Studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)? If you’ve been looking for resources for the N3 level, you’ve come to the right place! We have collected some grammatical points that you can expect to encounter in the actual exam.

As you know, there are 5 JLPT levels, N5 being the easiest and N1 as the most difficult. Historically, there were only 4 levels, where Level 4 was the easiest and Level 1 was the hardest. The old test aimed to assess people’s fluency with the Japanese language just as the JLPT we know today does. Back then, however, people seemed to struggle moving up from Level 3 to Level 2.

Thus, the Japanese Ministry of Education developed a new system in 2010, and renamed the levels as N5-N1 (where “N” can stand for “new” or “Nihongo”). They developed the N3 level to address the struggle. The ministry strictly conceals most information behind the making of the test, so we can only speculate that this level contains the more difficult Level 3 items and the easier Level 2 items of the old test.

JLPT Guide: Essential N3 Grammar Points

The JLPT is cumulative. If you’ve taken the N5 and N4 tests before, you should already have mastered different grammar points in those levels. You can expect them to show up on your N3 test here and there. If you’re jumping to the N3 level for your first time, you should review all basic grammar points covered in N5 through N4 on top of the transitional N3 lessons.

The N3 exam tests your knowledge of intermediate-level Japanese. This level really gets into conjunctions and discourse markers! Grammar in the N4 level may have more complicated nuances that are considered too simple for N2 level. N3 grammar covers these grammatical points as it pretty much bridges the higher N4 items with basic N2 lessons.

Many online grammar lists contain only the best estimates as there is no exact telling what shows up on the actual exam. In any case, we have gathered some significant grammar points that every N3 taker should master:

Part 1 – Similar Points

In this section, we list down some grammar points that can be confused with each other. These similar points may appear to have the same root word or same equivalent in English, but have subtle changes in nuance that are used in very different cases.

Kawari ni（代わりに）

Kawari ni is an expression for alternatives. You can use this with nouns, verbs, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives. This can mean “instead of” in the context of doing one thing over the other.
Examples:

今朝はコーヒーの代わりにお茶を飲んだ。
This morning, I drank tea instead of coffee.

今日は仕事へ車で行く代わりに自転車で行った。
Today, instead of driving, I rode a bike.

お箸がないので、その代わりにフォークを使う。
I have no chopsticks, so I’ll use a fork instead.

Ni kawatte（にかわって）

Ni kawatte is also an expression that can mean “instead of.” However, this is only used with nouns, and more often when people are the subjects of replacements. In other words, this is used when someone does something on behalf of another.
Examples:

出張中の部長にかわって、私がごあいさつさせていただきます。
Please accept my greetings in place of my boss, who is currently away on a business trip.

ロボットは人間にかわって、危険な仕事をする。
Robots do dangerous tasks in place of humans.

弟は、母にかわってご飯を作った。
My younger brother made dinner instead of my mom.

Ni taishite or ni taisuru（に対して・に対する）

Ni taishite or ni taisuru is used to express how a person or object is as it is with regard to something. This is combined with plain verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives. This can mean “in contrast to” or “in regard to.”
Examples:

こうした質問に対して、なんらかの答えがあたえられねばならない。
There must be answers (with regard) to these questions.

先日の会議では彼の説明に対して質問が集中した。
There were many questions about his explanation at the meeting the other day.

この学校では教師に対する要求が厳しいです。
This school has very high standards when it comes to its teachers.

Ni kurabete（に比べて）

Ni kurabete is used when comparing a noun’s action, condition, or behavior with that of another object, or even of itself. It can mean “compared to” or “in comparison to.”
Examples:

以前に比べて、彼の日本語は上手になった。
His Japanese is better than before.

春美の新しいコンピューターは、わたしの古いものと比べて動作がとても速い。
Harumi’s new computer runs much faster compared to my old one.

電話は手紙に比べて、早く情報を伝えることができます。
Phones can relay information faster than letters.

Bakari（ばかり）

Bakari means “only,” and is added to nouns and て-form verbs to express that someone does or there is “nothing but” those things. Depending on context, this can also express disappointment that there is “only” or “just” that thing.
Examples:

甘いものばかり食べると太ります。
You’ll gain weight if you only eat sweets.

