Learning Japanese can be a lot of fun for kids. There are some fun words to pronounce, new things to describe and experience, and a unique skill to share with friends. It is also a great language for kids to learn because of the simplicity of the grammar at beginning levels, large number of loan words from English which will give English speaking kids an instant vocabulary to draw on, and how easy it can be to pronounce with just a little practice.

Japanese Vocabulary for Kids

A good place to start when teaching kids Japanese is to elicit some of the Japanese words they already know and show them the correct pronunciation. Words like “ninja” and “sushi” don’t require much practice at all. Words like “tofu” and “futon” only need the softer hu/fu sound of Japanese and a little look at how the vowels are pronounced. On the other hand, words like “karate” and “karaoke” are pronounced differently from the English.

After that, kids will be much relieved to hear that there are a lot of words from English that can be used in Japanese with a little change in the pronunciation. A lot of these words are foods, and it can be easy to start with them. Teaching kids to stretch out some of the Japanese vowels can be a lot of fun.

Kids enjoy nonsense words, and getting kids to say “hamburger” as hambaagaa—can be fun. There are lots of words from English and it can be a lot of fun for kids to learn the new pronunciations for them. It is important also to let kids know that not all English words will be understood in Japanese even when spoken with Japanese pronunciation. Also, not all foreign loan words come from English. Another fun group of words to cover with students are those that come from languages other than English such as “pan” for bread and “zubon” for pants. “Zubon” actually makes for a good lesson because while that word refers to pants such as long pants worn every day, “jiinzu” can be used to refer to jeans. The Japanese loan word “pantsu” however generally refers to underwear.

Another fun type of vocabulary for kids to learn are words that describe things that are not as common outside of Japan. These words tend to need a phrase in English to describe them, though a picture could be worth a thousand descriptive words in teaching it to kids. There are a myriad of food words – from sushi (sushi) to anko (sweet red bean paste) to takenoko (edible bamboo shoots), as well as animals, household words, and more.

The last type of word I would focus on for kids are adjectives. These are words that will help kids say what they want to say, increase their fluency, and allow them to explore the language and new vocabulary even further. Basic adjectives including ookii (big), chiisai (small), different colors, and flavors can also be a lot of fun to learn. You can use this picture if you would like the kids to locate some colors while providing a lesson on Japanese masks

Japanese Vocabulary Activities

A few activities for kids to practice Japanese words:
• The first way you can have a lot of fun with English loan words is by getting kids to guess what you are saying when you say them. There are obvious ones such as “resutoran” (restaurant) that the students might get quickly, but less obvious ones such as “kyabetsu” (cabbage), or “gareeji” (garage) that can require some guess work.
• Play the game known as “telephone” or “grapevine”. The students line up, and the first student receives a foreign loan word. They whisper it quietly to each other down the line until the last student in line has to guess the word and say it in Japanese pronunciation as well. If everyone does a good job of pronouncing it, everyone wins!
• There is a great game that came from an old Japanese quiz show called “Majikaru Zuno Pawa“(Magical Brain Power) in Japan for practicing vocabulary and quick thinking. The game can be slowed down to fit students of any level, or even allow students to work from a predetermined list of words. The game is called “Magical Banana” and the players start with a word and then have to take turns naming a related word without breaking the rhythm (which can be maintained by clapping or snapping one’s fingers). Players who say repeated words or words that are not really related to the previous one are out.
Here is an example:
fuyu (winter) – yuki (snow) – koori (ice) – mizu (water) – skyuba (scuba) – tanoshii (fun)
In the above example, the last person who said “tanoshii” would be out because it’s an opinion and not directly related. When playing with kids though, it could be best to just make sure that they are saying actual Japanese words and keep them coming. For beginning levels, you may even want to forget about having them say related words and just be satisfied if they can get a long string of Japanese words based on a general topic or theme.
• Another game inspired by the game show is “Majikaru Cheenji” (Magical Change). In this game, a word is used to start off the game and the last syllable of that word has to be used as the first syllable of the next word. Anyone ending a word with “n” is out because so few real words begin with the sound.
Here is an example:
banana (banana) – nashi (pear) – shinkansen (shinkansen / bullet train)…
In this case, the person who said “shinkansen” is out for ending with the “n” sound.
Here is another example:
nashi (pear) – shiitake (shiitake mushroom) – keeki (cake) – kimono (kimono) – …
.. and it can go on like that for a while.
• In the age of the internet, pictures abound and kids can easily find a visual to go along with words they are learning. Using pictures for kids to quiz each other on Japanese words can be a lot of fun. This is especially useful when working with some of the words that kids may not see too much outside of Japan such as “kotatsu” (a small, low table with a heating unit built into it), or “tatami” (tatami, or the woven straw mat used as flooring in many Japanese homes).
• Another great game for language learners to play is something like the popular game “taboo”, only for learners of a second language, there do not really need to be any taboo words established. They can look at pictures of different things and use words to describe them for their teammates to make guesses at.
• A related way to practice vocabulary is a foreign language game of 20 questions, done in small groups to keep the kids using Japanese
• An activity for very small kids is to have a lot of different useful images spread around the room and ask them to touch them when they match the word you said. If you say “Touch something blue,” for example, or “Aoi mono wo sawatte,” kids will dash around the room to find something blue to touch. Students can take turns saying what they should touch and practicing their Japanese speaking as well.

Using Japanese Words for Kids

The next step in mastering some of the Japanese vocabulary words kids are learning are to give them some simple sentences and letting them express themselves. One suggestion might be to teach them how to say the like (–ga suki desu) or don’t like (–ga suki janai) something.

Letting them quiz each other using pictures or drawings, and asking “Kore wa nan desuka?” to ask “What is this?”, and to answer saying “It is a Japanese radish,” using the proper pattern “Daikon desu,” can also be a great way to make activities more student-centered.

Simple sentences in Japanese are a great way for kids to get used to using and pronouncing Japanese and helping them increase their active vocabularies as well.

