JLPT Grammar Points by Level: N5 to N1 Grammar List Complete Guide
Last updated: January 13, 2026
When learning Japanese JLPT, grammar forms the backbone of everything. Here's the thing: knowing which grammar points appear at each level helps you study way more efficiently than just randomly picking up textbooks. You can memorize 10,000 words, but if you can't understand how they connect in sentences, you're stuck. Let me break down what you'll face at each level, how the grammar difficulty scales, and which points actually matter for real conversation versus just passing the test.
JLPT N5 grammar: Your foundation
N5 sits at the beginner level with roughly 60 grammar points. These are the absolute basics you need for simple daily interactions.
You'll learn fundamental structures like:
- Desu (です) and da (だ) for basic statements. These copulas link subjects to descriptions or nouns. Example:
。
I am a student. - Particle usage dominates N5 grammar. Wa (は), ga (が), wo (を), ni (に), de (で), to (と), and others show relationships between words. The particle wo (を) marks direct objects:
。
I read a book. - Verb conjugations start here with present, past, and negative forms. Taberu () becomes tabemasu () in polite present tense, tabemashita () in past, and tabemasen () for negative.
- Basic time expressions using mae () meaning "before" and ato () meaning "after." Gohan no mae ni () means "before the meal."
- Simple desire patterns with tai (たい):
。
I want to go to Japan.
The N5 grammar list covers everyday survival Japanese. Pretty much everything here gets used constantly in actual conversation. If you're asking whether important grammar concentrates in earlier levels, absolutely yes for N5. You'll use these points daily.
JLPT N4 grammar: Building complexity
N4 adds another 100 or so grammar points on top of N5. The difficulty jumps noticeably here.
You'll encounter:
- Te-form applications beyond basic requests. Patterns like te iru (ている) for ongoing actions: Benkyou shite iru () means "I am studying." Also te kara (てから) for sequential actions:
。
After doing homework, I watch TV. - Conditional forms using to (と), ba (ば), tara (たら), and nara (なら). Each has subtle differences. Ame ga futtara () means "if it rains" with the implication of a specific hypothetical situation.
- Potential form for expressing ability: Oyogeru () means "can swim." This comes from the verb oyogu ().
- Comparative structures with yori (より):
。
This is more expensive than that. - Giving and receiving verbs like ageru (あげる), kureru (くれる), and morau (もらう) with their directional implications. Japanese tracks who benefits from actions, which English doesn't emphasize.
N4 grammar still sees frequent use in conversation. You're building the toolkit for expressing more nuanced thoughts. Most everyday Japanese uses N5 and N4 structures as the core.
JLPT N3 grammar: The critical middle ground
N3 represents a major milestone with approximately 120 grammar points total when combined with lower levels. This level separates casual learners from serious students.
Here you'll study:
- Formal expressions for business and polite situations using patterns like itasu () and gozaimasu (ございます). Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) is the polite "thank you" you already know, but N3 expands these keigo () honorific patterns.
- Causative and passive forms which combine subjects, actions, and who makes things happen. Tabesaseru () means "to make someone eat" while taberareru () means "to be eaten" or the potential "can eat" depending on context.
- Complex sentence connectors like no ni (のに) for contradiction, tame ni (ために) for purpose, and tokoro (ところ) for timing:
。
Even though I hurried, I was late. - Volitional expressions using you (よう): Tabeyou () means "Let's eat." Combined with other grammar, this creates phrases like you to suru (ようとする) meaning "try to do."
- Hearsay and quotation patterns with sou da (そうだ) and you da (ようだ):
。
I heard it will rain.
For those studying JLPT grammar, would you say important grammar points distribute evenly or concentrate in earlier levels like N5, N4, and N3? Definitely concentrated earlier. Probably 80% of what you hear in anime, daily conversation, and casual reading uses N5 through N3 grammar. The later levels add sophistication and formal registers.
JLPT N2 grammar: Advanced nuance
N2 includes around 200 grammar points. This level prepares you for professional environments and complex media.
You'll learn:
- Nuanced emotional expressions mono (もの), and tokoro (ところ) in various combinations:
。
There's no way you don't understand. - Concessive patterns like ni mo kakawarazu (にもかかわらず) meaning "despite" or "nevertheless":
。
Despite the rain, I went out.
The test scoring for N2 requires roughly 90 out of 180 points to pass, with minimum thresholds in each section. Grammar knowledge directly impacts your reading comprehension score since complex sentences use these structures constantly.
JLPT N1 grammar: Mastery level
N1 adds approximately 224 more grammar points, bringing your total knowledge to around 600 structures across all levels. This represents near-native proficiency.
Expect to study:
- Literary and classical expressions that appear in formal writing, legal documents, and classical literature. Patterns using archaic forms or highly formal registers.
- Advanced causal relationships with expressions like ga yue ni (がゆえに) meaning "precisely because" in formal contexts.
- Subtle modal expressions showing speaker attitude, certainty levels, and social relationships through grammar alone.
- Idiomatic set phrases that function as grammar points, often with meanings you can't deduce from individual words.
Practical study strategies for JLPT grammar
- Start with comprehensive grammar lists organized by level. Free resources exist online, though quality varies. Look for lists with Japanese example sentences, English translations, and explanations of when to use each structure.
- Create your own example sentences using new grammar points. Textbook examples help, but making personal sentences cements understanding. If you're learning tame ni (ために) for purpose, write: Nihongo wo benkyou suru tame ni, mainichi renshuu suru () meaning "In order to study Japanese, I practice every day."
- Practice distinguishing similar grammar. Make comparison charts for confusing structures. Write out the differences between node (ので), kara (から), and tame (ため) which all indicate reasons but with different nuances and formality levels.
- The test itself is divided into sections. Grammar appears explicitly in the language knowledge section, but also affects reading comprehension scores. You need to recognize structures quickly while reading passages under time pressure.
- Pass marks vary by level but generally require around 50% to 60% overall with minimum scores in each section. You can't bomb grammar and compensate entirely with vocabulary or listening.
- Lesson materials from established textbook series like Genki, Minna no Nihongo, cover grammar systematically. These textbooks align roughly with JLPT levels, though they teach for proficiency rather than test-taking specifically.
- Read extensively at your level. Grammar points stick better when you encounter them naturally in context. Find reading materials slightly above your current ability and work through them with a dictionary.
If you're serious about learning this stuff in context rather than just memorizing lists, Migaku's browser extension and app let you learn grammar naturally from real content. You can watch Japanese shows or read articles and instantly look up unfamiliar grammar patterns as you encounter them. Way more effective than drilling textbook examples. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.
Moving beyond JLPT grammar list
Here's my honest take: study grammar through the JLPT framework because it provides clear structure and progression. The level system works well for organizing your learning path. But don't study just to pass tests. Instead, immerse yourself in Japanese content extensively, because ultimately, you will need to go beyond the knowledge in textbooks and tests!
If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Use tests as your stepping stones!