Welcome to the “Level 1 (JLPT N5)” grammar category on blog.gokigen.jp! This section is your starting point for mastering fundamental Japanese grammar concepts essential for beginners and those preparing for the JLPT N5 exam. We break down basic particles, verb forms, simple sentence structures, and other core grammatical patterns with easy-to-understand explanations and practical examples tailored for English speakers. Build a strong foundation in Japanese grammar right here!
Grammar List (N5)
ひらがな - hiragana
Learn Hiragana: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Writing
カタカナ - katakana
Learn Katakana: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Loanwords and Foreign Names
漢字 - kanji
What Is Kanji? A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Characters and Their Meaning
あいさつ - greetings
Essential Japanese Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye, and More
数字 - Numbers
Numbers in Japanese: The Complete Beginner’s Guide (0–10, 100, and Beyond)
時間 - time
Telling Time in Japanese: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
N1 は N2 です - N1 is N2
How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese Using “N1 は N2 です”
助詞「の」- Particle “no” for Possession and Description
How to Use the Japanese Particle “の” (no) for Possession and Description
N1 は N2 ですか - Is N1 N2?
How to Ask Simple Questions in Japanese: “N1 wa N2 desuka?” Explained
N1 は N2 じゃないです - N1 is not N2
How to Say “Is Not” in Japanese: Master “N1 wa N2 janai desu”
N1 も N2 です - N1 is also N2
How to Say “Also” in Japanese: Mastering “N1 mo N2 desu”
N1 は N2 でした - N1 was N2
How to Say “Was” in Japanese: Mastering “N1 wa N2 deshita”
これ・それ・あれ・どれ - this, that, which
Learn “This,” “That,” and “Which” in Japanese: A Guide to kore・sore・are・dore
ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ - here, there, where
Learn “Here,” “There,” and “Where” in Japanese: A Guide to Koko, Soko, Asoko, Doko
この・その・あの・どの - this one, that one, which one
Learn “This Book” and “That Bag” in Japanese | Master Kono（この）, Sono（その）, Ano（あの）, Dono（どの） + Nouns
だれの - whose
Learn How to Say “Whose Is This?” in Japanese | Master Dare no（だれの）+ Noun
動詞（ル動詞）- Verb (ru-verbs)
Learn Japanese Ru-Verbs: Easy Conjugation and Everyday Examples
動詞（ウ動詞）- Verb (u-verbs)
Learn Japanese U-Verbs: Conjugation Patterns and Examples for Beginners
動詞（不規則動詞）- Verb (irregular verbs)
Learn Japanese Irregular Verbs | How to Use する（to do）and くる（to come）
助詞「も」- Particle も
How to Use the Japanese Particle “も” | Learn How to Say “Also” and “Too” in Japanese
助詞を使う/使わない時間表現 - time expressions with/without particles
How to Use Time Expressions in Japanese | With and Without Particles
Nがあります / います - There is / There are N
How to Say “There is / There are” in Japanese | Learn Arimasu（あります） and Imasu（います）
Nが X人/つ あります/います - There is/are X N
How to Count People and Things in Japanese | Using Arimasu（あります） and Imasu（います） with Numbers
動詞の過去形 - Past tense of verbs
How to Use the Past Tense of Japanese Verbs | Learn Mashita(ました) and Masen Deshita(ませんでした)
副詞（頻度/時間/量）- Adverbs (frequency/duration/quantity)
How to Use Adverbs in Japanese | Frequency, Duration, and Quantity
助詞「と」- Particle と
How to Use the Japanese Particle To（と） | “And”, “With”, and Quoting Speech
場所の表現｜Expressing locations
How to Describe Locations in Japanese | Expressing Where Things Are
な形容詞｜な-adjectives
How to Use Japanese na-Adjectives | Describing People and Things with な-Form
い形容詞｜い-adjectives
How to Use Japanese i-Adjectives | Learn Oishii（おいしい）, Atsui（あつい）, and More
形容詞の過去形｜Past tense of adjectives
How to Use the Past Tense of Japanese Adjectives | かったです・でした Explained
形容詞＋名詞｜Adj + N
How to Use Adjectives with Nouns in Japanese | Adj + Noun Pattern for Beginners
好きな／きらいな - like/dislike
How to Say “I Like” and “I Don’t Like” in Japanese | Using Suki（すき）and Kirai（きらい）
上手な／下手な - good at / bad at
How to Say You’re Good or Bad at Something in Japanese | Using Jouzu（上手）and Heta（下手）
V-て + ください｜Please do~
How to Use te kudasai（〜てください） in Japanese | Polite Request Form Explained
V1-て、V2｜V1 and V2
How to Connect Actions in Japanese | Using V1-て、V2 (Do A and then B)
V-て + もいいです｜It is okay to do~
How to Say “It’s Okay to Do” in Japanese | Using te-form + mo ii desu
V-て + はいけません｜must not do~
How to Say “You Must Not” in Japanese | Using te-form + wa ikemasen（〜てはいけません）
V-て + いる（動作の継続vs結果の継続）｜Ongoing action vs Ongoing Result
How to Use te iru（〜ている） in Japanese | Ongoing Action vs Ongoing Result Explained
V(stem) + ましょう / ましょうか - Let' do ~, Shall we do~, Shall I ~
How to Use mashou and mashouka in Japanese | Let’s Do vs Shall I Help?