Conclusion and Helping Kids Learn Japanese

For kids interested in animation, manga, ninjas, samurais, martial arts, Japanese food, or other aspects of Japan, learning Japanese can be a great experience. When teaching a foreign language, it’s important to try and give kids a chance to be tactile or physical and actually handle real things from Japan and move around while learning, as well as to provide lots of opportunities for the students themselves to say the words, use them, and interact with each other. Using pictures, videos, rhythm, music, listening, speaking, and movement can be a great way to keep things interesting.

Kanji are characters, derived from Chinese, and adapted into written Japanese. They can be the greatest enemy of people learning Japanese for the first time, but the greatest friend to those who stick with the language. Students of all levels of Japanese can appreciate the beauty, function, and communicative power these characters carry. Many of them show a deeper meaning when broken into their parts, as evidenced by one of the characters for listen:

This particular kanji is often used to talk about “really listening”, as opposed to the common character for listening. “聞”. While the common way to write the “ki” part of “kiku” or “listen” has the character for “ear” (耳) incorporated, the more complicated and nuanced version of “ki” contains not only 耳, but also “eye” (目), and “heart” (心) as well. In two kanji characters that have the same pronunciation and basic meaning, one can be infused with a deeper meaning that would never be conveyed with only the phonetic hiragana or katakana renderings.

Learning kanji can take time, especially if you want to become proficient at handwriting them, not to mention the time it takes to master Japanese calligraphy (Shudo). It is however worth it when you can sit down with a newspaper or novel and breeze through it thanks to the power of a written language that can deliver deep meaning in a glance.

Painting the story in very broad strokes, Kanji came from China. It was brought back, along with Buddhism and some other things, and incorporated into the culture at a time when China was cool. It is not only modern Japan that incorporates and adapts parts of foreign culture. Japan has been doing that for a very long time.

Exactly when, how, and by whom these funny little characters came to be the primary influence on Japanese writing is still subject to scholarly debate. The name of the characters themselves “Kanji” are the Japanized pronunciation of the Chinese word for the characters, “hanzi”. Both are rendered with the same characters shown here “漢字”, meaning the Han letters. Han, of course, refers to China’s Han Dynasty.

In the Nara Period, a Japanese poetry was collected into a book called the Man’yoshu. Here, the predecessor to modern hiragana and katakana was found in a style of writing called man’yogana.

Kanji was originally used, accompanied with notations allowing for Japanese speakers to better read and understand the Chinese, as well as to reconcile it with the Japanese spoken language already in use. Over time, the Japanese written language continued to distinguish itself from Chinese as new Kanji only in use in Japan were created, and as the pronunciations and meanings of the characters began to diverge from the original Chinese. Also, natural changes to the language, as well as official simplifications in both countries have led to a further divergence.

The natural development of Kanji and its adaptation from original Chinese characters led to the inconsistencies in Japanese writing as well as extraneous characters with the same pronunciation and meaning as others. In order to make the language more accessible to non-native speakers the official list of characters was brought down to a total of 1,850 characters, although slightly more are used commonly in names, place names, and technical and scientific terms among others. These are known as the Toyo Kanji.

In 1981, the list was expanded into what is known as the “Joyo Kanji” or “Regular-use Kanji”. Although there have been minor changes and additions to the list, the current number is 2,136. This includes the 1,006 basic educational characters that elementary school students in Japan are expected to learn between first grade and sixth grade. The last major revision of the Joyo was done in 2010.

In addition to these regular-use characters are characters that are used exclusively in personal and place names. These are called the Jinmeiyo Kanji. This list is frequently updated, in part to allow for trends in how children are named, and currently sits at just over 980.

Aside from China and Japan, these characters have found their way into other languages as well, most notably Korean. While not as commonly used as in Japanese, Korean “Hanja”, like Kanji, is a form of the Chinese “hanzi” that grew and developed outside of China. Hanja are most commonly found in academic writing, names, and place names, and are not as widely used in Hangul as Kanji are in Japanese.

Although Vietnamese has been strongly influenced by Chinese vocabulary and language, the modern writing system is not directly based on Chinese, unlike Japanese and, to a lesser extent, Korean.

You would be hard-pressed to enter a classroom full of students hoping to learn Japanese and not find at least a few who think that Japan, it’s language, people, culture, and visitors would all be better off without kanji. Even Japan’s Ministry of Education has considered such a move, however briefly. Kanji is however one of the things that makes Japan unique. Word plays and jokes can be made using Japanese homophones that have different Kanji renderings, nuances can be added without affecting the rhythm of a written passage by the use of one character over another. This is evident in such terms as 聞く and 聴く, or “deau” (to meet) being rendered in the normal way as 出会う and a more romantic or important way as 出逢う.

Kanji is definitely here to stay and something anyone who studies the language and culture of Japan will come to truly appreciate for its beauty, and efficiency as a communicative tool.

There are currently a large number of fun and efficient ways to learn Japanese online or with specialized Japanese software. Electronic dictionaries and online searches can speed up translations. With video chat, you can talk to friends in Japan live for next to no cost and immerse yourself for a few hours a day.

Even then however, there are several reasons that studying Japanese the old-fashioned way… pencil to paper can be a great way to master the language.

Learning to Write Kanji

Arguments can be made that the advent of Japanese language capable word processing programs have harmed the ability for both non-native and native Japanese speakers to write kanji. With modern IME (Input Management Engines), writing the pronunciation and hitting the space bar a few times will bring up the correct kanji for anything you want to say. In fact, you only need to be able to recognize the character to use it, cutting out the need to be able to actually write the strokes in the proper order and direction.

The best way to learn to write kanji is to take out a paper and pencil (or a fude brush for the traditionalists) and start copying them over and over until it sticks. When writing kanji it’s important for strokes to go in the right direction and order, and variations from the correct writing method can often be obvious.

