JLPT Guide · N4 Elementary
JLPT N4 Requirements: How Many Kanji, Words & Grammar Points?
What N4 actually covers: the kanji, vocabulary and grammar you're expected to know, how long the test runs, and the score you need.
Quick answer
- Typical targets for N4: ≈300 kanji and ≈1,500 words (cumulative, including everything below N4).
- Our free N4 lists: 181 kanji, 581 words and 116 grammar points new at this level.
- Test length: 115 minutes · pass mark: 90 / 180.
What N4 certifies
You can understand basic Japanese: everyday topics written in familiar vocabulary, and daily conversations spoken slowly.
How much you need to know
First, an honest note: the JLPT stopped publishing official content lists in 2010. The "typical target" column shows the widely-used estimates based on past tests; the other columns are this site's own free study lists, which you can start on right now.
| New at N4 | Cumulative (N5→N4) | Typical target | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanji | 181 | 284 | ≈300 |
| Vocabulary | 581 | 1,379 | ≈1,500 |
| Grammar points | 116 | 210 | – |
JLPT levels are cumulative: the N4 test freely uses everything from the levels below it. So "cumulative" is the real requirement: study the earlier levels' material too if it isn't solid.
The test on the day
N4 runs 115 minutes of testing (plus breaks between papers), in 3 papers:
| Paper | Time |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 25 minutes |
| Grammar · Reading | 55 minutes |
| Listening | 35 minutes |
Everything is multiple choice, marked on an answer sheet. There is no speaking or writing at any level. To pass you need 90 out of 180 plus a minimum in every scored section; the details are on the N4 pass mark page.
To sit the whole thing on the same clock, take an N4 mock test: a full exam from past papers, section by section.
How long will it take?
From zero, reaching N4 typically takes around 575–1,000 study hours for learners with no prior kanji background. See the study-hours guide for what that means per week, and for the step from your current level.