Free Practice Questions for JLPT N4

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card

134+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test)

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Exam Review

Key Facts: JLPT N4 Exam

JLPT N4 requires a passing total of 90 out of 180 scaled points, with sectional minimums of 38/120 (Language Knowledge & Reading) and 19/60 (Listening).

The JLPT N4 exam spans 115 minutes across three sections: Vocabulary (25 min), Grammar & Reading (55 min), and Listening (35 min).

JLPT N4 has approximately 85 test items: about 28 in Vocabulary, 29 in Grammar & Reading, and 28 in Listening.

JLPT N4 is entirely multiple-choice — no speaking, writing, or production component exists at any JLPT level (N1–N5).

The Japan Foundation has published no official kanji, vocabulary or grammar list for the JLPT since the 2010 revision of the test.

The Japan Foundation's 2026 JLPT test-site list covers cities in more than 90 countries and regions outside Japan.

In 2026 the JLPT is held worldwide on Sunday, July 5 and Sunday, December 6, and many cities hold only one of the two sittings.

From the December 2025 test, an N4 total score of 90 or higher is shown as CEFR A2 on the score report, as reference information only.

JLPT N4 scaled scores are calculated using item response theory so that equivalent performance across different test sessions yields the same score.

The 2026 JLPT registration fee in the United States is USD 135 per level, set by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese.

JLPT N4 is an elementary-level, all-multiple-choice Japanese proficiency exam testing vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening. Passing requires 90/180 total with section minimums; held twice yearly by the Japan Foundation.

Sample JLPT N4 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the JLPT N4 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 134+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1つぎの　ことばの　よみかたを　えらんでください。「先週」

A.せんしゅう

B.らいしゅう

C.こんしゅう

D.まいしゅう

Explanation: 「先週」は「せんしゅう」と読みます。「先」は「せん」(before/previous) と読み、「週」は「しゅう」(week) と読みます。「先週」は last week という意味です。

2つぎの　ことばの　よみかたを　えらんでください。「図書館」

A.としょかん

B.びじゅつかん

C.はくぶつかん

D.こどもかん

Explanation: 「図書館」は「としょかん」と読みます。図（と）書（しょ）館（かん）= library という意味です。N4レベルの重要な単語です。

3つぎの　ことばの　よみかたを　えらんでください。「運動」

A.うんどう

B.うんてん

C.いどう

D.かつどう

Explanation: 「運動」は「うんどう」と読みます。exercise または physical activity という意味です。「運」(うん) は movement/luck、「動」(どう) は move を意味します。

4（　　）に　入る　ことばを　えらんでください。この　仕事は　むずかしいですが、（　　）おもしろいです。

A.なかなか

B.ときどき

C.たいてい

D.すこし

Explanation: 「なかなか」は「quite / pretty / fairly」という意味で、程度を表します。「なかなかおもしろい」は「quite interesting / pretty interesting」という意味です。難しいけれど、かなり面白いという逆接的なニュアンスに合います。

5つぎの　ことばと　にた　いみの　ことばを　えらんでください。「すぐ」

A.すぐに

B.はやく

C.もうすぐ

D.ただちに

Explanation: 「すぐ」は「immediately / right away / at once」という意味です。同じ意味の言葉は「ただちに」(immediately, formal) です。両方とも「遅れなく、直ちに」という意味を持ちます。

6つぎの　ぶんの（　　）に　いれるのに　いちばん　いい　ものを　えらんでください。ここに　車を　とめて（　　）いいですか。

A.も

B.が

C.を

D.に

Explanation: 「〜てもいいですか」は May I ~? / Is it okay to ~? という許可を求める表現です。「車をとめてもいいですか」= May I park my car here? 「も」が正しい助詞です。「てもいい」はN4の重要な文型です。

