Boku wa kono eiga no hou ga ano dorama yori omoshiroi to omou yo!) I think this movie is more interesting than that drama!
20. ～のなかで～がいちばん～ (~no naka de ~ ga ichiban ~)
This grammar pattern, ～のなかで～がいちばん～ (naka de ga ichiban), is used to express that something is the most among a certain group of things.
With this pattern, you can express your preference or opinion about a certain group of things. It’s a useful way to make comparisons in Japanese and it’s commonly used in everyday conversation. The sentence structure will typically look like this:
Let’s take a look at an example using this JLPT N5 grammar!
行った旅行の中で、京都が一番素敵でした。 Itta ryokou no naka deu, kyouto ga ichiban suteki deshita. Of all the travels I’ve made, Kyoto was the prettiest.
21. ～く/ ～になる (~ku/~ni naru)
Both “~ku naru” and “ni naru” are Japanese verb phrases used to express a change or transformation — translated to “to become” in English.
Noun + になる
な-adjective+ になる
い-adjective + いく+ なる
Let’s take a look at an example using this JLPT N5 grammar!
暗くなる前に、電気をつけましょう。 Kuraku naru mae ni, denki o tsukemashou. Before it gets dark, let’s turn on the lights.
22. ～たことがある (~ta koto ga aru)
“～たことがある” is a Japanese grammatical expression that conveys the experience of having done something or having a certain experience in the past. It is used to indicate that an action or event has occurred at least once in a person’s life.
The structure “～たことがある” is like this:
Past tense form + こと + ある
If you conjugate ある into its negative form, the sentence will change the meaning into, “I have never been (action).”
Let’s take a look at an example using this Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 grammar!
ヨーロッパに行ったことがありません。 Yooroppa ni itta koto ga arimasen. I have never gone to Europe.
23. や (ya)
“や” is used to list multiple items or examples without specifying an exhaustive or complete list. It is very similar to the grammar と (to), which also means “and”, but や implies that there are other items that could be included — identical to “etc”.
To use this, you just have to add や after a noun: Noun + や + Noun + や
For example:
私は動物園でライオンやゾウを見ました。 Watashi wa doubutsuen de raion ya zou o mimashita. In the zoo, I saw lions and elephants.
24. ～たり …～たりする (~ tari … ~tari suru)
The grammar pattern “～たり … ～たりする” in Japanese is used to list multiple actions or states in a non-exhaustive manner. It indicates that the actions or states mentioned are just a few examples among many possibilities.
It has a similar meaning to や that we explained above, but instead of a noun, this is typically used to indicate actions.
Verb-た
りする
Noun
だったりする
い-adj
いかったりする
な-adj
だったりする
For example:
彼は週末に映画を見たり、友達と遊んだりすることが好きです。 Kare wa shuumatsu ni eiga o mitari, tomodachi to asondari suru koto ga suki desu. He likes to watch movies and play with (his) friends on the weekends.
In this sentence, the speaker mentions watching movies and hanging out with friends as examples of activities the person likes to do on weekends. However, it doesn’t mean these are the only activities they engage in; there could be other things they do as well.
25. V stem + たいです (~tai desu)
Next, someone who is a beginner Japanese student should also know how to express desire or wish to do something. This is where “Verb + たいです” in Japanese is used to express a desire or a wish to do something. It is used when you want to convey that you want to do a certain action or engage in a certain state.
To make this grammar point, cut the ます from the ます form of verbs and add たい.
English
Dictionary Form
ます form (polite)
たい form
To eat
食べる
食べます
食べたい
To see
見る
見ます
見たい
To buy
買う
買います
買いたい
To go
行く
行きます
行きたい
To do
する
します
したい
26. つもりです (tsumori desu)
To speak about your plans or intentions, you can use つもりです (tsumori desu). The grammar point “tsumori” is a Japanese construction used to indicate one’s intention or plan to do something. It is often translated as “intend to” or “plan to” in English. The structure is formed by attaching the verb’s stem or the noun to the stem of a verb followed by the auxiliary verb “tsumori” (つもり).