Why is it important to be able to write kanji by hand? Well, as technologically advanced as Japan is, the country still uses a lot of handwritten documentation. Resumes are still now traditionally forms written by hand. In fact, the care and ability with which a person writes and utilizes kanji is considered a good indicator of such things as organizational skills, attention to detail, and even intelligence.

Being able to handwrite kanji is definitely worth the effort to step away from the computer screen for a few minutes each day and spend some time putting pen to paper.

The Cultural Side of Japanese Language

The old-fashioned method by which Japanese culture can be learned is simply heading over to Japan and immersing yourself in the culture. It is easy to read and remember various facts and caveats about Japanese business culture, but another thing to actually find yourself in a real-life, high-stakes situation in which the proper bow or turn of phrase is needed.

Another important aspect of the culture is being able to speak intelligently about concepts and even objects that are not as common outside of Japan. Having actually visited a Japanese hot spring, anime conference, university lecture, or business meeting can really help students learn Japanese in the proper perspective.

Reading Japanese Newspapers and Other Media

While learning Japanese should definitely be fun, applying Japanese requires a bit of old-fashioned reading. Sometimes one of the best textbooks for would-be Japanese translators is a Japanese newspaper, magazine article, or book. Sitting in a tea shop and reading through some real-life examples of written Japanese can help people learn Japanese better by revealing some of their weak spots. If the grammar used is a mystery, if there are an excessive number of new kanji, or if the big picture meaning of an article is hard to understand, it can indicate where review might be helpful.

Mixing New Japanese Learning with the Old

Students who hope to learn Japanese, no different from people learning anything, will benefit from a wide variety of study techniques. The latest technology, newest Japanese learning software, and best textbooks are all valuable, however they can be so fun, effective, and encouraging that it can be easy to forget about some of the more labor intensive aspects of writing, reading, and communicating in Japanese. Taking even a few minutes to supplement the modern learning techniques by practicing writing kanji, reading materials designed for a Japanese audience, and immersing yourself in Japanese culture can add some fun and variety and help you achieve a more well-rounded Japanese fluency.

I’d like to say hello to everyone from studyjapanese.org. In Japanese of course, I’d be saying “Hajimemashite,” accompanied by a proper bow. My name is Jason and I’m one of the linguists at LearnJapanese.com.

For a 14 year period, most of which was spent in the Kansai area, I spent many an evening in Mister Donut downing free refills of coffee and studying Japanese. Some of my studies involved copying Japanese textbooks into a notebook and annoying Japanese friends, government officials, police officers, and shop clerks with my horrible language skills while reassuring them that it was in everyone’s best interest for them to correct me. Occasionally, as is often the case when learning languages, things clicked and I gradually saw improvement. Eventually, I passed level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and found myself using Japanese to communicate more than 90% of the time. Since then, I’ve taught Japanese, worked with students studying abroad in Japan, and also acted as a cultural consultant.

One of the best things about learning Japanese for me has been the opportunity to have a whole other language with which to frame my thoughts. The linguistic and cultural differences between thinking in Japanese and thinking in English allow me to look at different topics from two very different perspectives.

Although the world has gotten much smaller with advances in technology and communication, Japan is unique in that there are still a lot of great things that don’t find their way into English language media. Even a little Japanese ability can go a long way to opening up a whole new world. I’m looking forward to all of the ways that the merger between StudyJapanese.org and LearnJapanese.com will combine resources to benefit the international community of Japanese language learners.

As I would normally say at the end of an introduction like this, “Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!”

Anyone learning Japanese in order to study abroad, show near-native speaker level fluency, or advance in business should aspire to pass the N2 or N1 levels of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Even people who are learning for pleasure or other reasons could use the test as a great way to understand their ability in the context of what Japan would consider fluent or proficient.

JLPT N1

The N1 is the most difficult level of the JLPT and the highest level Japanese certification available. The pass rate seems high at first glance, close to 35% of test takers in Japan and just under 30% for test takers outside of Japan. However, it is important to remember that with the availability of 5 other levels, most of the people who try the JLPT N1 go into it thinking they have a chance of passing, and hundreds of hours of study time behind them.

JLPT N1 proficiency is described simply as the ability to understand and use Japanese in wide variety of situations. Although there may be little noticeable difference between N1 and N2 level in everyday conversation, someone with N1 will have much more versatility, larger active and passive vocabularies, and better overall skills, especially when dealing with unfamiliar or less common situations and topics.

The N2 is also recognized as showing a high level of proficiency with the language, and is the goal of many long-term study abroad programs. Someone who is N2 level is described as being able to understand Japanese in everyday situations and in a wide variety of other situations “to a certain degree”. This means that with less common situations, an N2 may encounter some small difficulties, but have no hindrance in communicating in everyday situations.

Overview of Level N1 Test

N1 is the most difficult and highest level offered. The test is also the longest of the JLPT exams at a total of 170 minutes not counting breaks, explanations, and other administrative necessities. The N1 and also the N2 are structured differently from the other tests with more integration between the reading, grammar, and vocabulary sections.

The Japanese linguistic competency required in the reading section is the ability to read materials with “logical complexity” on a variety of topics. Also required is the ability to follow narratives with “profound contents” on a variety of topics and understand the “intent” of the writers.

I used quotes for the terms I think potential test-takers should think about. Logical complexity could mean such things as essays with contradictory arguments, complex instructions on how to do something, or other topics one might encounter in business situations or other less common circumstances. The second part about understanding the “intent” of writers is also significant because it implies that readers will be expected to read between the lines and understand certain nuances in grammar and word usage. A possible example of this is the use of the Japanese term “…kirai ga aru” which implies a tendency for something to happen. That “something” has a negative connotation. N1 level readers should recognize the intent of the usage of “kirai ga aru” without it being stated outright.

The N1 starts off with a vocabulary/grammar and reading section that is 110 minutes long. The structure allows test-makers to increase the difficulty and realism of the test questions by integrating comprehension with the vocabulary and grammar.