7つぎの　ぶんの（　　）に　いれるのに　いちばん　いい　ものを　えらんでください。彼女は　歌が　上手だ（　　）、ダンスも　できる。

A.し

B.が

C.けれど

D.から

Explanation: 「〜し、〜し」は複数の事実を列挙する時に使います。「歌が上手だし、ダンスもできる」= She's good at singing, and she can also dance. 「し」は良い点や特徴を並べる時の表現です。

8つぎの　ことばの　つかいかたとして　いちばん　いい　ものを　えらんでください。「こわい」

A.このスープはこわいです。

B.あの映画はこわかったです。

C.このケーキはこわくておいしいです。

D.先生のことばがこわくてわかりません。

Explanation: 「こわい」は「scary / frightening」という意味です。「あの映画はこわかったです」= That movie was scary. これが正しい使い方です。「こわい」は人や状況が恐ろしいという感情を表します。

9つぎの　ぶんの（　　）に　いれるのに　いちばん　いい　ものを　えらんでください。電車が　来る（　　）に　ホームに　出てください。

A.まえ

B.あと

C.とき

D.ながら

Explanation: 「〜まえに」は「before ~」という意味です。「電車が来るまえにホームに出てください」= Please go to the platform before the train arrives. 「Vる＋まえに」はN4の基本文型です。

10（　　）に　入る　ことばを　えらんでください。明日、雨が　（　　）かもしれません。

A.ふり

B.ふる

C.ふって

D.ふった

Explanation: 「〜かもしれません」は「might / may」という意味で、不確かな推量を表します。この形の前には動詞の辞書形（普通形）が来ます。「ふる」は「降る」(to fall/rain) の辞書形です。「雨がふるかもしれません」= It might rain tomorrow.

About the JLPT N4 Exam

The JLPT N4 is the second level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, administered jointly by the Japan Foundation (overseas) and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES, in Japan), with 2026 test-site cities listed in more than 90 countries and regions. N4 targets elementary learners who can understand basic Japanese used in everyday situations. The exam is entirely multiple-choice across three sections — Language Knowledge (Vocabulary), Language Knowledge (Grammar) & Reading, and Listening — with no speaking or writing. Scoring is scaled: 180 points are split into a Language Knowledge & Reading band (0–120) and a Listening band (0–60), and candidates must clear the overall pass mark of 90 as well as both sectional minimums (38/120 and 19/60). The test is held twice yearly; in 2026 the dates are Sunday, July 5 and Sunday, December 6, though many cities hold only one sitting. From the December 2025 test, score reports of successful examinees also show a reference CEFR level — A2 for an N4 total of 90 or above.

Exam sponsor: Japan Foundation & Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

85 questions

Time Limit

115 minutes total: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) 25 min, Language Knowledge (Grammar) & Reading 55 min, Listening 35 min.

Passing Score

90/180 overall, with section minimums of 38/120 (Language Knowledge & Reading) and 19/60 (Listening).

Exam / Certification Fees

Set by the local host institution. The 2026 United States fee is USD 135 per level (American Association of Teachers of Japanese). Check your own test city's host institution for its fee.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

~33% of items

Vocabulary

Kanji reading, orthography, contextually-defined expressions, paraphrases, and word usage — about 28 items in 25 minutes.

~25% of items

Grammar

Form selection, sentence composition (star questions), and text-level grammar — about 21 items. Key patterns: particles, conditionals (〜たら/〜と/〜ば/〜なら), passive (〜られる), causative, giving/receiving (あげる/もらう/くれる), permission, obligation.

~9% of items

Reading

Short passages (~100–200 characters), a mid-size text (~450 characters), and information retrieval from a notice (~400 characters) — about 8 items.

~33% of items

Listening

Task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, verbal expressions, and quick response — about 28 items in 35 minutes.

