N4 Particles List - Let’s Pass the JLPT!

WeXpats
2023/09/06

Japanese particles include case markers, parallel markers, conjunctive particles, focus particles and compound case particles. In N5 Particles List, we explained the usage of fundamental particles like case markers. This time, we will go through the meaning and usage of N4 particles and challenge some example questions. 


Table of Contents 

  1. N4 Particles - Parallel Markers & Conjunctive Particles
  2. N4 Particles List
  3. How to Learn N4 Particles Easily
  4. Things to be Aware of about N4 Particles
  5. Challenge the N4 Particles Quiz! 

N4 Particles - Parallel Markers & Conjunctive Particles

In addition to the case markers studied at N5 level, Parallel Markers and Conjunctive Particles also appear at N4 level. In this part, we will explain Parallel Markers and Conjunctive Particles that commonly appear in N4. Remember their meanings and usages.

並列助詞 (heiretsu joshi) - Parallel Markers

Parallel Markers are used to describe several nouns in relation to each other. There are 3 types of parallel markers:

  1. 全部列挙 (zenbu rekkyo) - Full Enumeration : to list out everything

  2. 一部列挙 (ichibu rekkyo) - Partial Enumeration : to list out some things

  3. 選択列挙 (sentaku rekkyo) - Selective Enumeration : to list out a selection of things

Parallel Marker

Example Sentence

Type

「と」
 to

野菜パンを買います。
(kome to yasai to pan o kaimasu)
- I buy rice, vegetables, and bread. 

全部列挙
(zenbu rekkyo)
- Full Enumeration

「とか~とか」
 toka~toka

とか野菜とかを買います。
(kome toka yasai toka o kaimasu)
- I buy rice, vegetables, etc. 

一部列挙
(ichibu rekkyo)
- Partial Enumeration

「か」
 ka

野菜、どちらを買うか教えてください。
(kome ka yasai ka, dochira o kau ka oshietekudasai)
- Please tell me which one you’d like to buy, rice or
vegetables? 

選択列挙
(sentaku rekkyo) 
- Selective Enumeration

終助詞 (shuu joshi) - Conjunctive Particles

Conjunctive Particles are attached to the end of a sentence, and are used to express the speaker’s emotions and feelings. Conjunctive Particles can be used to indicate a question, confirmation, communication, prohibition, or exclamation. 

As they are added to the end of a sentence, remember them as particles that come before punctuation marks -「。」「?」「!」.

Conjuntive Particle

Example Sentence

Type

「かな」
 kana

彼は明日来るのかな?
(kare wa ashita kuru no kana)
- I wonder, is he coming tomorrow?

Question

「かしら」
 kashira

友達も参加してるかしら?
(tomodachi mo sankashiteru kashira)
- I wonder, is your friend joining too?

Question

「かい」
 kai

明日の準備はおわったのかい。
(ashita no junbi wa owatta no kai)
- Are tomorrow’s preparations done?

Confirmation

「な」
 na

急に雨が降ってきて驚いたな。
(kyuu ni ame ga futtekita odoroitana)
- I was surprised when it suddenly started to rain.

Exclamation

「な」
 na

危ない場所には近づくな!
(abunai basho niwa chikazukuna)
- Don’t go near dangerous places!

Prohibition

「よ」
 yo

疲れたから、少し休もうよ。
(tsukaretakara, sukoshi yasumou yo)
- I’m tired, let’s rest a little. 

Communication

N4 Particles List

This table summarises the particles found in N4 level. Let’s remember their meanings and usages by referring to the example sentences. 

Particle

How to Use

Example Sentence

とか~とか
toka~toka

and the like
(parallel marker -
partial enumeration)

母の日に、花とか、バッグとかをプレゼントした。
(haha no hi ni, hana toka, baggu toka o purezentoshita)
- I gifted my mother flowers, bag and the like on Mother’s
Day. 


ba

if
(condition / assumption)

7時に家をでれ、電車に間に合うでしょう。
(7-ji ni ie o dereba, densha ni maniaudeshou)
- If you leave the house at 7 o’clock, you can catch the
train. 

より
yori

than
(comparison)

私は、彼女より背が高い。
(watashi wa, kanojo yori se ga takai)
- I am taller than her. 

ばかり
bakari

only; nothing but
(limited) 

息子は、ゲームばかりしている。
(musuko wa, ge-mu bakari shiteiru)
- My son does nothing but play games. 