Note: The difference between “tsumori” (つもり) and “verb-tai desu” (verb-たいです) lies in the nuance of expressing intention or desire. Verb-tai desu” is used to express one’s personal desire or preference to do something. On the other hand, “tsumori” is used to express one’s intention or plan to do something. It implies a stronger commitment or determination to carry out the action.
Structure:
Verb (dictionary form) + つもり
Verb (ない form + つもり
For example:
高校を卒業して専門学校に入学するつもりです。 Koukou o sotsugyou shite senmongakkou ni nyuugaku suru tsumori desu. After I graduate high school, I intend to join a vocational school.
27. がほしい (ga hoshii)
In Japanese, the phrase “noun + ga hoshii” is used to express a desire for something.
Noun + が + ほしい
It’s important to note that the adjective “hoshii” always follows the noun it modifies and agrees with the subject of the sentence marked by “ga.” For example:
ケーキがほしい。 Keeki ga hoshii. I want cake.
28. あとで (ato de)
In Japanese, “あとで” (ato de) is an expression used to indicate that something will be done or happen at a later time. It is often translated as “later” or “afterwards” in English. Let’s break down its grammar:
Verb (た form) + あとで
Noun + の + あとで
For example:
食事のあとで、映画を見ましょう。 Shokuji no ato de, eigo o mimashou. After a meal, let’s watch a movie!
29. ～すぎる (~sugiru)
The grammar structure “~sugiru” in Japanese is a useful construction that conveys the idea of exceeding a certain limit or going too far. It is commonly attached to the stem of verbs or adjectives to express actions or states that are excessive or beyond what is expected or desired.
“前に” (mae ni) is a Japanese phrase that translates to “before” or “prior to” in English. When combined with a verb, the phrase that uses “前に” (mae ni) expresses that the action took place before a certain point in time or event.
Noun + 前に Verb plain form + 前に
Here are some examples:
バスに乗る前にチケットを買っておく。 Basu ni noru mae ni chiketto o katte oku. Buy the ticket before getting on the bus.
What’s next after learning these essential JLPT N5 grammar points? Learn must-know grammar points for other JLPT levels!
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What is JLPT N5?
A1: JLPT N5, or Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5, is the first level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It assesses basic Japanese language skills and is suitable for beginners.
What are some common JLPT N5 grammar points?
Some common JLPT N5 grammar points include:
です (desu): A polite copula used for sentence endings.
は (wa): A particle used to mark the topic of a sentence.
が (ga): A particle used to mark the subject of a sentence.
ですか (desu ka): A polite question-ending expression.
の (no): A particle used to indicate possession or describe a noun.
How can I use the grammar point です (desu)?
The grammar point です is used to form polite sentences in Japanese. It is commonly used to state facts, describe things, and make general statements. For example: 私は学生です (Watashi wa gakusei desu) means “I am a student.”
When should I use ですか (desu ka)?
ですか is a polite question-ending expression. It is used to form yes/no questions in Japanese. For example: これはペンですか (Kore wa pen desu ka) means “Is this a pen?”
What does the particle は (wa) indicate?
The particle は is used to mark the topic of a sentence. It indicates the main subject or theme being discussed. For example: 私は日本人です (Watashi wa nihonjin desu) means “As for me, I am Japanese.”
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In Japanese grammar, に比べて (ni kurabete) is used to compare things, places, or experiences. After all, comparing something is an action we do all the time, even if it’s just in our minds. How else would you be able to hold up those days when you knew zero Japanese against now when you can have engaging conversations? How would we determine pressing matters like whether the last Japanese summer managed to be more humid than the previous one? It’s all in the comparison.
To put those A is better than B thoughts into Japanese words, you’ll need に比べて (ni kurabete). With this Japanese grammar point, you can talk about differences, similarities, preferences and just about anything that requires you to evaluate items.
比べる is a ~る verb meaning to compare two or more items. This verb is conjugated in the usual way of verbs in this group. You take away the る and add the new ending.
For 比べる, this is what this looks like:
比べます (kurabemasu)
Polite form
比べる
比べた (kurabeta)
Past tense
比べない (kurabenai)
Negative Plain form
比べて (kurabete)
Te form
As you can see, the 比べ part of the verb remains unchanged in the conjugated forms. As you can probably also see, the point we are discussing here uses the て form of the verb. You can refresh your memory of how to make the て form of Japanese る verbs before moving on to the next section.
