JLPT N5 vs N4: What's the Difference?
TL;DR: N5 vs N4
| Metric | N5 | N4 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 800 | 1,500 |
| Kanji | 100 | 300 |
| Study Hours | 350h | 600h |
| Pass Rate | 60-70% | 55-65% |
| CEFR | A1 | A2 |
Vocabulary: 800 vs 1,500
N5 requires about 800 words — basic everyday vocabulary for greetings, numbers, time, and simple actions. N4 nearly doubles that to 1,500 words, adding vocabulary for workplace, social situations, and more abstract concepts.
The jump from N5 to N4 is mostly about expanding your everyday vocabulary. You'll learn more compound words and begin understanding words in context rather than just in isolation.
Kanji: 100 vs 300
N5 covers about 100 kanji — the most basic characters for numbers, days, directions, and nature. N4 triples that to 300 kanji, covering more complex characters used in daily life, work, and communication.
Reading Difficulty
N5 Reading
Simple sentences, signs, menus, short phrases. Mostly hiragana with basic kanji.
N4 Reading
Short paragraphs, simple emails, diary entries. More kanji with fewer furigana.
Study Time
N5 typically takes about 350 hours of study. N4 requires approximately 600 hours — about 250 additional hours. For most learners studying 1-2 hours daily, this means N5 takes 4-6 months and N4 takes an additional 4-6 months.
Which Level Should You Target?
- •Start with N5 if you're a complete beginner with no prior Japanese knowledge.
- •Go directly to N4 if you already know hiragana/katakana and basic grammar.
- •Skip to N3 if you can read simple Japanese sentences comfortably.