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!

Study the JLPT Smarter with Coto Academy!

Are you planning to take the JLPT this July or December? While self-study is a great start, the JLPT is notorious for its strict time limits and tricky reading sections. Coto Academy students have a 35% higher pass rate than the national average, thanks to our proven JLPT Prep Course. We offer two flexible options: a year-round JLPT course and an intensive 3-month sprint course timed perfectly before test day. What makes these classes stand out is the teachers, who specialize in teaching JLPT. They will give you tips and techniques you simply won’t get from self-study.

Here, you will learn everything, including mock tests, reading practices, and explanations on Japanese grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and more! Join our class today!

1. だ/です (da/desu)

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.

Check out: 20 Japanese N5 Textbooks to Ace JLPT 2022

11. ないでください (naide kudasai)

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).

This sentence structure is particularly handy when you are talking about your hobbies and interests in Japanese. Take a look at a few examples below!

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:

(Category) + のなかで + option + がいちばん + adjective + です

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.

Verb ます (stem form) + すぎる
な-adjective + すぎる
い-adjective い + すぎる

30. 前に (mae ni)

“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!

• 20 Must-Know Grammar Points for the JLPT N4!
• 20 Must-Know JLPT N3 Grammar Points!
• 20 Must Know Grammar Points for the JLPT N2!

Ready to Pass the JLPT 2026? Join JLPT Lessons at Coto Academy!

If you’re thinking of taking the JLPT again or aiming for a higher level to boost your career in Japan, give yourself the best possible chance of success. Coto Academy students enjoy a higher pass rate than the national average thanks to our focused JLPT preparation courses.

Join Coto Academy’s highly popular JLPT prep course! Taught in Tokyo by experienced instructors who specialize in the JLPT, this course gives you the strategies, practice tests, and structured study approach to master every part of the exam. With expert guidance and proven methods, you’ll walk into your next JLPT feeling confident and ready to pass.

Currently, we offer:

• Special in-person JLPT Prep Course in Tokyo and Yokohama
• Online JLPT lecture course

Contact us for a Japanese-level check and a free consultation on the best JLPT prep course for you!

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.”

How can Coto Academy help me learn Japanese?

From preparing JLPT to doing conversation practices, Coto Academy has differnent Japanese language courses that is tailored to differen needs. We are located in Shibuya, Iidabashi (Tokyo), and Yokohama. If you woud like to learn Japanese effectively in a small, fun class, contact us for a free level check and interview!

When I arrived in Japan in January 2019, I barely knew Japanese. However, I was determined to learn the language as I thought life would be so much fun and easier if I was able to do basic communication with the locals. I could order food by myself, I could ask for directions if I got lost or I could understand anime without subtitles. 

I have read plenty of books, used different websites and applications, taken some classes, as well as used various methods to study Japanese. Fast forward to now, I have finally passed JLPT N2. Even though I still have much more to learn, I feel like I have more confidence to communicate in my daily life and I’m glad that I decided to take the exam last December.

In this article, I will write about how I prepared for the exam in the past year, how I did on the actual test day and what I (or anyone who plans to take an exam) can do to improve the chance of passing JLPT N2.

This article is part of our Ultimate Guide to Passing the JLPT N2.

Why I Took JLPT N2?

In the beginning, I tried to find the best motivation to learn Japanese and I decided to take the JLPT exam because I could study regularly, took the exam and saw the result of my hard work. By the time of December 2020, I passed N3. My kanji, vocabulary and grammar were okay, however, my listening and speaking skills didn’t reach the level I wanted them to be so I decided to put N2 on hold and focused on other skills instead.

I was constantly checking LinkedIn and realized that most Japanese companies require a minimum N2 level

By the end of 2021, I was working at home for 2 years due to the pandemic and I reached the point where I was so done with my repetitive life. I was constantly checking LinkedIn and realized that most companies require a minimum N2 level for jobs in Japan (check out other job-hunting websites here), so I decided it might be time to get back to studying for JLPT again.

How I Studied for JLPT N2

When I prepared for JLPT N2, I was mostly studying by myself at my own pace using different resources. I normally have different textbooks in one study session such as grammar, vocabulary, kanji and reading books. I usually read one chapter (which can be around 3-4 pages) of each book per day when I have free time during work or after work hours. For me, the weekend is my cheat day so I don’t really study Japanese because I think studying every day can be too tiring.