N1 vocabulary/grammar and reading section common questions:
• The grammar questions are similar to other levels with, of course somewhat more advanced grammar. Selecting grammar forms, sentence composition, and text grammar will all be included.
• There are no orthography or word formation questions on the N1 vocabulary section, however all of the other types are in place. Vocabulary questions will include paraphrasing, usage, terms defined through context, and the inevitable kanji reading.

Those who pass the N1 listening section are expected to comprehensively understand the content of anything from news reports to conversations to lectures spoken at natural speed in a variety of settings. They should also understand intent as well as the implied relationships among speakers. The implied relationship part means that just through a proper understanding of the wording used, one should be able to figure out whether the conversation is among friends, people who’ve just met, a person and his or her superior at work, or family members… to list a few possibilities.

N1 listening section question types:
• Integrated comprehension – which makes use of reading materials or visuals in addition to the listening.
• Quick response – meaning very little time is given to think or review notes before the next test item begins.
• Task based, general outline, and comprehension of key points questions – the standard listening type questions that ask listeners to do something, find specific information, or understand the general idea or intent of a passage.

Overview of Level N2 Test

The N2 test is the level that primarily shows that a person can function effectively and with little trouble in everyday situations, with somewhat good functionality in unfamiliar or non-everyday situations as well. Many study abroad in Japan programs or companies require or aspire to this level because it shows that one doesn’t need much outside support to successfully function in a situation of Japanese language immersion.

The JLPT N2 level test runs a total of 155 minutes for the exam itself. As with the all levels, this does not count explanation time and breaks. The language knowledge section is 105 minutes, and includes the grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary questions in a mostly integrated style.

The N2 question types and one type unique to N2:
• The N2 level contains vocabulary questions on usage, kanji reading, orthography, paraphrasing, and contextually defined terms, but also adds one more. Word formation is a type of question unique to the N2 level. In this type of question, you are given part of a word and asked to supply the remaining kanji character. On example I’ve seen is a sentence in which “bamen” (scene) is provided. The context of the sentence calls for the completed word to be “meibamen” (famous scenes). The list of possible answers consists of 4 kanji, all of which can be read “mei” and you have to choose the correct one.
• Although this level doesn’t have the long reading passages found in levels N1 and N3, it is integrated the same way N1 is so even shorter passages can be challenging.
• The grammar questions are similar to those found in all of the other levels, though with N2 level grammar terms and vocabulary used in the sentences. The questions are basically, text and sentence grammar, and the sentence composition questions for which test-takers have to determine the proper word order of 4 sentence parts and fill the answer that fits where the star is.

The JLPT N2 listening test includes all the same questions as then N1, including the integrated lessons.

N2 listening test question types:
• Task based listening comprehension, as well as listening for key points and general ideas.
• Quick response questions – these questions allow little thinking, review, or note-taking time, and can be difficult if one falls behind.
• Integrated comprehension – as with the N1 test, these items are not limited to just listening but require taking in other types of information as well.

Conclusion and Further Investigations

The JLPT provides a sample question for each type of question found on each level of the JLPT. This can be useful for people who are just trying to choose a level to start studying for, or people who want to know what the questions on the test actually look at. JLPT Sample Questions by Level.

The N2 and N1 level Japanese Language Proficiency Exams are the pinnacle of standardized Japanese language exams. Either of these certifications can serve as proof of one’s ability to effectively communicate and function in Japanese.

There are a total of 5 levels, from N1 to N5 and they are spaced well enough to serve as a good guide for people learning Japanese who want some verification of their accomplishments. The test levels N3 to N5 for beginners and intermediate students are discussed in detail here.

When taking standardized tests, needless to say, mastery of the subject matter… in this case, Japanese language, is of utmost importance, however there are always some hints that are good to keep in mind when learning Japanese and studying for the exam that can help improve your overall results.

1. Understand the question types on your test
All of the JLPTs from level N1 to N5 have different question types. If provided only 1 hint for passing the test, this would be it. Some of the questions, especially at the intermediate and advanced levels require a certain type of studying and thinking. Being aware of what will be asked before taking the test can go a long way toward helping you direct your study in the final
weeks before the test.

Example: Some of the kanji questions on level 1 ask you to read an item containing a sentence with hiragana in place of kanji, then look at four answers. The answers also contain hiragana in place of kanji… all of which have the same reading as the kanji in the test item. This tests your knowledge of the usage and meaning of different kanji homophones.

2. Study out loud
One study method a lot of students neglect is to read aloud. This can be especially useful for practicing kanji. When reading Japanese silently, it can be easy to glide over kanji for which you know the meaning. Thanks to kanji, speed reading is not that hard to do in Japanese. However when taking a test such as the JLPT, the pronunciation, or how the kanji is read in a given usage or combination, can be just as important as the meaning. Therefore reading aloud prevents you from taking the easy way out, and if you are in a study group or working with a Japanese tutor, you can get the correction immediately and begin making a vocabulary list based on your frequent mistakes.

3. Use flash cards
Flash cards work for a lot of the things on the JLPT. If you are studying for some of the beginner levels, flash cards can be great ways to practice instant recognition of hiragana, katakana, or some simple kanji sight words. At higher levels, kanji combinations or exceptional readings of common kanji characters can be reviewed with flash cards. In addition to all this, the actual process of making the flash cards is a study session of itself. Hand writing the cards as neatly as possible can be a great way to remember things, especially for students who use a lot of technology to study.

4. Know the words used for graphs
Knowing the appropriate words used for graphs or other visual illustrations of data can be a great way to guarantee some points on the test. There will be a question or even series of questions making use of terms such as “increasing”, “growing”, “decreasing”, “shrinking”, and other terms that might refer to data trends. Each level has increasingly difficult and specific ways to talk about these things so familiarity with your age appropriate terminology is key.

