Every essential N5 verb in one place — in both dictionary form and polite ます-form, grouped by meaning and verb type, with the rules for switching between them and fill-in-the-blank practice (answers included).

Study tips Here's a quiet truth about learning Japanese: the hard part isn't finding information — it's keeping going. Motivation fades, life gets busy, and one big study session now and then doesn't add up to much. What actually works is a rhythm: small daily habits, plus a lesson now and then to tie it all together. Here's one way to build that rhythm. Why take lessons A regular lesson does something self-study struggles with — it keeps you motivated and accountable. Beyond

Study tips Learning Japanese gets a lot easier with the right tools. Here are the ones we actually reach for — dictionaries, reading helpers, apps, and sites that make the language click. Most of them are free. Look things up in seconds Jisho — the dictionary most learners keep open in a tab. Search by English, kanji, or reading, or even draw a character you can't read. Free. 10ten Japanese Reader — a browser extension that shows a word's reading and meaning the moment you ho

Learning Japanese grammar is a key step for anyone aiming to pass the JLPT N4 level. This level builds on the basics and introduces new structures that help learners express themselves more clearly and naturally. Understanding these grammar points will make reading, writing, and speaking easier. This guide covers the essential N4 grammar points to know, with clear explanations and examples. Key Essential N4 Grammar Points At the N4 level, learners encounter grammar that conne

In Japanese you count with special counter words — つ, 個, 本, 匹, 枚 and more. A beginner guide to the most useful counters, the sound changes (ippon, sanbon, roppon), and what to do when you forget.

Order at any Japanese restaurant or café with confidence: the key phrases (sumimasen, ~o kudasai, osusume), for-here vs to-go, paying, and the etiquette that surprises visitors.

Japanese sentences are built backwards from English. Here are 6 key differences — SOV word order, particles, dropping the subject, and more — explained in plain English.

The JLPT N4 passive (受け身 / ~られる) in plain English: how to form られる by verb group, plus the direct, suffering, and objective passive — with clear examples.

The JLPT N4 causative-passive (使役受け身 / ~させられる) made easy: how to build it, the 飲まされる contraction and the -す exception, plus a clear form comparison.

The JLPT N4 causative (使役 / ~させる) explained simply: make vs let, the を/に particle rule for transitive and intransitive verbs, and させてください — with examples.

JLPT N5 How to say “also / too” — adding one more thing to what was said. Meaning も means “also / too / as well.” It replaces は, が, or を to say “this one, too.” Formation Noun + も (replaces は / が / を) 〜も〜も = both ~ and ~ Question word + も + negative = none / nothing Examples 私も日本語を勉強しています。 Watashi mo nihongo o benkyō shite imasu. — I'm studying Japanese too. コーヒーも紅茶も好きです。 Kōhī mo kōcha mo suki desu. — I like both coffee and tea. 今日は何も食べていない。 Kyō wa nani mo tabete inai. — I ha

JLPT N5 The particle for where an action happens and the means you use to do it. Meaning で marks the place where an action takes place, or the tool, method, or means used to do it. Formation Place of action: カフェで働く (work at a café) Means: 電車で行く (go by train) Tool / language: 日本語で話す (speak in Japanese) Examples 図書館で勉強します。 Toshokan de benkyō shimasu. — I study at the library. バスで学校に行く。 Basu de gakkō ni iku. — I go to school by bus. はしでご飯を食べる。 Hashi de gohan o taberu. — I eat ri

JLPT N5 One of the busiest particles — time, place of existence, destination, and more. Meaning に marks a point: a point in time, a place where something exists, a destination, or the target/receiver of an action. Formation Time: 7時に (at 7:00) Existence: 部屋にいる (be in the room) Destination: 東京に行く (go to Tokyo) Receiver: 友達に電話する (call a friend) Examples 毎朝7時に起きます。 Maiasa shichi-ji ni okimasu. — I get up at 7 every morning. 猫がソファの上にいる。 Neko ga sofa no ue ni iru. — The cat is on