We’ve actually made a YouTube video breaking down how to use に比べて (ni kurabete), so if you are more of a visual and audio learner who needs to something more interactive, we recommend watching it!
Breaking Down に比べて (Ni Kurabete)
The particle に is placed before the て form of 比べる. Japanese particles can boggle your mind. In this case, it’s best to think of に+比べて as a set. You might imagine the に to mean something like ‘with’ or ‘to’. If you want to go a bit deeper into the function of に in this construction, you could say that に is indicating the result of the comparison. Let’s look at a few examples.
Example Sentences of に比べて (Ni Kurabete)
一年前に比べて、今は日本語が上手です。 Ichinen mae ni kurabete, ima wa nihonogo ga jouzu desu My Japanese is better now than it was a year ago.
去年に比べて、今年は暑いです。 Kyounen ni kurabete, kotoshi wa atsui desu. Compared to last year (summer), this year is hotter.
アメリカに比べて、日本は小さいです。 Amerika ni kurabete, nihon wa chiisai desu. Compared to the United States, Japan is small.
In all of these examples, a noun comes before に比べて. This is one of the two things being compared.
Structure: Noun +に比べて
You’ll notice that a second noun comes in the latter half of the sentence, followed by the specific aspect and result (adjective) of what’s being compared (上手、暑い、小さい).
The second half of the sentence could almost stand on its own. In fact, in spoken Japanese, the form is often inverted and に比べて part of the sentence is added after the ‘second half’.
Examples of Inverted Form for The Use of に比べて (Ni Kurabete)
今は日本語が上手です (一年前に比べて）。 Ima wa nihongo ga jouzu desu (ichinen mae ni kurabete). My Japanese is good now (compared to a year ago).
今年は暑いです（去年に比べて）。 Kotoshi wa atsui desu (kyonen ni kurabete). This year is hot (compared to last year)
日本はちいさいです （アメリカに比べて）。 Nihon wa chiisai desu (amerika ni kurabete). Japan is small, compared to America.
Variations of に比べて: と比べて、に比べると、と比べると
These common variations all mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably.
と比べて
To kurabete
The particle と replaces に
に比べると
Ni kuraberu to
The verb remains in its plain form and the particle と
と比べると
To kuraberu to
The particle と is added before and after the plain form of the verb.
Example sentences
一年前と比べて、今は日本語が上手です。 Ichinen to kurabete, kyou wa nihongo ga jouzu desu. Compared to a year ago, my Japanese is better now.
去年に比べると、今年は暑いです。 Kyonen ni kuaberu to, kyonen wa atsui desu. Compared to last year, this year is hotter.
アメリカと比べると、日本は小さいです。 Amerika to kuraberu to, nihon wa chiisai desu. Compared to the United States, Japan is small.
A Similar Grammar Point to に比べて: – 方, ～より (- hou, ~ yori)
You might have come across this grammar point before. It can also be used to compare things, to say A is more something-something than B.
Aの方がBより美味しいです。 A no hou ga B yori oishii desu. A is more delicious than B.
Example Sentences for – 方, ～より
今の方が一年前より日本語が上手です。 Ima no hou ga ichinen mae yori nihongo ga jouzu desu. My Japanese is better now than it was a year ago.
北海道の方が九州より寒いです。 Hokkaidou no hou ga kyuushuu yori samui desu. Hokkaido is colder than Kyushu.
This form can also see the より phrase coming at the beginning of the sentence. This does not change the meaning of the sentence at all.
一年前より、今の方が日本語が上手です。 Ichinen yori, ima no hou ga nihongo ga jouzu desu. My Japanese is better than it was a year ago.
Conclusion
When it comes to comparing in Japanese, remember に比べて. It is a commonly used form that just needs a noun before and a noun and adjective after it. Once you get comfortable, you might find yourself switching things up, going instead for と比べて、に比べると and と比べると, which are all used in the same way.
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FAQs
Can I use に比べて to compare more than two things?
