JLPT Grammar — 800+ Japanese Patterns
Browse N5–N1 grammar structures with Japanese patterns, romaji & usage notes · filter by level · save patterns · exam-ready.
N5
N4
N3
N2
N1
📐 Grammar Patterns
🔊 Romaji
📝 Usage Notes
⭐ Save & Review
〜ている te-iru · ongoing action〜てから te-kara · after doing〜たり〜たり tari tari · things like…〜ば -ba · conditional if〜ても -te mo · even if〜のに no ni · despite / for〜ために tame ni · in order to〜ように you ni · so that / to become〜らしい rashii · seems / apparently〜そうだ sou da · looks like / I heard〜ながら nagara · while doing〜さえ sae · even / as long as〜だけでなく dake de naku · not only…but〜によって ni yotte · by / depending on〜に対して ni taishite · towards / regarding〜わけではない wake de wa nai · it doesn't mean that〜にしては ni shite wa · for / considering〜ことにする koto ni suru · decide to〜ことになる koto ni naru · it's been decided〜ばかり bakari · just / only / nothing but〜かねない kane nai · might / could〜てしまう te shimau · end up doing / unfortunately〜はずだ hazu da · supposed to / expected〜ている te-iru · ongoing action〜てから te-kara · after doing〜たり〜たり tari tari · things like…〜ば -ba · conditional if〜ても -te mo · even if〜のに no ni · despite / for〜ために tame ni · in order to〜ように you ni · so that / to become〜らしい rashii · seems / apparently〜そうだ sou da · looks like / I heard〜ながら nagara · while doing〜さえ sae · even / as long as〜だけでなく dake de naku · not only…but〜によって ni yotte · by / depending on〜に対して ni taishite · towards / regarding〜わけではない wake de wa nai · it doesn't mean that〜にしては ni shite wa · for / considering〜ことにする koto ni suru · decide to〜ことになる koto ni naru · it's been decided〜ばかり bakari · just / only / nothing but〜かねない kane nai · might / could〜てしまう te shimau · end up doing / unfortunately〜はずだ hazu da · supposed to / expected
てはならない
tewa naranai
must not; cannot; should not~
N2
てはいけない
te wa ikenai
must not; may not; cannot
N5
べからず / べからざる
bekarazu/ bekarazaru
must not; should not; do not ~
N1
な-adjectives
na-adjectives
na-adjectives
N5
って
tte
named; called
N4
て当然だ
te touzen da
natural; as a matter of course
N2
必要がある
hitsuyou ga aru
need to; it is necessary to
N4
が必要
ga hitsuyou
need; necessary
N4
が/も〜なら、〜も〜だ
ga/mo~nara, ~mo~da
negative connection/comparison
N1
ぬ
nu
negative verb conjugation (traditional)
N2
決して～ない
kesshite~nai
never; by no means
N3
それにしても
sore ni shitemo
nevertheless; at any rate; even so
N2
っこない
kkonai
no chance of; definitely not possible
N2
どんなに～ても
donna ni~temo
no matter how (much)
N3
いくら～ても
ikura~temo
no matter how~
N3
どうしても
doushitemo
no matter what; at any cost; after all
N3
ようが〜ようが /ようと〜ようと
you ga~you ga / you to~you to
no matter; whether; even if [A] or [B]
N1
に過ぎない
ni suginai
no more than; just; merely; only~
N2
が早いか
ga hayai ka
no sooner than; as soon as ~
N1
のももっともだ
no mo motto mo da
no wonder; …is only natural
N2
どうにも〜ない
dou nimo~nai
not … by any means
N1
全く～ない
mattaku~nai
not at all~
N2
なかなか～ない
nakanaka~nai
not easy to; struggling to; not able to~
N4
たりとも
tari tomo
not even; not any ~
N1
でも何でもない /くも何ともない
demo nan demo nai / kumo nan tomo nai
not in the least; nothing like that
N1
に限らず
ni kagirazu
not just; not only.. but also~
N2
に限ったことではない
ni kagitta koto dewa nai
not limited to only ~
N1
にとどまらず
ni todomarazu
not limited to; not only… but also ~
N1
とは限らない
towa kagiranai
not necessarily so; is not always true
N3
ないとも限らない
nai tomo kagiranai
not necessarily; maybe; might ~
N1
少しも～ない
sukoshi mo~nai
not one bit; not even a little~
N2
のみならず
nominarazu
not only; besides; as well as~
N2
ばかりか
bakari ka
not only.. but also; as well as
N2
ばかりでなく
bakari denaku
not only.. but also; as well as
N3
だけでなく
dake de naku
not only… but also
N3
もさることながら
mo saru koto nagara
not only... but also ~
N1
Page 14 of 24 · JLPT: All · 469–504 of 831
📐 How to master JLPT grammar patterns
🎯
Study one level at a time
Select your target level with the pills above. Trying to learn N1 grammar before mastering N4 will slow you down significantly.
✍️
Write your own example sentences
For each pattern, write 2–3 sentences using vocabulary you already know. Active creation is far more effective than passive reading.
💾
Save patterns you struggle with
Click ♡ on any card you don't know well. Review your saved list daily — targeted repetition beats cramming.
🔍
Search by usage situation
Type a keyword like "even if", "although" or "despite" to find patterns by meaning and quickly compare similar structures.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many JLPT grammar patterns are on this page? ▼
Over 800 grammar patterns covering all five JLPT levels from N5 to N1. Each card shows the Japanese pattern structure, romaji reading and usage notes explaining when and how to use it.
What do the JLPT levels mean for grammar? ▼
N5 grammar (around 60 patterns) covers basic forms like て-form, ます-form and simple particles. N4 adds more conjunctions. N3 introduces more complex clausal structures. N2 and N1 cover formal, literary and nuanced expressions used in academic and written Japanese.
How should I learn a new grammar pattern? ▼
First, read the usage notes to understand the meaning and context. Then look at the romaji to confirm pronunciation. Finally, write 2–3 example sentences with vocabulary you already know. Active production makes the pattern stick far better than passive review.
Can I save grammar patterns for review? ▼
Yes — click the ♡ heart on any card (free account required). Your saved patterns appear in your Saved Grammar page for repeated drilling during exam prep.
What is the difference between similar patterns like 〜ても and 〜のに? ▼
〜ても means "even if / even though" and is neutral in tone. 〜のに implies a sense of disappointment or contrast — the speaker expected a different result. Understanding these nuances is key for N3 and above, and the usage notes on each card explain the difference.