JLPT N3 grammar list — every N3 pattern explained.
Bridge level — moving from basics to fluency.
JLPT N3 grammar is the connecting layer between beginner and advanced Japanese. N3 patterns let you express opinions with nuance, talk about hearsay and appearance, handle formal writing, and read most casual web articles, manga, and youth-oriented news. Mastering N3 grammar is the threshold where Japanese stops being a study project and starts being a tool you can actually use.
Topics covered at JLPT N3:
- hearsay and appearance (そうだ, ようだ, らしい, みたい)
- cause and reason (せいで, おかげで, ために)
- limits and extents (ほど, くらい, だけ, ばかり)
- formal alternatives (における, に対して, によって)
- softer expressions (わけではない, とは限らない)
- reading-oriented connectives
All JLPT N3 grammar lessons
上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる）: to finish doing ~
Learn how to use 上げる・上がる, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning to finish doing ~, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
あまり: so much… that
Learn how to use あまり, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning so much... that, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
あまりにも: too much; excessively
Learn how to use あまりにも, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning too much; excessively, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
合う（あう）: do something together; mutually
Learn how to use 合う（あう）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning do something together, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ば～ほど: the more… the more ~
Learn how to use ば～ほど, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning the more... the more, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ばいい: should; can; it'd be good if ~
Learn how to use ばいい, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning should; can; it'd be good if, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ば～のに: if only; would have; could have ~
Learn how to use ば～のに, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning if only; would have; could have, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ばよかった: should have; would have been better if ~
Learn how to use ばよかった, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning should have; would have been better if, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ばかりで: only; just; nothing but ~
Learn how to use ばかりで, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning only; just, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ばかりでなく: not only... but also
Learn how to use ばかりでなく, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning not only... but also, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
べきだ: should do; must do ~
Learn how to use べきだ, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning should do; must do, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
べきではない: should not do; must not do ~
Learn how to use べきではない, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning should not do; must not do, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
別に～ない（べつに～ない）: not really; not particularly ~
Learn how to use 別に～ない（べつに～ない）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning not really; not particularly, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ぶりに: for the first time in (period of time) ~
Learn how to use ぶりに, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning for the first time in (period of time), with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
中（ちゅう / じゅう）: in the middle of; during; throughout ~
Learn how to use 中（ちゅう / じゅう）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning in the middle of; during; throughout, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
だけ: as much as ~; to the extent of ~
Learn how to use だけ, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning as much as; to the extent of, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
だけでなく: not only… but also ~
Learn how to use だけでなく, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning not only... but also, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
だけど: but; however; although ~
Learn how to use だけど, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning but; however; although, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
だらけ: full of; covered with (something negative) ~
Learn how to use だらけ, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning full of; covered with, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
どんなに～ても: no matter how (much) ~
Learn how to use どんなに～ても, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning no matter how much, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
どうしても: no matter what; at any cost; after all ~
Learn how to use どうしても, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning no matter what; at any cost, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ふりをする: to pretend; to act as if ~
Learn how to use ふりをする, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning to pretend; to act as if, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ふと: suddenly; accidentally; unexpectedly ~
Learn how to use ふと, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning suddenly; unexpectedly, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
がち: tend to; prone to; have a tendency to ~
Learn how to use がち, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning tend to; prone to, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
がたい: very difficult to; hard to ~
Learn how to use がたい, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning very difficult to; hard to, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
気味（ぎみ）: slightly; -like; tending to ~
Learn how to use 気味（ぎみ）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning slightly; -like; tending to, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ごとに: every time; each; at intervals of ~
Learn how to use ごとに, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning every time; each; at intervals of, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ほど: degree; extent; bounds; upper limit ~
Learn how to use ほど, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning degree; extent; bounds, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
ほど～ない: is not as… as ~
Learn how to use ほど～ない, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning is not as... as, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
一度に（いちどに）: all at once; at the same time ~
Learn how to use 一度に（いちどに）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning all at once; at the same time, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
いくら～ても: no matter how (much) ~
Learn how to use いくら～ても, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning no matter how much, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
一方だ（いっぽうだ）: more and more; keep on (one-directional) ~
Learn how to use 一方だ（いっぽうだ）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning more and more; continue to, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
一体（いったい）: what on earth; what in the world; emphasis ~
Learn how to use 一体（いったい）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning what on earth; what in the world, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
じゃない: isn't it; confirmation; maybe; surprise ~
Learn how to use じゃない, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning maybe; isn't it; confirmation, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
か何か（かなにか）: or something; or whatever ~
Learn how to use か何か（かなにか）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning or something, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
かける: half-; not yet finished; in the middle of ~
Learn how to use かける, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning half-; not yet finished; in the middle of, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
から～にかけて: through; from [A] to [B] ~
Learn how to use から～にかけて, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning through; from [A] to [B], with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
代わりに（かわりに）: instead of; in exchange for; as a substitute ~
Learn how to use 代わりに（かわりに）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning instead of; in exchange for, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
結果（けっか）: as a result of; after ~
Learn how to use 結果（けっか）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning as a result of; after, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
結局（けっきょく）: after all; in the end; eventually ~
Learn how to use 結局（けっきょく）, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning after all; in the end, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
わけではない: it does not mean that
Learn how to use わけではない, a JLPT N3 Japanese grammar point meaning it does not mean that, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
FAQ about JLPT N3 grammar
What grammar points are on the JLPT N3?
JLPT N3 covers hearsay and appearance (そうだ, ようだ, らしい, みたい), cause and reason (せいで, おかげで, ために), limits and extents (ほど, くらい, だけ, ばかり), and other patterns. Kanjiru's N3 grammar archive currently has 41 lessons explaining each pattern with structure, meaning, example sentences, nuance, common mistakes, and comparisons to similar grammar.
How long does it take to learn JLPT N3 grammar?
Most learners spend a few months on JLPT N3 grammar with daily review. Using short practice sessions — like the games in the Kanjiru iOS app — speeds up recall because grammar gets mixed with kanji, vocabulary, and reading practice instead of being studied in isolation.
Where should I start with JLPT N3 grammar?
Start by confirming the N4 patterns you already know, then move into the N3 list below in alphabetical order. Each lesson is short and focused, so a few patterns per day is a comfortable pace. Mix grammar reading with active practice in Kanjiru between lessons.
Practice JLPT N3 grammar with Kanjiru
The Kanjiru iOS app turns kanji, kana, vocabulary, grammar, and reading into short practice rounds. Pair the lessons above with quick games to make N3 patterns stick.