๐บ๏ธ Your N5 โ N1 Roadmap
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels. Here's what each one takes and how to use this site at every stage.
N5 โ Beginner
Basic phrases, hiragana, katakana and ~100 kanji. Understand everyday expressions spoken slowly.
- Master hiragana & katakana in the Kana Lab until instant recall
- Learn ~800 words โ run the N5 flashcard deck daily
- Study all N5 grammar points; listen to every example
- Play Typing Dash (kana sprint) to burn readings into muscle memory
N4 โ Elementary
Everyday conversation, ~300 kanji and ~1,500 words. Read simple passages on familiar topics.
- Add ~700 new words and ~200 kanji โ mix Quiz Arena modes
- Grammar: conditionals, obligation, passive โ see the N4 guide
- Use Listening Lab weekly; comprehension at slow speed first
- Start reading simple graded readers or NHK Easy News
N3 โ Intermediate
The bridge level. Understand newspapers headlines, everyday conversations at natural speed.
- The bridge level: ~3,700 total words, ~650 kanji
- Drill the N3 quiz in 'Kanji โ Reading' mode until 80%+
- Shadow the example sentences: play audio, repeat aloud
- Watch anime/dramas with Japanese subtitles for 20 min/day
N2 โ Upper Intermediate
Business-ready. Read newspapers and magazines, follow TV news and native-speed conversation.
- Business-level Japanese: ~6,000 words, ~1,000 kanji
- Grammar nuance matters โ study ใใฎใฎ, ใใใๅพใชใ & friends
- Read real newspaper articles; note unknown kanji in Explorer
- Listening Lab on hard mode: no replays, first try only
N1 โ Advanced
Near-native comprehension. Abstract writing, editorials, complex discussions in any context.
- Near-native: ~10,000 words, ~2,000 kanji
- Master literary & formal patterns (ในใใใ, ใชใใงใฏ...)
- Read editorials and novels; speed matters on the real exam
- Immerse daily โ podcasts, news, and conversation practice
๐ก The golden rules
- Consistency beats intensity โ 20 minutes daily outperforms 3 hours on Sunday.
- Audio first โ always hear a word when you learn it. Every word on this site is speakable.
- Output early โ say sentences aloud, even alone. Shadowing the example audio counts.
- Games keep you coming back โ your XP and streak on the Progress page are the real metric.