JLPT
JLPT N4
日本語能力試験 N4にほんごのうりょくしけんNihongo Nōryoku Shiken N4Basic Japanese, complete
N4 certifies the ability to understand basic Japanese: passages on familiar daily topics written with basic vocabulary and kanji, and everyday conversations when spoken slowly. It marks the end of the beginner stage.
N4 builds directly on N5 and completes the grammar of a typical two-volume beginners' course. Learners at this level can handle routine situations in Japan, read simple notices and follow slow explanations.
N4 is also the first level with practical weight outside the classroom: it is one of the accepted language benchmarks for the Specified Skilled Worker (i) residence status, alongside the Japan Foundation's JFT-Basic test.
What N4 certifies
The official summary describes an N4 holder as able to read and understand passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji, and to listen to and comprehend conversations encountered in daily life, generally following their contents if they are spoken slowly.
Compared with N5, N4 adds plain forms, potential, volitional and conditional forms, giving and receiving verbs, passive and causative basics, and the first honorific and humble expressions.
Test format
As at N5, language knowledge and reading are scored together out of 120 and listening out of 60, and a candidate must reach both the overall pass mark and each sectional minimum.
| Part | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) | Kanji readings, spelling, word usage | 25 min |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar) · Reading | Sentence patterns, short and mid-length texts | 55 min |
| Listening | Everyday dialogues, tasks, responses | 35 min |
The five levels compared
Scaled scores run from 0 to 180 at every level. Vocabulary and kanji figures are commonly cited estimates based on the pre-2010 lists; the JLPT publishes no official lists.
| Level | Test time | Pass mark | CEFR reference (passers) | Kanji / words (common estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | 90 min | 80 / 180 | A1 | ≈ 100 / ≈ 800 |
| N4 | 115 min | 90 / 180 | A2 | ≈ 300 / ≈ 1,500 |
| N3 | 140 min | 95 / 180 | A2 or B1 | ≈ 650 / ≈ 3,750 |
| N2 | 155 min | 90 / 180 | B1 or B2 | ≈ 1,000 / ≈ 6,000 |
| N1 | 165 min | 100 / 180 | B2 or C1 | ≈ 2,000 / ≈ 10,000 |
Preparing for N4
The step from N5 to N4 is mostly one of volume: more kanji, more verb forms and longer listening passages. Learners who have finished a full beginners' course usually need focused review of verb conjugations and practice with the official sample questions. Reading short, graded texts builds the speed that the reading section demands.
Plain, potential, volitional, conditional (-ba, -tara), passive basics.
Everyday kanji for time, places, family, work and school.
Listening
Dialogues in which the answer depends on a change of plan or a small detail.
N4 and work in Japan
For the Specified Skilled Worker (i) status, the Immigration Services Agency accepts JLPT N4 or the JFT-Basic as proof of Japanese, together with a skills test for the sector. Requirements vary by sector and change over time, so the Immigration Services Agency's official pages are the reference.
Overview of Japan's working residence statuses.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to go from N5 to N4?
Many learners take roughly six months to a year of regular study, depending on hours per week and prior knowledge.
Is N4 enough to live in Japan?
It covers basic daily situations such as shopping, transport and simple conversations. Dealing with paperwork, work meetings or complex topics requires higher levels.
Is N4 required for any visa?
N4 or the JFT-Basic is one of the accepted Japanese-language benchmarks for the Specified Skilled Worker (i) status, alongside a sector skills test. Check the Immigration Services Agency for the current rules.
How many kanji are needed for N4?
There is no official list. Commonly cited estimates based on the old lists put N4 at around 300 kanji.
Related
Sources
- 1.N1-N5: Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level (opens in a new tab) — JLPT (The Japan Foundation / JEES)
- 2.Composition of Test Sections and Items (opens in a new tab) — JLPT (The Japan Foundation / JEES)
- 3.Scoring Sections, Pass or Fail, Score Report (opens in a new tab) — JLPT (The Japan Foundation / JEES)
- 4.Indication of the CEFR Level for Reference (opens in a new tab) — JLPT (The Japan Foundation / JEES)
- 5.Specified Skilled Worker (opens in a new tab) — Immigration Services Agency of Japan