Preparing for the JLPT N4 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 90/180 overall, with section minimums of 38/120 (Language Knowledge & Reading) and 19/60 (Listening).
Exam length: 85 questions
Time limit: 115 minutes total: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) 25 min, Language Knowledge (Grammar) & Reading 55 min, Listening 35 min.
Exam / certification fees: Set by the local host institution. The 2026 United States fee is USD 135 per level (American Association of Teachers of Japanese). Check your own test city's host institution for its fee. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 134 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

JLPT N4: Suggested Study Strategy

1Build vocabulary systematically with spaced-repetition flashcards. Aim at the widely used ~1,500-word / ~300-kanji N4 target, but remember it is an unofficial reconstruction — pair it with released official sample questions.

2Master all N4 grammar patterns in both recognition and usage, paying special attention to conditionals (〜たら/〜と/〜ば/〜なら), passive voice, and the giving/receiving verb family.

3Practice reading real-world materials at N4 level: short emails, notices, schedules, and simple articles, always timing yourself to build reading speed.

4Train your listening every day with N4-paced audio — the JLPT Listening section cannot be improved by cramming vocabulary alone; your ear needs daily practice.

5Take official JLPT practice tests from the Japan Foundation's official workbooks under timed conditions to get accustomed to the exact format and pacing.

6Study to the section minimums, not the total: a strong Language Knowledge score cannot rescue a Listening score below 19/60, and Listening is a third of the items on the paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the JLPT N4 and who should take it?

The JLPT N4 is the second-easiest of the five Japanese-Language Proficiency Test levels. The organisers describe it as "the capacity to grasp foundational Japanese": reading passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji, and following everyday conversations spoken slowly. It suits learners who want to verify elementary Japanese for academic, immigration, or employment purposes. The familiar "300 hours, 300 kanji, 1,500 words" benchmarks are unofficial estimates — the Japan Foundation has published no kanji, vocabulary or grammar list since the 2010 revision of the test.

How is the JLPT N4 scored and what is the passing score?

The JLPT N4 uses a scaled scoring system based on item response theory. The total is 180 points split into two scoring sections: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) & Reading (0–120) and Listening (0–60). To pass, you need at least 90 total points AND a minimum of 38 in the Language Knowledge & Reading section and 19 in Listening. Missing either sectional minimum means failing even if your total exceeds 90. From the December 2025 test, score reports of successful examinees also show a reference CEFR level — an N4 total of 90 or higher is indicated as A2, for reference only.

How many questions are on the JLPT N4 and how long is it?

The JLPT N4 has approximately 85 questions across three sections totalling 115 minutes: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) has about 28 items in 25 minutes, Language Knowledge (Grammar) & Reading has about 29 items in 55 minutes, and Listening has about 28 items in 35 minutes. These are the counts that took effect with the December 2020 test, when N4 and N5 were shortened; older prep books still print the previous figures of 35 and 35. The organisers note the actual number may vary slightly between sessions.

When is the JLPT N4 offered in 2026?

In 2026 the JLPT is held on Sunday, July 5 (first test) and Sunday, December 6 (second test). Those are the dates worldwide, not just in Japan. Many cities outside Japan hold only one of the two sittings — the United States, for example, offers the December test only. Check the Japan Foundation's list of overseas test-site cities and local host institutions for your city.

What grammar patterns are tested on the JLPT N4?

Key N4 grammar patterns include: conditional forms (〜たら, 〜と, 〜ば, 〜なら), passive voice (〜られる), giving and receiving verbs (あげる, もらう, くれる, てもらう, てあげる), purpose expressions (〜ために, 〜ように), permission (〜てもいい), prohibition (〜てはいけない), obligation (〜なければならない), potential forms (〜ことができる), and modal expressions (〜かもしれない, 〜はずだ, 〜ようだ).

Is there a speaking or writing section on the JLPT N4?

No. The JLPT at all levels (N1–N5) is entirely multiple-choice. There is no speaking, writing, or production component of any kind. You will read questions and fill in bubbles on an answer sheet. The Listening section uses audio recordings and printed illustrations, but your response is always a multiple-choice selection.