たばかり
tabakari

just
(post-action) 

1か月前に日本に来たばかりです。
(ikka getsu mae ni nihon ni kita bakari desu)
- I only just came to Japan one month ago.

でも
demo

...or something
(presenting an option/
offer an example)

子どもが寝ている間にコーヒーでも飲みませんか。
(kodomo ga neteiru aida ni ko-hi- demo nomimasenka)
- Would you like to have coffee or something while
the children are sleeping? 

かしら
kashira

 

I wonder; do you think?
(question)

明日は雨かしら
(ashita wa ame kashira)
- I wonder if it’ll rain tomorrow. 

かい
kai


yes? ; no? ; isn’t it? ; is it?
(question / confirmation /
strong suggestion) 

夕食はもう食べたのかい
(yuushoku wa mou tabeta no kai)
- Have you eaten dinner yet?

かな
kana

I wonder
(question)

彼は元気にしているかな
(kare wa genki ni shiteiru kana)
- I wonder if he is doing well. 


mo

(in addition / listing out) 

彼女は5日学校を休んでいます。
(kanojo wa itsuka mo gakkou o yasunde imasu)
- She has been absent from school for 5 days. 


na

 

do not
(prohibition)

雨の日は川へ行く !
(ame no hi wa kawa he ikuna)
- Don’t go to the river on rainy days!

など
nado

etc.; or something
(example; valuation)

市内にマンションなどは買えない。
(shinai ni manshon nado wa kaenai)
- I cannot afford an apartment, etc. in the city. 

ながら
nagara

while; during
(conjunction)

ご飯を食べながらテレビを見ます。
(gohan wo tabenagara terebi o mimasu)
- I eat while watching TV. 

なら
nara


if; if that is the case
(expression of cause and
effect; assumption)

彼女が行くなら、私も行きます。
(kanojo ga iku nara, watashi mo ikimasu)
- If she is going, then I will too. 

のに
noni

 

even though
(contradiction; unexpected) 

昨日ははやく寝たのに、まだ眠い。
(kinou wa hayaku neta noni, mada nemui)
- I’m still sleepy, even though I slept early yesterday.

のに
noni

for
(purpose - use)

自転車は、せまい道を通るのに便利だ。
(jitensha wa, semai michi o tooru noni benrida)
- Bicycles are convenient for navigating through
narrow roads.

のは~だ
nowa~da

[reason] is [result]
(reason and result)

1日10時間べんきょうするのは大変
(ichi nichi jyuu jikan benkyou suru nowa taihenda)
- Studying 10 hours a day is difficult.


shi

and
(conjunction particle -
parallel marker to express
multiple reasons )

彼はべんきょうも得意だ、水泳も上手だ
何でもできます。
(kare wa benkyou mo tokuidashi, suiei mo jyouzudashi,
nandemo dekimasu)
- He’s good at studying, good at swimming, he can do
anything.

たら
tara

if
(assumption; after action) 

彼が来なかったら、帰ります。
(kare ga konakattara, kaerimasu)
- If he doesn't come, I’m leaving.


de

due to; because of
(cause)

事故電車が止まっています。
(jikko de densha ga tomatte imasu)
- The train has stopped due to an accident.


de

made from
(ingredient)

ヨーグルトは牛乳作ります。
(yo-guruto wa gyuunyuu de tsukurimasu)
- Yoghurt is made from milk. 


de

in
(time period)

あと、10分試験が終わります。
(ato, jyuppun de shiken ga owarimasu)
- The test will end in 10 minutes.


de

by
(means; method)

駅まで自転車行きます。
(eki made jitensha de ikimasu)
- I go to the station by bicycle.

ても
temo


even if; even though
(assumption)

母に電話しても出なかった。
(haha ni denwashitemo denakatta)
- Even though I called my mother, she didn’t pick up. 


to

and
(parallel marker -
full enumeration)

りんごバナナみかんを買います。
(ringo to banana to mikan o kaimasu)
- I bought apples, bananas and oranges.

という
toiu

called; named
(name)

私のペットは、コロという名前です。
(watashi no petto wa, koro toiu namae desu)
- My pet’s name is Koro. 


ni

to
(target of action)

誕生日のプレゼントをあげます。
(chichi ni tanjoubi no purezento o agemasu)
- I gave a birthday present to my father.

から
kara

made from
(ingredient)

日本酒は米から作ります。
(nihonshu wa kome kara tsukurimasu)
- Japanese sake is made from rice.