5. Look ahead at the listening test drawings when possible
Some students out and out cheat by looking through the listening section before it is actually allowed. I personally don’t condone this, and there’s no sense in jeopardizing your entire test for a few seconds’ glance at the listening. However there will be opportunities to legally glance ahead and give your brain a chance to recall some of the pertinent vocabulary or keywords that might come up in a section. Many of the listening section items use drawings, and just a glance can be a great preparation for a particular section.

6. Prepare by studying for long periods of time
Normally, studying should be done when a student is mentally prepared, interested and alert, however the JLPT is an endurance test. Test-takers who have never sat at a desk and stared at kanji for hours, or who have never listened to Japanese for over 30 minutes straight may run into a bit of endurance trouble when taking the JLPT, especially at the higher levels. Reading this much Japanese in a quiet but high pressure, high stakes atmosphere can be tiring. It’s best to come prepared with the necessary stamina.

7. Sleep well before the test
Sleep has the ability to drastically change your testing performance. Testing conditions will vary greatly, even at different sites within Japan. Some will be in overly heated or under air conditioned lecture halls. It is easy to get sleepy in a warm room with nothing but pages and pages of hiragana, katakana, and kanji to keep you awake. Some of the long reading passages seem designed to be endurance tests against boredom instead of the fun, interesting essays found in practice textbooks.

8. Turn off your cell phone, or leave it home… also, check the alarm
Some cell phone alarms are designed to go off whether the phone is on or off. Many people have stories about being kicked out for using a cell phone. Because of cheating scandals involving smart phones on the university entrance exams and other standardized tests, please don’t be surprised if the proctors are asked to be especially strict.

9. Bring something to eat
Unless you are familiar with the test location and are sure that you will be able to get something to eat, I would recommend buying something to eat for lunch in the morning, or packing something from home. For test locations in Japan, even if there are convenience stores or food shops in the area, they may be crowded and stressfully filled with other test takers. It’s also important to bear in mind that the test schedule varies by level, so when you are finally getting your lunch break from the N2 test, the N4 test takers may have already bought all of the bentos in the shop.

10. Study until the last minute
The JLPT is the kind of test for which a last minute glance at a kanji or grammar form can put it into your mind for just long enough to be useful on the test. Some people do sample questions before the test, but I recommend just glancing through some textbooks or notes. Keep it light, the test is long enough without spending an extra half hour doing test questions before the test itself.

11. Be ready for standard Japanese
If you are learning in a place, or from a Japanese teacher who speaks with a regional accent or dialect, be prepared for the Japanese to be based in standard or Tokyo style dialect. Although I have heard of listening or short passage conversation questions using a bit of Kansai dialect, for the most part any slang or casual language will be Tokyo based. It should not really affect your ability to answer the questions correctly, but may be a distraction if some unfamiliar terminology is used.

12. Remind yourself of all the multiple choice question techniques you have learned
The JLPT is multiple choice. There are several techniques for approaching multiple choice questions. The important thing is to find the type of approach that suits you best. Needless to say the ideal situation is if you look at a question and the answer choices and instantly know the correct one. For the few questions that don’t fit that mold, however, multiple choice techniques such as cancelling out items that are obviously incorrect, trying to spot similar but slightly different answers, or focusing on the answers themselves, noting differences among them and working backward to the question can be a great help.

13. Do practice tests
The JLPT test makers use what works. As a result, they tend to use variants of questions from past tests. It can be an advantage to go over some of the tests from the past in the months before your own exam because you may see similar questions, or similar topics covered again. Many of the practice tests are harder than the tests themselves which can also go a great way toward making test-takers comfortable and confident during the ordeal. Also trying the sample questions can provide hints at what is to come.

14. Time yourself
As mentioned in the above example, doing JLPT practice tests can do a lot for your score. When doing practice tests at home or on your own, it’s easy to be loose with the timing of the test. It is important however to do timed tests when possible because the real test will be strictly timed, and pacing can be important. One important thing about pacing is knowing when you have time to work on harder questions and when you are running late and begin to start guessing and moving on. The best way to get experience with this timing is to know about where you should be at a given time during the exam.

It may surprise some people to hear this, but I believe timing the listening test is very important. The JLPT employs a type of question in the listening test that they refer to as “quick answer”. This basically means that the next question will begin very quickly leaving little time for test-takers to respond. It puts test-takers in a “know-it or guess-it and then move on” type of situation. In these cases it’s good to have had a little practice with the “quick answer” listening test problems.

15. Trade tips and suggestions about the JLPT and learning Japanese in general with fellow test-takers
There will be people at the JLPT tests from a wide variety of educational, linguistic, and philosophical backgrounds. Trading tips with people who have been around the test can be a great way to gain a few points and confidence. Some of the people may have failed the last test by just a few points and be ready with a full report on what to expect. Others may be able to offer up tips and hints from different teachers for new ideas. At worst, it can be a great place to make friends who share a common interest and spend hours each week to learn Japanese.

Conclusion

It is important for people trying to learn Japanese to remember that the JLPT is not the “end all be all” of Japanese language studies. It is a useful tool for gauging levels, determining proficiency, proving proficiency, and having something to show for all the time put into to learning this language. Sometimes studying to pass the test and studying for fluency can seem to be at odds, however the JLPT is a well-made test, and time spent working on it will not be wasted, especially for people who intend to study or work in Japan in the future. For those of you looking to take the exam this winter or summer, I hope that some of these hints will take some of the pressure off or make the test even more enjoyable.

The oldest and most recognized test of Japanese proficiency is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test offered through the Japan Foundation and the Japanese Educational system. After 2009, the N3 test was added to the original 4 levels as a way of adding another option for intermediate level students learning Japanese.

The N5 is the most basic test and designed to cover introductory level Japanese. The N4 is designed to show an understanding of basic Japanese, and the N3 demonstrates some everyday language ability. Each test has some slight variations in the material and question types asked.