Learning JLPT N2 Grammar

My office has offered a Japanese class for one hour per week and we used TRY! JLPT N2 Grammar (TRY! 日本語能力試験 N2 文法から伸ばす日本語). I mainly use this book because the design of the book is simple and looks easy on the eyes. Each grammar point is separated nicely with an English explanation and some cute pictures. I didn’t feel overwhelmed when I read the book and it encouraged me to study the whole chapter outside of the class without feeling too tired. I also like this book because it contains a bit of everything. You can do some grammar, reading, and listening exercises at the end of each chapter.

On the other hand, I also used the famous New Kaizen Master Grammar JLPT N2 (新完全マスターN2文法). This book contains so many grammar points which probably cover everything you need to know for the exam. However, all the explanations are in Japanese and sometimes I even needed to use google translate to understand what they are saying in the book. It was very useful but it took a lot of time to study this book and I found it a little bit too intense. 

Check out: 20 Must-Know Grammar Points for the JLPT N2!

Leaning JLPT N2 Vocabulary and Kanji

I have been using Wanikani since the beginning of my Japanese learning. This app teaches kanji and vocabulary using repetitive and mnemonics methods. You learn the radicals, the kanji that use these radicals and the vocabulary that uses these kanji. Then, you review the lesson repetitively until you pass to the next level and the cycle continues. 

By the time I prepared for N2, I had already reached level 35 and luckily the kanji in these levels are in the N2 exam. The method they use is a great help for memorizing. The only downside of Wanikani is that you need to start from the beginner level because you can’t skip the level. So if you already know kanji, it won’t be fun to start learning from 一、ニ、三 again.

Besides the app, I also studied kanji from Kanji Master N2 (漢字 マスター N2). I like this book because the structure is simple. Each page is divided into categories and it has only 6 kanji with some vocabulary or simple example sentences so it was not too much to memorize in one day. The other book I used was 2500 Essential Vocabulary for JLPT N2 (はじめての日本語能力試験 N2単語2500). This book contains all the vocabulary you should know for the exam. Plus, I like the red sheet that you can put on the page to hide the vocabulary so you can review them later.

We have also provided samples of our N2 Kanji Worksheets at the below links! These are very useful as they give you an idea of some kanji that you will be tested on during the N2 exam. Click on the topic to download.

• Unit 1. JLPT N2 Kanji – Household Goods
• Unit 2. JLPT N2 Kanji – Body Parts
• Unit 3. JLPT N2 Kanji – Food Labels
• Unit 4. JLPT N2 Kanji – Recruitment and Jobs
• Unit 5. JLPT N2 Kanji – Signboards and Notice Boards

JLPT N2 Reading and Listening

Reading and listening are always my weakest points when it comes to studying for JLPT N2. I had struggled to finish the reading section of N3 exam so I decided that I need to practice reading more and bought Nihongo So-matome JLPT N2: Reading Comprehension (日本語総まとめ N2 読解). The book is already designed for you to read 2 pages a day for 6 weeks. It has different types of reading you will see in the exam and also includes some points that you should be careful about. It’s easy to read with some explanation and strategy to tackle the articles.

As for listening, I didn’t buy any books but I mostly just browsed the “JLPT N2 listening test” on YouTube. There are plenty of videos of the past exams online that I could practice with so I tried to do at least one video per day.

Check out: 15 JLPT N2 Books for Advanced Japanese Learners

Other Resources for N2 Study

After finishing the books for each skill set, I also review all my studies with Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2 Complete Strategy・Text & Practical Quest (一発合格！日本語能力試験Ｎ２完全攻略テキスト＆実践問題集). This book contains some explaining and practice for all of the skills so I could recap all of the vocabulary, and grammar as well as reading and listening comprehension one more time. I also bought some mock test books to prepare myself because it’s extremely important to be familiar with the test structure and time management.

Last month before the exam, I studied with Shin Nihongo 500 Mon (新にほんご500問). This book comes with 4-week study plans where you have to answer 3 sections (kanji reading, vocabulary and grammar) daily. On the 7th day of each week, you will have to answer the questions about what you have been learning so far that week. I felt like I could recap what I had learned and correct my mistakes. Moreover, the book is small and easy to carry anywhere.

Besides studying for JLPT, I also studied Japanese regularly with the Duolingo app. It is fun, easy and fast. It feels like I’m playing a game and learning something.

I also take Natural and Fluent Japanese Communication 1 and 2 as well as Japanese Explanation Training at Coto Academy. I would like to improve my speaking skill but the grammar points in these classes are around N2 and N3 levels so it felt like a recap for my JLPT preparation at the same time. Practicing them in conversation also helped me to remember easier which helped me quite a lot during the exam.