までに
madeni

by
(deadline)

20日までに申し込み用紙を出してください。
(hatsuka madeni moushikomiyoushi o dashitekudasai)
- Please submit the application form by the 20th. 


ka

(uncertainty)

荷物が届くのは、明日あさって分からない。
(nimotsu ga todoku nowa, ashita ka asatte ka wakaranai)
- I don’t know if the package is arriving tomorrow, or the
day after. 

ので
node

because of
(cause)

電車の事故があったので、授業に遅れた。
(densha no jikko ga atta node, jyuugyou ni okureta)
- Because of a train accident, I was late for class.

How to Learn N4 Particles Easily

The particle で (de) has multiple meanings. By adding で after a noun, it can express cause, make, time period, means, or method. 

Things to be Aware of about N4 Particles

At the N4 level, the particles ながら (nagara), という (toiu), and ばかり (bakari) make an apperance. These particles are commonly used so remember them well. Also, note that particles do not change form as they are not conjugated, but when they are connected to other words, for example verbs, then the conjugated form of the verb will change. 

ながら (nagara) - while

The particle ながら is used like so, “Verb ① + ながら + Verb ②”, for when performing 2 actions at the same time. Verb ① is conjugated to the polite form (ます), remove the ます, and attach ながら.

  • 友達と一緒に歩きながら話します。[歩きますながら+話します]
    (tomodachi to issho ni arukinagara hanashimasu)
    - My friend and I talk while we walk. 

という (toiu) - named / called

The particle という is used to introduce someone, or to tell or convey the name of an object or another person. 

  • 私の祖父は、山田太郎という名前です。
    (watashi no sofu wa, Yamada Tarou toiu namae desu)
    - My grandfather’s name is Yamada Tarou. 

ばかり (bakari)

The particle ばかり can have 2 meanings. 

ばかり (bakari) - ① Just After

To indicate the aftermath of an action. In this case, the verb (indicating the action) before ばかり needs to be in past form (た形). 

  • 彼女とは昨日会ったばかりです。[会う→ 会った + ばかり]
    (kanojo towa kinou atta bakari desu)
    - I just met her yesterday. 

ばかり (bakari) - ② Only; Nothing But

To show limitations. In the case of nouns, ばかり follow immediately after. However, in the case of verbs, the verb before ばかり needs to be in present progressive form (て形). 

  • 暑いので水ばかり飲んでいる。 [水 (名詞 /noun) + ばかり]
    (atsui node mizu bakari nondeiru)
    - It’s hot, so I keep on drinking water.

  • 赤ちゃんは、いつも寝てばかりいる。[寝る→ 寝て + ばかり]
    (akachan wa, itsumo nette bakari iru)
    - Babies do nothing but sleep all the time.

Challenge the N4 Particles Quiz! 

Let’s try answering these JLPT N4 Particles example questions.

問題:( )に入る助詞はどれですか。1・2・3・4の中からいちばんいいものを一つえらんでください。

Question ① 宿題は、10日(  )だしてください。
1.から 2.まで 3.までに 4.でも

Question ②あまいもの(  )食べているから体重が増えました。
1.しか 2.だけ 3.まで 4.ばかり

Question ③これは、紙(  )作ったかざりです。
1.で 2.も 3.と 4.に

Question ④お昼ご飯は、おにぎり(  )ラーメン(  )を食べます。
※二つの( )には同じ語がはいります
1.しか 2.など 3.とか 4.と

【Quiz Translation and Answers】

Check how you did in the short quiz! 

問題:( )に入る助詞はどれですか。1.2.3.4の中からいちばんいいものを一つえらんでください。
(mondai: ( )ni ireru joshi wa dore desuka? 1・2・3・4 no naka kara ichiban ii mono o hitotsu erande kudasai)
- Which particle should be used to fill in( )? Choose the best from 1・2・3・4 .

Question ① 宿題は、10日(3.までに)だしてください。
(shukudai wa, touka madeni dashite kudasai)
- Please submit the homework by the 10th. 

Question ②あまいもの(4.ばかり)食べているから体重が増えました。
(amaimono bakari tabeteirukara taijuu ga fuemashita)
- My weight increased because I only eat sweet things. 

Question ③これは、紙(1.で)作ったかざりです。
(kore wa, kami de tsukutta kazari desu)
- This is an ornament made from paper. 

Question ④お昼ご飯は、おにぎり(3.とか)ラーメン(とか)を食べます。
(ohirugohan wa, onigiri toka ramen toka o tabemasu)
- I eat rice balls, ramen or the like for lunch.

 

Quiz Answers: [3], [4], [1], [3]

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