JLPT N3 Grammar List: 114 Points with Meanings & Examples

114 grammar points that common JLPT N3 lists include. Each links to free notes with an illustrated explanation, examples with audio and a quick check.

The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list. Levels follow common study lists and are approximate.

  1. 1〜し、〜~shi, ~adding reasons or features
  2. 2〜のは、〜です~no wa, ~desuhighlighting or evaluating
  3. 3〜ことになっています~koto ni natte imasuestablished rule or convention
  4. 4〜ことになっています~koto ni natte imasusettled plan or assignment
  5. 5〜のに~noniunexpected contrast, despite
  6. 6〜ようです~you desuinference from clues
  7. 7〜ことにします~koto ni shimasudecide to do
  8. 8〜ないことにします~nai koto ni shimasudecide not to do
  9. 9Nばかり／Vてばかりいます~bakari / ~te bakari imasukeep doing the same thing
  10. 10〜させられます~saseraremasube made to do
  11. 11〜させてくれます~sasete kuremasukindly let me do
  12. 12〜させてもらいます~sasete moraimasugratefully be allowed to
  13. 13〜って何ですか~tte nan desu kaask what something is
  14. 14〜というのは〜です~to iu no wa ~ desuexplain what a term means
  15. 15〜と言われています~to iwarete imasuwidely reported saying
  16. 16〜のような〜~no youna ~something like; comparison
  17. 17〜ようかな~you ka naconsidering whether to…
  18. 18〜んだって~n dattecasual hearsay
  19. 19〜だけじゃなくて、〜も~dake janakute, ~monot only A but also B
  20. 20〜てきました~te kimashitachange continuing until now
  21. 21〜ために~tame nicause: because of
  22. 22〜において・〜における~ni oite / ~ni okeruformal setting or field
  23. 23〜上で~ue deconditions for doing something
  24. 24〜た上で~ta ue decomplete a step before deciding
  25. 25〜だけ・〜だけの~dake / ~dake noonly; just enough for
  26. 26〜から〜にかけて~kara ~ni kaketeapproximate time or place range
  27. 27〜がきっかけで~ga kikkake detrigger for a change
  28. 28〜っぽい~ppoicharacteristic or impression
  29. 29〜でも~de moeven in a situation
  30. 30〜によって~ni yottevaries depending on
  31. 31〜のうちに~no uchi nibefore a state changes
  32. 32〜のわりに~no wari nisurprisingly, considering
  33. 33〜がいいんじゃない~ga ii n janaigentle suggestion or advice
  34. 34〜ということです~ to iu koto desuso that means
  35. 35〜はずだ~ hazu dashould; expected to
  36. 36〜向け~mukeintended for
  37. 37〜なんて~ nantesurprise; can you believe
  38. 38〜ば〜ほど~ba ~ hodothe more…, the more…
  39. 39〜ことで~ koto deby doing; through
  40. 40〜なぁ~ naasoftly voiced wish
  41. 41〜こともあります~koto mo arimasusometimes also happens
  42. 42〜にとって~ni tottefrom someone’s perspective
  43. 43〜じゃない？・〜んじゃない？~janai? / ~n janai?right?; gentle suggestion
  44. 44意向形＋とするikoukei + to surutry or be about to
  45. 45〜ていただきたいんですが~te itadakitai n desu gapolite request for help
  46. 46〜には~ni warequirements to reach a goal
  47. 47〜途中で・〜途中に~tochuu de / ~tochuu niduring a journey or activity
  48. 48〜を〜として~ o ~ to shiteuse or treat as
  49. 49〜によって／〜により／〜による〜~ ni yotte / ~ ni yori / ~ ni yoru ~cause and resulting effect
  50. 50〜そうにないんですが~ sou ni nai n desu gaunlikely; gently explain difficulty
  51. 51〜につれて~ni tsuretegradual changes happening together
  52. 52〜とおりに・〜どおりに~toori ni / ~doori niaccording to; just as
  53. 53〜際に・〜際は~sai ni / ~sai waon the occasion of
  54. 54〜こと~kotoformal rule or instruction
