Learn Japanese for JLPT N3

What the N3 courses hold

• 192 words
• 182 grammar points
• 370 kanji
• 756 lessons
• 9,909 lines of recorded Japanese
• 1,023 videos
• 13,965 quiz questions

Counted from the lessons themselves. The JLPT has published no official word or kanji lists since 2010; Manabiya follows the lists of JLPT Sensei.

N3 vocabulary

192 words in 12 units of up to sixteen. Every word has its own lesson: what it means, how it is written, the phrases it usually comes in, three example sentences read aloud, a scene to remember it by, and a quiz.

• 明かりあかりlight; lamp
• 分析ぶんせきanalysis
• 男子だんしboy; male (category)
• 学期がっきschool term; semester
• 販売はんばいsale; selling
• 一家いっかa family; household
• 邪魔じゃまhindrance; in the way
• 気味きみfeeling; a touch of
• 国民こくみんthe people; citizens
• 急にきゅうにsuddenly
• 魅力みりょくcharm; appeal
• 留学りゅうがくstudying abroad
• 新鮮しんせんfresh
• 少女しょうじょgirl
• 収入しゅうにゅうincome
• 都会とかいthe big city
• 夜明けよあけdawn; daybreak
• 随分ずいぶんquite; considerably

N3 grammar

182 grammar points in 16 units grouped by meaning, so that patterns that are easy to confuse stand side by side. Each has a detailed lesson: how to form it, what it means, how it differs from its neighbours, the usual mistakes, example sentences with audio, a scene and a quiz of its own. Each unit ends with a page that compares its patterns.

1. Cause, purpose and result 原因・目的・結果

   9 points, among them: ために in order to; for; because of · ように so that; so as not to · には to do X; for (doing) X · てはいけないから in case; so as not to

2. Time: when, while, as soon as 時を表す

   13 points, among them: 際に when; on the occasion of · うちに while (still); before · 最中に right in the middle of · たとたん the moment; just as

3. Should, must, may: advice and obligation 助言と義務

   13 points, among them: べきだ should (it is the right thing) · べきではない should not (it is wrong) · ばいい just do; all you need is · といい / たらいい it'd be good to; I hope

4. If and even if: conditions and concessions 条件と逆接

   13 points, among them: もしも〜たら if, just supposing · とすれば・としたら・とすると supposing that; if that's so · さえ〜ば as long as; if only · どんなに〜ても no matter how (much)

5. Comparing and contrasting 比較と対比

   10 points, among them: に比べて compared with · よりも than; rather than · ほど〜ない not as … as · むしろ rather; if anything

6. Change and progress 変化と進行

   9 points, among them: につれて as X changes, Y changes too · にしたがって following; as X changes · ば〜ほど the more…, the more… · と共に together with; as; along with

7. Degree, amount and frequency 程度と数量

   12 points, among them: ほど to the point that; about · くらい / ぐらい about; to the point; at least · あまり so much that; out of too much · あまりにも too; so very; excessively

8. Adding, limiting and emphasising 追加・限定・強調

   12 points, among them: だけでなく not only … but also · ばかりでなく not only … but also (formal) · 上に on top of that; besides · はもちろん X, of course, and Y too

9. Looks, leanings and impressions 様子と傾向

   12 points, among them: ように見える to look as if, to seem · ような気がする to have a feeling that · とみえる / とみえて apparently, it seems that · まるで just like; not at all

10. Hearsay, guesses and questions 伝聞・推量・疑問

    10 points, among them: ということだ I'm told; so that means · んだって I heard (casual) · に違いない must be; I'm sure that · もしかしたら maybe; perhaps; by any chance

11. わけ and こと: what is and is not the case 「わけ」と「こと」

    12 points, among them: わけだ so that's why; no wonder · わけではない it's not that…; not all · わけがない there's no way that · わけにはいかない can't very well (do)

12. Trying, intending, pretending 意志と意図

    13 points, among them: ようとする try to; be about to · ようとしない won't; refuses to · つもりだった meant to; thought I had · つもりで intending to; as if

13. Verb + verb: finishing, together, half-done 複合動詞

    10 points, among them: 切る completely; to the very end · 切れない too much to finish; can't fully · 上げる complete (a work); up · 込む into; deeply, thoroughly

14. About, for, by: formal compound particles 複合助詞

    14 points, among them: について about; concerning · に関する／に関して about; regarding (formal) · にとって for; from X's point of view · として as; in the role of

15. Adverbs that ask for ない, and a few more 副詞

    8 points, among them: 別に〜ない not particularly · 決して〜ない never; by no means · めったに〜ない hardly ever, seldom · とても〜ない can't possibly

16. Connecting ideas: in short, by the way, however 接続詞

    12 points, among them: つまり in other words; in short · すなわち namely; that is (formal) · 例えば for example; say · というのは what X means is; the reason is

N3 kanji

370 kanji in 19 units of twenty. Every kanji has its own lesson: its readings, the parts it is made of, a story to remember it by, a stroke-order animation, the words it is used in (1,864 in all at N3) and example sentences, all read aloud, and a quiz.

政議民連対部合市内相定回選米実関決全表戦

• 政politics; government音 セイ、ショウ · 訓 まつりごと
• 点point; dot; score音 テン · 訓 つ(ける)、つ(く)
• 談talk; discussion音 ダン
• 追chase; follow; add音 ツイ · 訓 お(う)
• 師teacher; master; expert音 シ
• 便convenience; post; flight音 ベン、ビン · 訓 たよ(り)
• 閉close; shut音 ヘイ · 訓 と(じる)、と(ざす)、し(める)、し(まる)
• 誰who音 スイ · 訓 だれ

Also at N3

How you study N3 in Manabiya

Choose the N3 courses for your daily plan and say how many minutes you have. Each day brings a few new lessons and the reviews that are due: a lesson you learn today is tested tomorrow, then after three days, about a week, three weeks and longer; a slip brings it back the next day. Every lesson has a page to read, its recordings to listen to line by line or on a loop, its videos and a quiz with an explanation for every answer.