Most certainly. As long as those things are in two groups. So you might say, タイ料理と中華料理は日本料理にくらべて、辛いです. (Thai food and Chinese food are spicier than Japanese food.) You’ll see that タイ料理and中華料理 function as one noun.
Can I use に比べて in formal situations?
Yes. This is a flexible form that can be used with bosses and friends. Of course, you’ll need to adjust things like your sentence endings to reflect the right level of formality. You can also use it in writing, everything from social media posts to business emails in Japanese.
What JLPT level is this に比べて?
This is considered intermediate N3-level grammar. Even if you’re not ready to take N3 or you’ve passed it, it’s still helpful to get familiar with or review this widely used grammar point.
Where can I find more example sentences using に比べて?
It’s always good to have a grammar dictionary on hand that you just flip through when you have any questions. This series runs from basic to advanced and has loads of example sentences and notes for each grammar point.
How do you use に比べて (ni kurabete)?
In Japanese grammar, に比べて (ni kurabete) is used to compare things, places, or experiences. You would say, “A に比べて, B ….” (compared to A, B is…)
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Staring at a textbook to study for the JLPT can get tedious… Right?
Well, you’re in luck, because Coto is now offering a FUN self-study course to help you prepare for the JLPT N4 Exam and break up the monotony… all for FREE!
The new JLPT N4 YouTube Video Grammar Course features short and easy to understand videos made by our own teachers at Coto, as well as interactive quizzes testing your knowledge on each subject.
Throughout this course, you can learn the meaning of important grammar points commonly included in the JLPT N4 Exam and master how to use them correctly in sentences.
Examples of grammar points covered in the course
Each topic contains a YouTube video explaining the meaning and nuance of a particular grammar point. In each video, our teachers also teach you how to make sentences using the grammar point and introduce simple example sentences to give you a better understanding.
Video example
After you’ve finished watching the video and reviewed its contents, you can take a short “Review Quiz”! This quiz aims to test your understanding of the grammar point. You can take the quizzes for each topic to ensure that you correctly understood the meaning of the grammar point and how to incorporate it into your sentences.
Review quiz example
The Free JLPT N4 YouTube Video Grammar Course offers you a simple but effective way to familiarize yourself with important grammar points likely to be featured on the JLPT N4 exam with just a few easy steps.
In English, we often use “whether or not~” in various contexts. But do you know how to express this phrase in Japanese?
Whether or not you know how, in today’s blog we examine the JLPT N4 grammar point: 〜かどうか – meaning “whether or not”. This is a useful word to know as it has different uses in the Japanese language.
First watch Yuka-sensei explain it in the video above, and then recap with this companion blog!
How to Use the JLPT N4 Grammar Point: 〜かどうか (whether or not~)
As stated in the introduction, this JLPT N4 grammar point simply translates to “whether or not” in Japanese: 〜かどうか. It can also be translated to mean “I don’t know if~”.
The form is:
Short form + かどうか + わかりません
At the end of the sentence, there are other words you can swap out with わかりません。These include: 覚えていません (I do not remember), 忘れました (I forgot), まだ決めていません (mada kimete imasen), and other words like these.
Let’s look at some examples!
Example 1
A: 今年の夏休みに旅行に行きますか？ kotoshi no natsu yasumi ni ryokou ni ikimasu ka?
Are you going to travel anywhere this summer?
B: 旅行に行くかどうかまだ決めていません。
ryokou ni iku ka dou ka mada kimete imasen.
I haven’t decided yet whether or not I will travel.
In this example, Yuka-sensei obviously does not know yet if she will travel for the summer or not.
Another way of translating this is: “I haven’t decided if I will travel or not yet.”
Let’s look at another example.
Example 2
今年、JLPTを受けるかどうか分かりません。 kotoshi, JLPT o ukeru ka dou ka wakarimasen.
I don’t know whether or not I will take the JLPT this year.
Here, Yuka-sensei is asked if she will take the JLPT this year or not. But she doesn’t know!
This is why she replies with “I don’t know whether or not / 〜かどうか分かりません.”
The sentence structure is quite simple. The short form verb JLPTを受ける “to take the JLPT” followed by 〜かどうか分かりません “I don’t know whether or not~”.
