You will be able to handle everyday conversations more naturally and understand longer, more detailed Japanese. This is useful for traveling in Japan and following basic Japanese content online. (JLPT N3/CEFR B1 level)
- Lesson 1 – Topics, Viewpoints / 話題や視点を提示
- Lesson 2 – Naming, Quoting & Framing Statements / 定義・引用・言い換え
- Lesson 3 – Hearsay, Similarity & Guessing / 伝聞・比喩・推量
- Lesson 4 – Reasons, Causes & Outcomes / 原因・理由・結果
- Lesson 5 – Change, Continuation & Verb Compounds / 変化・継続・複合動詞
- Lesson 6 – Decisions, Plans, Obligation & Expectation / 決定・予定・義務
- Lesson 7 – Requests, Permission & Indirect Instructions / 依頼・許可・婉曲な指示
- Lesson 8 – Register (Polite/Casual) / カジュアル・フォーマルな文体
- Lesson 9 – Conditions, Concessions & Counterfactuals / 条件・逆接（譲歩）・反事実
- Lesson 10 – Time, Sequence & Situations / 時間関係・順序・状況の描写
- Lesson 11 – Limits, Degree & Comparison / 限定・程度・比較
Lesson 1 – Topics, Viewpoints / 話題や視点を提示
You learn how to frame a topic and viewpoint clearly (e.g., “as for… / from the perspective of…”), and how to link ideas in a more formal, written style.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nといえば | speaking of N |
| 何といっても | undeniably |
| Nにとって | for N |
| Nとして | as N |
| Nからみると/すると/いうと | judging from the standpoint of N |
| Nによって | depending on N |
| Nについて | concerning; about |
| Nに対して | toward |
| ～との / ～での / ～からの / ～までの | case particle + の + Noun |
Lesson 2 – Naming, Quoting & Framing Statements / 定義・引用・言い換え
You learn how to define and label things (“A is called B”), quote or paraphrase ideas, and package explanations smoothly in both spoken and written Japanese.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| N1をN2と言う | N1 is called N2 |
| …という～ | N that [Sentence] |
| ～というのは…のことだ / ということだ | X is Y; X means Y |
| …ということだ | According to… (that)…; I heard that… |
| 〜というより… | rather than A, (it’s) more like B |
| ～ことは／が／を | “V-ing” or “To V” |
| …こと・…ということ | [Verb] that [Sentence] |
| …というわけだ | that’s why; no wonder / so you mean |
| ～なんか／～なんて | Expressions of modesty or surprise |
Lesson 3 – Hearsay, Similarity & Guessing / 伝聞・比喩・推量
You learn how to report information with a source (“according to…”), express resemblance (“like / as if…”), and make non-certain guesses without sounding too direct.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nによると | according to N |
| ～らしい | it seems that / ~ is the epitome of N |
| ～のようだ・～のような～・～ように | as if it were like N |
| ～みたいだ・～みたいな～・～みたいに | seems/like |
| ～そうもない | not seem likely to … |
| ～ような気がする | have a feeling that |
| ～んじゃない？ | Suggestion, speculation |
| ～のだろうか | I wonder… |
| ～だろう／～だろうと思う | probably |
| ～（の）ではない（だろう）か | although I cannot say this with confidence, I think it is the case that |
| …かな | I wonder… [casual] |
Lesson 4 – Reasons, Causes & Outcomes / 原因・理由・結果
You learn how to explain causes and results precisely, including neutral reasons, “good/bad” cause (thanks to / because of), triggers, and outcomes.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～ために / ～ためのN | in order to do / N for ~ing |
| ～ため(に) | due to |
| …もの／もんだから | because … |
| ～がきっかけで | being motivated by |
| ～おかげで（だ）／～せいで（だ） | thanks to / fortunately / because of |
| せっかく | go to the trouble of ~ing; long ~ awaited |
| わざわざ | go all the way to; take the trouble to |
| ～た結果、…・～の結果、… | resulted in |
| ～ように | so that |
Lesson 5 – Change, Continuation & Verb Compounds / 変化・継続・複合動詞
You learn how to describe change over time, ongoing trends, and nuanced action phases using verb combinations like “start / continue / finish / begin to…”
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～ようになる | come to do |
| ～ようにする | make a point of ~ing |
| ～てくる / ～ていく | has begun to do / will begin to do |
| ～（よ）うとする / しない | be just about to do, attempt to do / someone doesn’t even think about doing, make no attempt to do |
| ～出す／～始める／～忘れる | Verb Compounds |
| ～かける | ① Started doing something but haven’t finished yet ② Almost about to do something |
| 〜込む | ① Engage in an activity for a long period of time ② Indicates movement into the interior |
| ～た Noun | Noun modification |
| ～てばかりいる・～ばかり～ている | Someone is always doing … |
Lesson 6 – Decisions, Plans, Obligation & Expectation / 決定・予定・義務
You learn how to express decisions and arrangements (self-decided vs externally decided), obligation and advice, and logical expectation (“it should be…”).