N1 は N2 が Adj です｜As for N1, N2 is Adj
How to Say “As for N1, N2 is Adj” in Japanese | Describe Appearance Naturally
形容詞 / 名詞のテ形｜Adjective / noun te-forms
How to Connect Ideas in Japanese Using Adjective and Noun te-Forms
V(stem) + に行く/来る｜go/come to do...
How to Use “V-stem + ni iku / kuru” in Japanese | Go/Come to Do Something
V(stem) + ませんか｜Why don't we~?
How to Use “V-stem + masen ka” in Japanese | Invite Someone Politely
短形（動詞）｜Short forms (Verbs)
How to Use Japanese Short Forms (Plain Forms) for Casual Conversations
短形（形容詞と名詞） Short forms (Adjectives & nouns)
How to Use Japanese Plain Form Past Tense (Short Form) for Adjectives and Nouns
過去形の短形（動詞）｜Past tense short forms (verbs)
How to Use Japanese Past Tense Plain Form (Short Form) – Verbs in Casual Conversation
過去形の短形（形容詞と名詞）｜Past tense short forms (Adjectives & nouns)
How to Use Japanese Plain Form Past Tense (Short Form) for Adjectives and Nouns
主格助詞「は」vs「が」｜The subject particles は vs が
Japanese Particles: How to Distinguish Between wa (は) and ga (が)
い-Adj + くなる / な-adj + になる｜become~
How to Say “Become ~” in Japanese | Using 〜くなる and 〜になる
(short) + と思います｜I think that~
How to Say “I Think That…” in Japanese | Using ～と思います (to omoimasu)
(short) + と言っていました｜(Person) said that~
How to Say “Someone Said That…” in Japanese | Using to itteimashita（〜と言っていました）
V-ない + でください｜Please don't~
How to Say “Please Don’t” in Japanese | Using nai-de kudasai（〜ないでください）
V(short) + の｜Nominalizing verbs with の
How to Say “Doing Something” in Japanese | Using Verb + の to Nominalize
(short) + から｜Because~
How to Say “Because” in Japanese | Using ～から with Short Form Verbs, Adjectives, and Nouns
(short) + んです｜In fact / actually, ~
How to Use “～んです” in Japanese | Giving Explanations Naturally
(short) + ので｜Because~
How to Say “Because” in Japanese | Using ～ので for Giving Polite Reasons
V-なければ/なきゃ + いけません｜must do~
How to Say “Must Do” in Japanese | Using なければ／なきゃ + いけません
V-た + ことがある｜have the experience of～
How to Say “I’ve Done It Before” in Japanese | Using V-ta + koto ga aru（〜たことがある）
V-た + ほうがいいです｜should do~
How to Say “You Should” in Japanese | Using V-ta / V-nai + hou ga ii desu（〜たほうがいいです）
N1のほうがN2より～｜N1 is more ～ than N2
How to Say “N1 is More ~ Than N2” in Japanese | Using N1 no hou ga (のほうが) N2 yori (より)〜
N1の中でN2がいちばん～｜N1 is the most ～ among N2
How to Say “The Most ~ Among” in Japanese | Using N1 no naka de N2 ga ichiban (N1の中でN2がいちばん～)
Adj/N(short) + の｜replacing previously mentioned nouns
How to Say “The Red One” in Japanese | Using Adjective + no（〜の） to Replace Nouns
V(short) + N｜Qualifying nouns with verbs
How to Describe Nouns with Verbs in Japanese | Using Verb + Noun (V + N)
もうV-ました / まだV-ていません｜have already done / have not yet done~
How to Say “I’ve Already Done It” or “I Haven’t Done It Yet” in Japanese
手段・道具の助詞「で」｜The means/instrument particle で
How to Say “by car” or “with a pen” in Japanese | The Means/Instrument Particle で
V/adj(stem) + すぎる｜too much~
How to Say “Too Much” in Japanese | Using V/Adj + sugiru (すぎる)
V(stem) + たい｜I want to～
How to Say “I Want to ~” in Japanese | Using Verb + tai (たい)
Number + も/しか｜as many as / as few as
How to Say “As Many As” and “Only” in Japanese | Using Number + も / しか
V1-たり V2-たりする｜do such things as V1 and V2
How to Say “Do Such Things As V1 and V2” in Japanese | Using V たり V たりする
V(short) + つもりだ｜intend to～
How to Say “I Intend to” in Japanese | Using V + tsumori da（〜つもりだ）
(short) + でしょう｜expressing guess/prediction
How to Say “It Will Probably…” in Japanese | Using (short) + deshou（〜でしょう）