JLPT N5 The particle that marks the object of an action — what the verb acts on. Meaning を marks the direct object: the thing that receives the action. It's written を but always read “o.” Formation Noun + を + [verb] Examples 毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。 Maiasa kōhī o nomimasu. — I drink coffee every morning. 週末に映画を見た。 Shūmatsu ni eiga o mita. — I watched a movie on the weekend. 日本語を勉強しています。 Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu. — I'm studying Japanese. ドアを開けてください。 Doa o akete kudasai. — Please open

JLPT N5 How to say something exists — “there is / there are.” Meaning “There is ~ / to have ~.” あります is for non-living things; います is for living things (people, animals). Formation Non-living: [place] に [thing] が あります Living: [place] に [person / animal] が います Negative: ありません / いません Past: ありました / いました Examples 机の上に本があります。 Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu. — There is a book on the desk. 公園に猫がいます。 Kōen ni neko ga imasu. — There is a cat in the park. 時間がありません。 Jikan ga arimasen. —

JLPT N5 The Japanese “is / am / are” — how to say “A is B.” Meaning です (polite) and だ (casual) link two things: “A is B.” They attach to nouns and な-adjectives. Conjugation Present: 学生です / 学生だ — is a student Negative: 学生じゃないです / 学生じゃない — is not a student Past: 学生でした / 学生だった — was a student Past negative: 学生じゃなかったです / 学生じゃなかった — was not a student Examples 私は日本語の先生です。 Watashi wa nihongo no sensei desu. — I am a Japanese teacher. ここは私のお気に入りのカフェだ。 Koko wa watashi no okiniiri no k

JLPT N5 How Japanese な-adjectives work — the describing words that need な and だ. Meaning な-adjectives describe qualities (quiet, convenient, kind). They behave more like nouns: they need な before a noun, and だ / です to finish a sentence. Conjugation Present: 静かだ / 静かです — is quiet Negative: 静かじゃない / 静かではない — is not quiet Past: 静かだった / 静かでした — was quiet Past negative: 静かじゃなかった / 静かではなかった — was not quiet Before a noun: 静かな部屋 (shizuka na heya) — a quiet room Examples この町はとても静かだ。 K

JLPT N5 How Japanese い-adjectives work — and how they change for negative, past, and more. Meaning い-adjectives end in 〜い and describe things (big, hot, fun). Unlike English, they conjugate by themselves — you don't add a separate “is” or “was.” Conjugation Present: 高い (takai) — is expensive Negative: 高くない (takakunai) — is not expensive Past: 高かった (takakatta) — was expensive Past negative: 高くなかった (takakunakatta) — was not expensive Before a noun: 高い店 (takai mise) — an expensi

JLPT N3 How to gently deny a conclusion someone might jump to — “it's not that ~.” Meaning “It's not (necessarily) that ~ / it doesn't mean ~.” Softly denies an assumption. Formation Verb / い-adj (plain) + わけではない な-adj + な / Noun + の + わけではない Examples 甘いものが嫌いなわけではない。ただ、控えているだけだ。 Amai mono ga kirai na wake dewa nai. Tada, hikaete iru dake da. — It's not that I dislike sweets — I'm just cutting back. お金がないわけではないが、無駄遣いはしたくない。 Okane ga nai wake dewa nai ga, mudazukai wa shitakuna

JLPT N3 How to mark the target of an action or attitude — or to draw a contrast. Meaning “Toward ~ / in response to ~,” or “in contrast to ~.” Directs an action/feeling at something, or contrasts two things. Formation Noun + に対して Modifying a noun: Noun + に対する + Noun Examples お客様に対して、いつも丁寧に話す。 Okyakusama ni taishite, itsumo teinei ni hanasu. — I always speak politely toward customers. 兄は外向的なのに対して、弟は内気だ。 Ani wa gaikōteki na no ni taishite, otōto wa uchiki da. — In contrast to m