Quick Notes

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

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～は～です — A is B

  Basic polite sentence: stating what something is.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  は vs が — Topic vs Subject Marker

  The classic beginner question: when to use は and when to use が.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  は vs が — Topic vs Subject

  When to use は and when to use が.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～を — Direct object

  Marks the object of an action.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～に — Time, destination, target

  Particle に for time points, destinations, and indirect objects.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～で — Place of action, means

  で marks where an action happens or the tool/means used.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～ます form — Polite verbs

  Polite present/future, negative, and past verb forms.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～たい — Want to do

  Express your own desire to do something.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～ましょう — Let's

  Suggest doing something together.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～てください — Please do

  Polite request using the て-form.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～ています — Progressive / state

  Ongoing action or resulting state.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～ない — Plain negative

  Plain negative form of verbs.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  い・な adjectives

  Using い-adjectives and な-adjectives.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～があります／います — Existence

  Saying something exists.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～から～まで — From … to …

  Starting and ending points of time or place.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～と・も — And, with, also

  と connects nouns or marks companion; も means also.

• N5Grammar Pattern

  ～から — Because

  Gives a reason.

• 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.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ようにする — Make an effort to

  Try to make a habit.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ことにする／ことになる — Decide / It was decided

  Personal decision vs. external decision.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～はずだ — Should / Ought to be

  Expectation based on grounds.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～つもり — Intend to

  Plans and intentions.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ように — So that / In order to

  Purpose.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～のに — Even though / Despite

  Unexpected contrast.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ばよかった — Should have

  Regret.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～らしい — Apparently / Typical of

  Hearsay/evidence or 'befitting'.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ようだ／みたいだ — Seems like

  Judgment based on observation.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～について — About

  Topic of discussion.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～てしまう — Completely / Regret

  Completion or unfortunate result.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ておく — Do in advance

  Preparation.

• N3Grammar Pattern

  ～ていく／てくる — Direction/change

  Movement or change over time.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～わけだ／わけではない — That's why / Not that

  Explains reasoning or softens a negation.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～に関して — Regarding

  Formal 'concerning'.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～によって — Depending on / By

  Dependence, cause, or agent.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～として — As

  Capacity or role.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～だけに／だけあって — Precisely because

  Result fits expectations.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～ば～ほど — The more…the more

  Proportional increase.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～に違いない — Must be

  Strong conviction.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～がち — Tend to

  Undesirable tendency.

• N2Grammar Pattern

  ～ながら — While / Even though

  Simultaneous actions or concession.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～ざるを得ない — Have no choice but

  Forced to do.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～に足る — Worthy of

  Deserving.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～ながらも — Although

  Concession (formal).

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～こそ — Precisely / Indeed

  Emphasizes the word.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～ところを — At a time when

  Polite imposition in a situation.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～つつ／つつある — While / Is in the process

  Simultaneous or gradual change.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～や否や — As soon as

  Immediately after.

• N1Grammar Pattern

  ～を余儀なくされる — Forced to

  Compelled by circumstances.