Below, we will take a look at each of the levels, the content of the test, length of the test, and type of questions to expect.

Level N5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

N5 is the most basic level of the JLPT offered. The written part covers hiragana and katakana, the two basic phonetic writing systems used in Japanese, and some of the most basic and common kanji (characters similar to or based on Chinese characters).

The N5 JLPT is a total of 105 minutes long not including breaks, instructions, and other formalities. The vocabulary section is 25 minutes long, followed by a grammar and reading section which is a total of 50 minutes long. The listening section is 30 minutes.

A detailed and technical description of the types of questions on the test can be found here: N5 JLPT Test Question Types.The basic description is as follows:

The vocabulary section has 4 types of questions

• Kanji reading will be tested by having test-takers choose the corresponding hiragana for a given kanji.
• Katakana and kanji ability will be tested by asking testers to choose the correct kanji or katakana for a given word in hiragana.
• Some vocabulary may also be tested through use of context (often with drawings illustrating a situation), or having test-takers choose sentences or phrases with a similar meaning to that in the question item.

The grammar section focuses on:

• Selecting the correct grammar form – Test takers choose the correct particle, phrase, or grammatical form to complete the sentence.
• Sentence composition – 4 sentence parts are taken out of a sentence, you have to think about the proper wording to complete the sentence. All of the missing sentence parts are in the list of answers. You choose the one that fits the spot marked with a star.
• Short to medium length passages will also be used to test vocabulary by choosing the correct terms to fit the context of a part of the passage, as well as reading comprehension ability. The shorter passages will be around 80 characters in length, while the medium length passages will be around 250 characters.

The Listening Section focuses on:

• Comprehension of key points
• Understanding of conversational Japanese expressions
• Task based comprehension – which requires test-takers to retrieve information and use it somehow to infer other information.
• Quick response questions – in which test-takers have limited time to answer between test items.

The N4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The N4 tests Japanese learners on a larger number of basic kanji than the N5, and expects candidates to be able to handle readings and listening passages on familiar everyday topics. The listening section is spoken slowly and covers common day to day type conversations.

The N4 test is a total of 125 minutes, with 30 minutes dedicated to vocabulary, 1 hour dedicated to grammar and reading, and the final 35 minutes for listening. Most of the questions are similar to those on the N5 test with a higher difficulty level. A detailed list of all the question types can be found here: JLPT N4 Test Question Types.

The vocabulary section on N4 adds one question type to the N5 types. On N4, test-takers will be given a word, and then 4 sentences from which to choose the one sentence for which the word is used correctly. This can be difficult because it requires understanding the sentences to get the context in addition to understanding the usage of the vocabulary word in question.

The questions on the grammar and reading section, as well as the listening section are basically the same as those found on the N5 test, however done with more difficult topics and more advanced vocabulary and grammar.

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test – Level N3

The N3 test is the new test introduced in 2009 to close the gap in difficulty between the previous test levels 2 and 3. The pre-2009 level 3 is most similar to the current N4 test described above. N3 is the highest of these intermediate levels.

If you previously took the JLPT and passed level 3, continued to study and are wondering what test to take, you may have a good shot at passing the next sequential level which is N3, though students who have advanced a great deal may even want to give the N2 level a try.

The N3 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test features a 30 minute vocabulary section (the same length as the N4), a 70 minute grammar and reading section, and an slightly longer listening section of 40 minutes. The actual test time of the N3 is a total of 140 minutes all together.

The vocabulary question types are the same as level N4, but with much more advanced vocabulary and sentences. By N3, test-takers are expected to be relatively proficient with familiar or everyday topics and words. More specific content, topics, and vocabulary should be mastered by this time, and test-takers should also be able to understand such things as newspaper headlines or summaries of information.

Slightly difficult reading passages are also introduced here with more difficult concepts being explained with alternative and easier to understand language. The N3 test also introduces longer passages into the reading and grammar section of the test.

In the listening test, longer and more “natural” conversations are introduced. The speed with which the speakers speak is also faster than levels N4 and N5. The N3 conversations are said to take place at “near-native level speed”. Listeners are expected to also pick up and infer information from conversations, such as the relationships between speakers among other things.

The listening section on the N3 test also introduces a cultural element, or gleaning a speaker’s intention based on their words. This may not always be direct, and so requires some familiarity with Japanese language communication strategies.

The JLPT N3 listening test also tests usage of verbal expressions using drawings and asking test-takers to choose the correct expression for a given situation. A person in a drawing of a situation is indicated by an arrow. Test-takers listen to a question asked and must respond as the person indicated should, using correct and appropriate Japanese conversation.

Conclusion and Further Investigations

The JLPT provides a sample question for each type of question found on each level of the JLPT. This can be useful for people who are just trying to choose a level to start studying for, or people who want to know what the questions on the test actually look at. JLPT Sample Questions by Level.

The tests can be a great way to self-check your Japanese language ability, or also to network with other people learning Japanese in your area. Knowing the question types and choosing the appropriate test level can ensure that taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test can be both enjoyable and productive for you. Now that the exam is offered twice a year, the JLPT can be a regular part of any Japanese curriculum.

The next article will look at the N1 and N2 JLPT exams for people learning Japanese at higher levels.

The most long standing and accepted way to demonstrate Japanese language ability is called the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, called the JLPT for short. The Japanese name for the test is the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken (日本語能力試験).

About the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The JLPT is a collaboration of the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. The Japan Foundation was created by the Japanese government in 1972 to promote international exchange. It was privatized in 2003. The foundation coordinates several programs for international awareness, including the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It has 22 offices worldwide at which people can participate in art and cultural exchange programs, or even learn Japanese.

Japanese Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) offers scholarship programs for studying abroad, support for study abroad students, and other programs in addition to the JLPT.

The test was created in 1984, and has grown over the years, reporting over 770,000 test-takers worldwide in 2009. The test is administered within Japan by the JEES, and abroad by the Japan Foundation in cooperation with local educational institutions.