Most likely, however, she won’t need to take it as a native speaker 😉
So we have figured out verbs – but what about adjectives?
Example 3
便利かどうか分かりません。
benri ka dou ka wakarimasen.
I don’t know whether or not it is convenient.
便利 (benri) – “convenient” – is a な adjective. Typically な adjectives are followed by だ. However to use them with 〜かどうか, omit だ.
This rule applies for nouns as well.
Ex: 無料かどうか (whether it is free or not).
We have yet another JLPT grammar blog post for you! In this article, we review Nami-sensei’s video on how to use the JLPT N4 grammar point: ながら (Nagara) meaning “while”.
You may have read some of our previous blogs about the English word “while”. However, as you are probably aware, there are different translations for some English words into Japanese! Such as “during” (JLPT N4), and “while you are there~” (JLPT N3). If you want to review those other words – go right ahead!
This grammar point ながら (nagara) is used to describe doing 2 actions at once. Specifically, it means doing one thing “while” (nagara) doing another. The direct translations are: while; during; as; simultaneously.
The action order is very important for using this grammar point. The less important of the two actions is the first one, while the most important goes second.
The sentence structure is: action A ながら action B.
A is the least important of the 2, while B is the more important one.
The form is: ます form verb, replace ます with ながら + Action B.
Let’s look at some examples.
Example 1
ネットフリックスを見ながら、ビールを飲みます。
nettofurikkusu o minagara, biiru o nomimasu.
I watch Netflix while drinking beer.
In this example from the video above, Nami-sensei is obviously describing doing these 2 actions at the same time. But for her, the more important action is drinking beer – which is why this action goes at the end of the sentence.
Nami-sensei enjoys Netflix, but she REALLY likes beer. So for her, Netflix is secondary → ネットフリックスを見ながら…
But say you wanted to switch it up? Maybe drinking beer is not as important for you as watching Netflix.
Easy:
ビールを飲みながら、ネットフリックスを見ます。
Let’s look at another example.
Example 2
大学に行きながら、COTOで仕事をします。 Daigaku ni ikinagara, COTO de shigoto o shimasu.
I go to school (university) while working at Coto.
In this example, you can see that ながら can also be used for a longer timespan – and not just simultaneous actions. Nami-sensei works at Coto every week from Monday to Wednesday, and she goes to university every Thursday and Friday.
For her, working at Coto is more important than her university – so the action of going to school goes first.
大学に行きながら…
As you can see, this is an action that can span out across many months. So this grammar point is not restricted to just short term actions.
We have new a JLPT N3 grammar blog for you! Do you know the Japanese word 切る-kiru? It’s a verb meaning “to cut” – but it also has another meaning as a JLPT N3 grammar point.
In the video above, Nami-sensei shows us how to use the JLPT N3 grammar: 〜切る meaning, “to do completely; to do to the end”.
This Japanese grammar point is used at the end of a clause or phrase. As stated above, 〜切る (~kiru) means to do something completely, or to do something all the way/until the end.
The form is:
ます form verb, ます + 切る／切ります
Likewise, this can also be used in the negative: 切らない／切りません.
Let’s look at how to use it by examining some of Nami-sensei’s examples!
Example 1
昨日買った本を1日で読み切りました。
kinou katta hon o ichinichi de yomi kirimashita.
I read the book I bought yesterday in one day.
In this example, Nami-sensei bought a brand new book – because she loves reading books!
And she read the whole book in 1 day – 1日で読み切りました。
So to conjugate: 読みます (to read – ます form) → 読みます + 切り
Past tense: 読み切りました
Quite straightforward! Let’s look at another example.
Example 2
たくさん注文したので、全部食べきれませんでした！
takusan chuumon shita no de, zenbu tabe kiremasen deshita!
I ordered so much and wasn’t able to eat it all!
In this example from the Youtube video above, Nami-sensei ordered ramen – and she loves ramen!
However, she bit off more than she could chew, and couldn’t eat it all. 全部食べ切れませんでした。
Because 食べる is a group II verb, converting it to ます form involves just replacing the る ending. Remove ます and add 〜切る and you get 食べ切る.