娘はテレビばかり見ている。
My daughter just watches TV.

失うものはなく、得るものばかりだ。
There’s nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

Kiri（きり）

Kiri also means “only,” but only when used with nouns. When attached to casual verb forms, its English equivalent becomes “since.”
Examples:

一度きりの人生を大切に生きることだ。
We should cherish our lives because we only live once.

兄が朝出かけたっきりまだ帰ってこない。
My big brother hasn’t returned since he went out this morning.

彼女に会ったのは１回きりです。
I’ve only met her once.

Koto daことだ

Koto da means “should,” in the sense that you are giving suggestions or advice. It is attached after short forms of present tense verbs.
Examples:

悩みのあるときは、できるだけ頭脳を使わずに筋肉を使うことだ。
When you’re anxious, you should think less and use your muscles more.

無理をしないことです。
You shouldn’t overdo it.

辛抱することだ。おしまいには何もかもうまくいくよ。
Be patient. Everything will work out in the end.

Bekiべき

Beki also means “should,” but has a more obligatory nuance. It is also attached to short forms of verbs.
Examples:

すべての会社は、才能ある人材を育成すべきだ。
Every company must nurture talented people.

約束は守るべきだ。
You should keep your promises.

こうしたことはずっと前にやるべきだったわね。
I should have done this a long time ago.

Part 2 – Connective Points

This section contains grammar points that are found in-between or after statements.

Naze nara or nazeka toiuto（なぜなら・なぜかというと）

Naze nara or nazeka toiuto connects a resulting statement with its reason. This is the Japanese equivalent of “because” or “the reason is.”
Examples:

昔日本人は肉を食べなかった。なぜかというと、肉を食べることが仏教の教えに反したからだ。
Japanese people of the past didn’t eat meat because it went against Buddhist teachings.

仕事を辞めたくても辞められません。なぜなら、借金があるからです。
I cannot quit my job even if I want to because I have debts to pay.

彼は新しい背広とネクタイを買った。なぜかというと、就職の面接があるからだ。
He bought a new business suit and tie because he has a job interview.

Sono Kekka（その結果）

Sono kekka expresses the consequences of an action. It connects phrases together and is the equivalent of saying “as a result.”
Examples:

半年ダイエットを続けた。その結果、１０キロをやせた。
I stuck to my diet for half a year. As a result, I lost 10 kilos.

母は、人の何倍も努力した。その結果、仕事で成功した。
My mom worked much harder than anyone else. Thus, she prospered in her career.

投資が増える一方で、労働者は購買力を著しく抑制され、自分たちの作る製品すら変えなくなった。その結果起こったのが、大恐慌である。
As investments grew, the ability of workers to purchase the products they produced became severely constrained. The result was the Great Depression.

Darake（だらけ）

Darake is added after a noun to express that it covers something. It’s like saying that something is “full of” or “covered with” the said noun.
Examples:

汗だらけの顔。
A face covered in sweat.

歩道はひび割れたまま、ごみだらけになっていた。
The sidewalk was cracked and full of litter.

彼はそばかすだらけの顔が青白く見えた。
His freckled face turned pale.

Kuseni（くせに）

Kuseni is connected with plain verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives to express criticism or blame. The criticism comes after this grammar point, so it’s like saying “yet.” It can also mean “although” or “despite.”
Examples:

全然勉強しなかったくせに、試験に合格した。
They passed the test even though they didn’t study at all.

この部屋は狭いくせに家賃がすごく高い。
This room is small yet the rent is high.

田中さんはお母さんが日本人のくせに日本語が全然分からない。
Although Tanaka’s mother is Japanese, he doesn’t know the language.

Mama（まま）

Mama is connected to plain verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives to indicate that they remain as they are.
Examples:

鍵をかけないまま出かけてしまった。
I accidentally left without locking up.

わたしたちは黙りこくったまま、しばらく月をただ見あげた。
We remained silent as we looked at the moon for a while.