Overview and Objectives of the JLPT

The stated objective of the test is to “evaluate and certify proficiency in Japanese of non-native speakers.” People take the exam for a wide variety of reasons including for job applications, to qualify for promotions, for entrance or placement in colleges and universities, and other similar reasons. The largest number of people, over 30% list “to measure my own level of proficiency” as the reason they decided to take the exam.

Japanese Language Proficiency Test Levels

There are a total of five levels of the test, which was revised slightly in 2009. The levels are in descending order of difficulty, N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5. Scores from the older test, which consisted of levels 1 to 4 are still valid. The newer version of the test has simply added a level in the middle, the N3, as a bridge between the level 2 and level 3 on the old test. People who passed Level 1 before 2009 should likewise be able to pass N1. While N3 is new, N4 corresponds to the old level 3, and N2 corresponds to the old level 2.

N1 is the highest or most difficult level to pass. It is described as showing the ability to understand the Japanese used in a variety of situations.

N2 shows the ability to understand Japanese in everyday situations, and to some degree in other situations.

People who have passed N3 are said to demonstrate the ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to some degree.

N4 demonstrates the ability to understand basic Japanese.

N5 demonstrates the ability to understand some basic Japanese.

For a resume or other business purposes, the N2 and N1 tests are the most important ones because they show proficiency outside of everyday Japanese, essentially showing the ability to use Japanese in a business or other more formal setting where more difficult words and expressions are used. N3, N4, and N5 are great ways to gauge your progress in learning Japanese, and may also be recognized by some schools or study abroad programs.

Registering for the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam

The JLPT is offered twice a year, once in summer and once in winter. Before 2009, the test was only offered the first Sunday in December, but a test date in July has also been added. The registration process varies by country. The registration for the test begins in August/September for the December test, and March to April for the July testing, but if taking the test outside of Japan, be sure to check the registration dates and processes early.

Registering for the Test in Japan:

The registration packet is sold at most major bookstores in Japan. . It can generally be found in the testing section, but may be hard to find so it is worth it to practice a little Japanese and ask one of the clerks to help you. Here is a good site to sign up online in the US.

In Japan, once you buy the packet, you can fill out all of the forms, pay for the test at the post office and send them off. A few months later you will receive your test voucher from JEES. Bring the voucher with you when you take the test, and about 2 months after your test, your results should arrive in the mail.

Registering for the JLPT outside of Japan:

When taking the JLPT outside of Japan, the first and most important decision to make is where and when to take it. Please check the JLPT web site (mentioned earlier) for a complete list of cities where the test is offered.

Once you have chosen a good location and testing date to suit your schedule and area, it is time to register. Clicking a location on the map on the JLPT Oversees Testing Page will lead you to a list of locations and the organization handling registration.

In the United States, for example, the test is offered in 11 cities around the country (in 2011). In Canada, however the test is only offered in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto. The registration organization will provide information on the exact process for registering for and taking the exam. If you are not in a country where the test is offered, you may need to travel to take the test, or make a pilgrimage to Japan for a bit of immersion before the exam.

Although counting sequentially in Japanese, “Ichi, ni, san, shi, go…” is not that difficult. Many intermediate level students in the process of learning Japanese are surprised to learn that the way you identify the numbers or amounts of things in Japanese is determined by the nature or shape of what you are counting.

The list of numbers everyone learns first is fine when counting for counting’s sake, however different endings are used when counting other things. Categories also have a very cultural slant to them, for example flat things use a certain counter ending “-mai”, while books use another, “-satsu”. This can even be confusing for native speakers of Japanese at times, and even more so for Japanese learners.

How to Say the Numbers in Japanese

The numbers themselves may go by many names in Japan, at least as many names as there are readings for the kanji used.

1. One is usually “ichi”, but the “chi” part can be cut out in some combinations.
2. Two is usually “ni” or “futa” when used with some endings.
3. Three is usually “san” or “mi”.
4. Four is usually “shi” or “yon” or “yo” when counting, and is usually “yon” or “yo” in combinations.

5. Five is “go” or can also be “itsu” which can make it hard to tell from one sometimes.
6. Six is “roku” but can also often be “mu” in combinations.
7. Seven is “shichi” or “nana” when counting, but can be “nana” or other pronunciations when combined with a counter ending.

8. Eight is “hachi” when counting, but can also be read as “ya” among other pronunciations.
9. Nine is usually “kyu” but also has some alternate readings such as “kokona” in rare cases.
10. Ten is “ju” but can also be “to” sometimes.

One very interesting fact about Japan is how 4 and 7 are said by native Japanese speakers when counting forward or backward. When counting forward, the 4 is called “shi” and the 7 is called “shichi”. When counting backward, they usually refer to 4 as “yon” and 7 as “nana”. If you meet someone who is a native speaker, please ask them to do the counting and see if they fit the pattern. They may not even realize it themselves.

Learning How to Use Counter Endings in Japanese

There are many ways of learning the counters that are used as endings on numbers in Japanese. Most Japanese textbooks tend to group them by the type of object that is being counted. Separating the counters of types of things, those that have to do with people, and more abstract things including those that have to do with time is one valid way to do it.

Another trick to remembering them is to separate the regulars from the irregulars. The regulars are those counters that work perfectly well with the numbers as you learn them.

Counters that Take Regular Japanese Numbers

One example of a regular kind of counter is “-mai” which is used to count flat things such as paper, DVDs, and shirts. “Mai” can just be tagged onto the end of the Japanese numbers – “ichimai”, “nimai”, “sanmai”, “yonmai”… and so on.

Ordinal numbers, showing the order of something work the same way, adding “-ban”. There are even some people who never learned Japanese who are familiar with the word “ichiban” which means “first” or “number 1”. The rest of the ordinal numbers in Japanese follow suit. “Ichiban”, “niban”, “sanban”, “yonban”, “goban”, for as long as necessary.