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～ことになる（ことになった / ことになっている） | it has been decided that / it is expected that |
| ～つもりはない／～つもりだった／～たつもり | intention: have no intention / with the intention of |
| Nにする | decide on N |
| べきだ / べきではない | should / shouldn’t |
| ～なくてはならない／いけない・～なくてもかまわない | should, must |
| ～ないで済む / ～ずに済む | get by without ~ing; it saved me from ~ing |
| ～ずに、～ず | Attachment Status |
| ～はずだ、～はずがない、～はずだった | be supposed to; should |
| ～ことがある、～こともある | sometimes |
Lesson 7 – Requests, Permission & Indirect Instructions / 依頼・許可・婉曲な指示
You learn polite ways to request and ask permission, plus indirect instructions (“tell/ask someone to…”) that sound softer than direct commands.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～てもらえませんか・～ていただけませんか・～てもらえないでしょうか・～ていただけないでしょうか | polite request |
| ～（さ）せてもらえませんか・～（さ）せていただけませんか | Polite expressions for requesting permission |
| ～てもかまわない | It doesn’t matter if, I don’t mind |
| …ように言う／注意する／伝える／頼む | tell someone to do something |
| ～たがる、～たがっている | show signs of |
| ～とおり(に) / Nどおり(に) | exactly the same way as X |
Lesson 8 – Register (Polite/Casual) / カジュアル・フォーマルな文体
You learn how to express feelings/desires appropriately (especially about other people), and how everyday contractions vs formal style change the tone.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| formal expression of verb (te-form) | 雨が降って→雨が降り、しないで→せずに |
| ～ちゃう・～とく・～てる | ～てしまう→～ちゃう、～ておく→～とく、～ている→～てる |
| ～である | formal expression of ～だ |
| ～て、～って | casual expression of ～と, ～という / ～は, ～というのは |
| ～とか | casual expression of ～や～など, ～たり～たり |
| 中止形 | used instead of “～て、～て” |
Lesson 9 – Conditions, Concessions & Counterfactuals / 条件・逆接（譲歩）・反事実
You learn how to choose between major condition patterns, express “even if / although,” and talk about regrets or “if only…” situations, including softening over-general statements.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～ば～のに | if ~, it would be |
| ～のに | for the use of / in order to do |
| いつ／どこ／何／だれ／どんなに～ても | no matter when/where/what/who/how |
| Nさえ / ～さえ～ば | even N / if only ~ |
| ～からといって | just because ~; ~ is not a good enough reason |
| ～とは限らない | it is not always the case that |
| ～（という）わけではない | it’s not that; it doesn’t mean that |
| 〜ことは〜が、… | it’s true that …, but… |
Lesson 10 – Time, Sequence & Situations / 時間関係・順序・状況の描写
You learn how to describe timing and sequence accurately (“while / by the time / as soon as / whenever”), and how to express states that remain unchanged.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～うちに | while |
| ～たばかり | have just done |
| ～たび（に） | whenever, everytime |
| ～まで、… ／～までに、… | until / by |
| ～以来 | ever since |
| ～まま / ～たまま | just as it is, unchanged, as remains |
| ～っぱなし | left as is |
| ～ている（経験・経歴） | Historical facts and experiences |
| ～たところに／で | to indicate the destination |
Lesson 11 – Limits, Degree & Comparison / 限定・程度・比較
You learn how to control emphasis with “only / just / as much as,” express degree and proportional change, and make comparisons with the right nuance.
| Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|
| …だけだ・［ただ］…だけでいい | Just… is enough |
| ～だけあって | as might be expected |
| XばXほどY | the more/less X, the more/less Y |
| (Xは)Yほど～ない | X is not so much ~ as Y is |
| ～ほど～はない／いない | X is the most … |
| ～ほど | to the extent that / so much that |
| …より…ほうが… | comparison |
Would you like to review the previous level? Please see: Japanese Grammar List – Level 2 (JLPT N4 / CEFR A2)