Quick Notes

Short, focused notes on grammar, vocabulary, and kanji — organized by JLPT level.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～たい form — Expressing desire

  How to say you want to do something.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～てもいい — May I / It's OK to

  Ask or give permission.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～てはいけない — Must not

  Prohibition.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～なければならない — Must

  Obligation.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  Potential form — can do

  Express ability: 食べられる, 行ける.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  Volitional ～よう / ～おう

  Let's / I will (plain).

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～たり～たりする — Doing things like

  Lists representative actions.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～たことがある — Have experienced

  Past experience.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～ば — If (conditional)

  Conditional ば form.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～たら — If / When

  Conditional using た-form + ら.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～と思う — I think that

  Express an opinion.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  Passive form ～られる

  Being acted upon.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  Causative ～させる

  Make or let someone do.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～そうだ — Looks like / I hear

  Two meanings: appearance and hearsay.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  あげる・くれる・もらう — Giving and receiving

  Three verbs of giving/receiving.

• N4Grammar Pattern

  ～てあげる／てくれる／てもらう

  Doing favors.