The formal way to count people also follows this style. The ending “-mei” is used in a formal way to count people instead of the informal “-nin”. If you go into a Japanese restaurant, one of the first things you will be asked is “Nanmei-sama deshoka?” Which is restaurant language for “How many people in your party?” The “nan” part with before the “-mei” ending here means “how many”.

When answering, people will refer to themselves using the “-nin” ending. The “-nin” ending is also easy to remember because it follows the regular numbers for the most part. The only exception comes when referring to one person “hitori” or two people “futari”. After that, the numbers follow the easy, original pattern.

Several other endings fit this pattern and can be conveniently remembered because of their ease. Other examples are “-wa” the counter used for birds, “-dai” for counting machines and vehicles, and “-gatsu” as a way of naming the months of the year.

Still others are similar to “-nin” in that they follow the pattern after the first two numbers. “-kai”, used to count the floors of a building, and “-satsu” for counting books and magazines, and “-sai” for counting ages (as in “Watashi wa go-sai desu,” or “I am 5 years old.”) are just a few of these. The majority of counters seem to fit this pattern.

Japanese Numbers that Use Alternative Pronunciations with Counters

Other Japanese numbers use more irregular patterns, and for the most part need to be remembered individually. One counter that gives even native speakers trouble sometimes is “-hiki”. This is used to count animals that crawl or walk, but not usually livestock which is counted with “-to”. If you have three cats, there are “sam-biki”. The “hi” part will change in pronunciation based on the number before it.

The most important of the irregulars is the one used most often and can be used to count anything including ideas, or things for which you don’t know the counter. It can be helpful to remember this one as it is and use it whenever in doubt about the counter. It is as follows:

1. Hitotsu
2. Futatsu
3. Mittsu
4. Yottsu
5. Itsutsu
6. Muttsu
7. Nanatsu
8. Yattsu
9. Kokonatsu
10. To (with a long vowel)

For amounts above 10, the number itself can be used. This list is a good one to remember for counting and using it well will look very good.

Conclusion

Although counting in Japanese will come naturally with a little practice, it’s certainly nothing to stress over as you will often see native Japanese speaking friends spend time considering what counter to use for something. When in doubt the final list of native Japanese numbers can be useful. Another counter commonly used for objects with no other specific counter is “-ko” which uses “ikko” to refer to one thing, but follows the original number pattern after that.

Proper counting will really show mastery of the language and help you communicate better and more precisely when learning Japanese.

Japanese grammar, although it has its share of irregular forms, and can be a challenge to master, often has a logic to it that makes it suited for learning through pattern practice. Pattern practice is a way of remembering a certain grammar form, not by remembering where the verb and noun go and how they work together, but by remembering a pattern and doing substitution of one or more of the parts.

Pattern practice is especially useful for learners who remember best by “doing” or “speaking” or “acting” on the language. The repetitive nature of this type of study can also be of great benefit to learners who learn through rote.

With many languages, pattern practice usually means replacing the subject or verb or adjectives in a sentence. When speaking Japanese, there is often a predetermined grammar pattern that only requires changing the form of the verb and fitting it in.

Examples of Japanese Pattern Practice

As I mentioned above, there are often mouthfuls of predetermined grammar or wording in Japanese that only needs a properly formatted verb in it to work.

One example of this is how we say “You HAVE TO…” or “You MUST…” in Japanese. There are many ways to say this, and most of them work well with pattern practice.

A common form is, using the verb “suru” or “shimasu” which means “to do”, would look something like this:

“…suru hitsuyo ga arimasu”

In this case, the dictionary form of “suru” is used followed by “-hitsuyo ga arimasu” which doesn’t change no matter what verb is used. The ending part literally means “– there is a necessity.”

Now using the pattern, a Japanese learner can make as many sentences as verbs they know, and even more with the help of an English – Japanese dictionary.

Here are some examples of this pattern in action:

Given that “to work” is “hataraku” or “shigoto suru”, we can say:

“Hataraku hitsuyo ga arimasu.” Or “Shigoto suru hitsuyo ga arimasu.” Both of these mean “I have to work.”

Any dictionary form of a Japanese verb can be used in this place from “love” or “ai suru” to “sing” or “utau” to “dance” or “odoru”.

Using Patterns When Teaching Japanese

As valuable as pattern practice can be to people learning Japanese independently, it can be an indispensible way for teachers and tutors to add a little fun, action, and practicality to their classes. With speaking exercises, a teacher or study partner can show a flashcard with a written word on it and the student can then substitute it into the trend.

A list of words can also be provided for students to substitute in. Trend practice is also a great way to teach new Japanese vocabulary by giving students a chance to use new words in an actual sentence. An example of this is if the class were practicing with adjectives, all that is needed is a base sentence and a list of adjectives to start.

Words can be given to make students use the trend making their own creative changes…

“Chocoreto wa amakute oishii desu.” = Chocolate is sweet and delicious.

If the word “wasabi” is thrown out to students, they could respond:

“Wasabi wa karakute oishii desu.” Using the adjective “karai” which means spicy to correspond with the given word “wasabi”.

A series of vocabulary words pertaining to foods and flavors can be reviewed through pattern practice, while also practicing adjective lists as well.

Pattern Practice for Learning Japanese Independently

Another great use of the trend sentence is that it can be done individually to practice grammar and vocabulary. All a person needs is a good sentence and a list of words that might fit the model, and a great, quick, and highly effective study session can be had. Even if the grammar formula and substitution makes for some non-sensical sentences, often it’s enough to be using and becoming accustomed to the language fast. For this, pattern practice is invaluable.

Conclusion and Applying Pattern Practice in the Real World

When learning Japanese, you can’t prepare for every situation you might meet when actually speaking with people or using Japanese in the real world. However, experience with patterns can prepare learners to use new or unfamiliar words effectively. Native Japanese speakers can often guess the missing word based on the pattern used and the context of a conversation.