You passed JLPT N5 — congratulations! Now comes the real challenge. N4 is where Japanese stops being a novelty and becomes a functional language. The jump from N5 to N4 is significant: roughly double the vocabulary (1,500 words vs 800), double the kanji (300 vs 150), and grammar that starts expressing complex ideas.
This study plan gives you a realistic 4-month path from N5 to N4, assuming 1-2 hours of daily study.
What N4 Requires
Vocabulary: Approximately 1,500 words (700 new words beyond N5) Kanji: Approximately 300 characters (150 new beyond N5) Grammar: 130+ grammar points (80 new beyond N5) Reading: Ability to read everyday texts written in basic vocabulary and kanji Listening: Understanding everyday conversations spoken at near-natural speed
Month 1: Foundation Building (Weeks 1-4)
Vocabulary (15 new words per day)
Focus on high-frequency N4 vocabulary by topic: daily routines, weather, health, shopping, directions, work, school. Use Anki or a spaced repetition app with an N4 deck. Review for 15 minutes each morning.
Weekly targets: 100 new words per week, with daily review of previous words.
Kanji (5 new kanji per day)
Learn kanji in context, not in isolation. For each new kanji, learn at least one vocabulary word that uses it. Focus on the most common readings (on-yomi and kun-yomi) for each character.
Month 1 target: 35 new kanji mastered with associated vocabulary.
Grammar (3 new points per week)
Start with the foundational N4 grammar: te-form applications (te imasu for ongoing actions, te mo ii for permission, te wa ikemasen for prohibition), tai-form for desires, and potential form for ability.
Practice: Write 5 sentences per grammar point using vocabulary you already know. This reinforces both grammar and vocabulary simultaneously.
Month 2: Acceleration (Weeks 5-8)
Vocabulary and Kanji
Maintain the pace: 15 words and 5 kanji daily. By the end of month 2, you should know approximately 900 of the 1,500 N4 words and 200 of the 300 kanji.
Grammar Deepening
Tackle conditional forms (tara, ba, nara, to), giving and receiving verbs (ageru, morau, kureru), and relative clauses. These are the grammar points that make N4 significantly harder than N5.
Reading Practice
Start reading simple Japanese texts: NHK News Web Easy (simplified news), graded readers at the N4 level, or manga with furigana. Aim for 15 minutes of reading daily.
Listening Practice
Listen to Japanese content designed for N4 level: Japanese Pod 101 intermediate lessons, N4 listening practice recordings, or slow Japanese podcasts. Aim for 20 minutes daily.
Month 3: Consolidation (Weeks 9-12)
Complete Remaining Material
Finish all remaining N4 vocabulary, kanji, and grammar points. By week 12, all material should be introduced at least once.
Practice Tests
Start taking N4 practice tests. The official JLPT practice workbooks are the gold standard. Time yourself strictly — the actual exam is time-pressured.
Identify weak areas: After each practice test, note which sections and question types caused the most difficulty. Spend extra study time on those areas.
Increase Reading Speed
The reading section is where most N4 candidates struggle with time. Practice reading passages and answering questions within strict time limits. Skim for key information rather than translating every word.
Month 4: Test Preparation (Weeks 13-16)
Full Practice Tests (Weekly)
Take one complete practice test per week under exam conditions: timed, no dictionary, no breaks between sections. Review every wrong answer thoroughly.
Targeted Weakness Review
Spend 70% of study time on your weakest areas identified from practice tests. Spend 30% maintaining your strengths.
Exam Strategy
Listening tips: Read the questions BEFORE the audio plays. This primes your brain to listen for specific information. Do not panic if you miss a word — listen for the overall meaning.
Reading tips: Read the questions first, then scan the passage for answers. Do not read the entire passage word-by-word. Manage time strictly — skip questions you cannot answer quickly and return to them.
Vocabulary and Grammar tips: If unsure, eliminate obviously wrong answers first. The correct answer often "sounds right" even if you cannot articulate the rule — trust your instincts from months of practice.
After N4: The Path Forward
N4 is a major achievement, but the journey continues. The JLPT levels from N5 to N1 each represent a significant step up. N3 is the intermediate plateau where many learners stall — having a clear plan prevents this.
For the big picture, follow our Japanese proficiency roadmap. Continue building kanji knowledge with our Japanese writing systems guide. Check JLPT mock test apps for free practice resources, and compare the best language learning apps to find tools that keep you motivated.