私はベッドに横たわったままで電話の対応をしていた。
I was answering calls while lying in bed.

Tabi Ni（たびに）

Tabi ni is added after nouns and dictionary forms of verbs. This expresses repetition in the sense that “each time” or “whenever” something happens or is done.
Examples:

友人は旅行に行くたびにお土産を買ってきてくれます。
My friend gets me a souvenir every time they travel.

この曲を聞くたびに、家族を思い出す。
I remember my family every time I hear this song.

日中に何度か、会見を行おうとするたびに、ジャックに強く止められた。
Several times today, Jack urged me to wait each time I tried to proceed with the conference.

Furi O Suru（ふりをする）

Furi o suru is a unique grammar point used specifically to express that someone is pretending or acting as if something is untrue. This is added after casual verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives.
Examples:

彼は政治について知っているふりをしているが、本当は知らないんだと思う。
He acts as if he knows about politics, but it doesn’t seem that way to me.

彼女は聞こえないふりをした。
She pretended not to hear.

時々、彼は会議中に居眠りをするが、わたしはただ見て見ぬふりをする。
Sometimes he naps during meetings, but I just pretend not to notice.

Part 3 – Points of Estimation

This section contains grammar points that express uncertainty, estimation, or guesses.

Kurai Or Gurai（くらい・ぐらい）

Kurai or gurai are used when describing an approximate amount of something, or when assessing the quality of an object. Either of these are added after casual verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives. People used to consider Kurai more formal over the colloquial gurai, but many agree that there are no distinctions in modern Japanese. English equivalents can be “approximately” or “to the extent of.”
Examples:

彼女は私と同じくらい背が高いんだ。
My girlfriend is about as tall as I am.

どのぐらい練習したんですか？
How long did you practice?

十分な睡眠を取ることは、良い栄養を取るのと同じくらい大切だ。
Getting enough sleep is just as important as getting good nutrition.

Ndatte（んだって）

Ndatte is used to express a quote, rumor, or something you might have heard. This is placed after casual verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives. It’s the equivalent of saying “I heard that…”
Examples:

試験の範囲は、教科書の100ページから150ページまでなんだって。
I heard that the exam will cover pages 100 to 150.

彼女は東京大学に合格したんだって。
I heard that she got into the University of Tokyo.

彼は結婚するんだって。
I heard he’s getting married.

Dakke（だっけ）

Dakke is used to express confirmation or recollection of information. Before adding this grammar point, you must convert nouns, adjectives, and verbs alike into their past forms.
Examples:

東京へ行くのは、来週だったっけ？
When were you heading to Tokyo, was that next week?

自己紹介したっけ？
Have I introduced myself yet?

あれ、わたし、さっき眼鏡をどこに置いたっけ？
Oh, where did I put my glasses?

Rashii（らしい）

Rashii is used after casual verb forms, nouns, and い-adjectives or な-adjectives to express something as far as the speaker knows or sees. This can mean “apparently” or “it seems like.”
Examples:

寝すぎるのは、体に悪いらしいです。
Apparently, oversleeping is bad for your body.

彼は部屋にいないらしい。
He doesn’t seem to be in his room.

遅刻するなんて彼らしくない。
It’s unlike him to be this late.

Gatai（がたい）

Gatai is added after stem forms of verbs to express that they are nearly impossible to do.
Examples:

彼の話は信じがたい内容だった。
His story was farfetched.

無知が許しがたい罪となる歴史的瞬間が迫っている。
It’s only a matter of time when ignorance is inexcusable.

子どもに対する犯罪は許しがたい。
Crimes against children are unforgivable.

Conclusion

If you’re studying for the N3 level JLPT, you should definitely check out books that specifically cater to test-takers. Any grammar book with N3 or JLPT on the cover is the best resource for this standardized test. Get your hands on as many of these as you can! There’s no telling which exact grammar points will appear on your test, so you better stay prepared.

Finally, remember to trust your Japanese skills. You can go through countless grammar listings online or in books, but the JLPT tests your fluency over your ability to memorize. Good luck!

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