  55. 55〜だらけ~darakecovered with many unwanted things
  56. 56〜がち~gachioften tends to
  57. 57〜に比べて~ni kurabetecompared with
  58. 58〜に代わって・〜に代わり~ni kawatte / ~ni kawariin place of
  59. 59〜として~toshitein the role of
  60. 60〜を中心に~o chuushin nicentered around
  61. 61〜をはじめとして~o hajime toshiteincluding ... as a leading example
  62. 62〜を通して・〜を通じて~o tooshite / ~o tsuujitethrough a means
  63. 63〜ことから~koto karabased on the fact
  64. 64〜といえば~to iebaspeaking of
  65. 65〜というと~to iu tospeaking of; brings to mind
  66. 66〜たところ~ta tokorodid…and found that
  67. 67〜かなと思って~ka na to omottethinking maybe; so I
  68. 68〜にしては~ni shite wafor; contrary to expectation
  69. 69〜につき~ni tsukiper; for each
  70. 70〜たものだ~ta mono daused to; fond recollection
  71. 71〜さえ／さえ〜ば~sae / sae ~baeven; as long as
  72. 72〜に反して~ni hanshitecontrary to expectations
  73. 73〜ているうちに~te iru uchi nichange during an activity
  74. 74〜のことなんですが~no koto nan desu gagently introduce a topic
  75. 75〜させていただけませんか~sasete itadakemasen kapolitely ask permission
  76. 76〜の代わりに・〜に代わって~no kawari niinstead of; in place of
  77. 77〜おかげで~okage dethanks to; good result
  78. 78〜おかげだ~okage dacredit a good result
  79. 79〜くせに~kuse nireproachful contradiction
  80. 80〜せいで~sei deblame for a bad result
  81. 81〜に決まっている~ni kimatte irustrong certainty; bound to
  82. 82〜ことはない~ koto wa naino need to
  83. 83人にしたら・人にすればhito ni shitara / hito ni surebafrom someone’s perspective
  84. 84〜たびに~ tabi nievery time
  85. 85〜でしょう？~deshou?seeking agreement
  86. 86〜っけ~kkerecalling and checking
  87. 87〜もん・〜んだもん~mon / ~n da monemotional reason or plea
  88. 88〜ほど・〜くらい・〜ぐらい~hodo / ~kurai / ~guraidegree shown by an example
  89. 89〜ところだった~tokoro dattasomething almost happened
  90. 90〜くらい・〜ぐらい~kurai / ~guraidegree shown by a situation
  91. 91とても〜ないtotemo ~naicannot possibly do
  92. 92〜はもちろん・〜はもとより~ wa mochiron / ~ wa motoyorinot only; but also
  93. 93〜させていただきます~ sasete itadakimasuhumbly do with permission
  94. 94〜つもりだ~ tsumori daintend to; believe one did
  95. 95〜ように思う~ you ni omouseem; I think
  96. 96〜ております~te orimasuformal humble action or state
  97. 97〜ついでに~ tsuide niwhile at it; taking the opportunity
  98. 98〜とともに~ to tomo nitogether with
  99. 99〜しかない~ shika naihave no choice but to
  100. 100〜ずにはいられない~zu ni wa irarenaican't help doing
  101. 101〜一方で~ippou dewhile also showing another side
  102. 102〜と同時に~to douji niat the same time; while also
  103. 103〜によって・〜により・〜による~ni yotte / ~ni yoruby means of; due to
  104. 104どちらかというと〜・どちらかといえば〜dochira ka to iu to ~if I had to choose; rather
  105. 105〜ものだ・〜もんだ~mono da / ~mon daas things usually are
  106. 106〜ないことはない・〜ないこともない~nai koto wa naiqualified yes; not impossible
  107. 107〜も〜ば、〜も~mo ~ba, ~molisting different situations
  108. 108〜きる・〜きれる~kiru / ~kirerufinish completely; be able to finish
  109. 109〜といえば~to iebaspeaking of; typical association
  110. 110〜というと~ to iu totopic association
  111. 111〜べきだ／〜べきではない~beki da / ~beki dewa naishould / should not
  112. 112〜ほど〜はない~ hodo ~ wa nainothing is as … as
  113. 113〜最中に~ saichuu niright in the middle of
  114. 114〜かけだ／〜かけの／〜かける~kake da / ~kake no / ~kakerustarted but unfinished