How I Did During the Exam

Even though you are well prepared for the exam, unexpected things can happen to throw you off and that was what happened to me on the actual exam day. I had arrived almost an hour before the exam time and there was a massive queue in front of the exam site. Due to some unknown issue, the examinees couldn’t enter the building and I was finally able to arrive at my seat 2 minutes before the exam started. Some people still entered the room 10 minutes after while the staff was explaining about the exam.

The N2 exam is divided into 2 sections: 105 minutes for language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar) and reading, and 50 minutes for listening. I started doing the exam while I was still kinda stressed out by the queuing situation. However, I did my best to calm down because I had no time to waste. During my N3 exam, I had barely finished the reading section so I knew that I had to power through the others as fast as I could.

My strategy was to answer what I knew. If I didn’t, I just let it go and I tried not to spend too much time thinking about it. Even if I don’t know, I would pick the answers that are most likely to be correct without leaving them blank because there was a chance that I didn’t have enough time to come back to answer them. I shaded the dubious answers lightly on the exam sheet so I could easily erase and change the answer later. If I didn’t have time to reread the questions, I could just easily shade them heavier in no time.

I was able to finish the vocabulary and grammar part within an hour. I couldn’t answer here and there but I just dove into the reading section. The first few parts were relatively short so I didn’t have much trouble. However the longer the articles were, the less concentration I had. By the end of the last few parts, I didn’t know what I was reading anymore. I tried to read the questions first and skim through the articles to find answers which saved me some time.

We had a short break so I rushed out of the room for a toilet as fast as I could to beat the long queue and came back for the listening section. The important thing is that they will play the audio one time only so you need to listen carefully and pick the answer right away because you won’t have time to come back as they will collect the answer sheet right after the audio ends.

The listening went well until some unexpected event occurred. During the part where I had to listen to short questions and 3 choices of responses. The audio played the question, then skipped the answer and played the next questions instead. The whole room was gasping and I assumed a lot of the examinees lost their concentration. The exam continued until the end but the staff decided to replay the missing answers and the next 2 questions. Once again, the answers to the second question were missing and they had to replay for the third round. By that time my brain didn’t function anymore and I was ready to prepare for another N2 exam.

My JLPT N2 Result 

I took the exam in December so the result came back at the end of January. In order to pass N2, you must score more than 90 points overall and more than 19 points in each section (language knowledge, reading and listening).

I passed N2 with a few scores above the passing score. Surprisingly I had the best score from the listening section. I received A and B on vocabulary and grammar respectively. On the other hand, I got the lowest score in the reading section as I expected and the score was actually a bit below 50% (but still more than 19 points).

Advice to Myself and Others who Want to Take the Exam

Even though my score isn’t very good, I have learned so much from this test, especially, I should be calmer and more relaxed when unexpected events occur. Moreover, I have some tips which I think might be helpful for test preparation.

Pick your own books

It’s great to find reviews and comments on which books you should buy for exam preparation because there are plenty of books out there. However, I think it’s important to go check the bookstore or find a PDF example online before buying anything. Everyone has different preferences. Some people like to read texts with a lot of explanations while some like to see various example sentences. You should pick the books that suit your style and you don’t feel like giving up after a few pages.

Do a lot of mock tests

One of the hardest things in the JLPT exam is time management. Even though you know everything, you can fail the test if you can’t finish the exam in time. It’s important to do a lot of mock tests to be familiar with the test structure so you know how much time you should spend on each section. You can learn which part you aren’t good at or which part you take too much time to do.

Find your weak point 

You can look at previous exams or mock tests and see which section you have the lowest score in. Then, you can focus on that particular section such as buying specific books that concentrate on that skill. My weakest point is reading so I try to focus on it. Besides reading more books, I also plan to take a News Reading class at Coto as well.

Conclusion 

There is a big gap between N3 and N2 but nothing is impossible. How I prepared for JLPT N2 might be different from other people, but I hope you find this article useful and encourage you to prepare for the examination. It’s important to learn with your own style and at your own pace. I hope you can find your favorite books or any other methods to study and good luck with the upcoming exam!

Looking to enhance your career prospects and take your Japanese language proficiency to the next level? Look no further than Coto Academy’s JLPT N2 preparation course! Our comprehensive online program is specifically designed to help you master the essential elements of the JLPT N2 exam, ensuring you have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.

Our online seminar-style lectures are structured to provide you with personalized attention and support, allowing you to work through the material at your own pace while listening to the lecture on the screen. Plus, if you prefer in-person learning, we also offer a fantastic JLPT prep course that provides you with face-to-face instruction and practical support.

Sign up today and take the first step toward your language learning goals!