The levels from N5 to N2
N5 to N2 are the names of a scale in common use. What stands on this page is this project’s own reading of it — not an official assessment and not a certificate.
N5
First steps
Read hiragana and katakana, introduce yourself, build simple sentences with です and ます.
What you can do at this level
- read and write hiragana and katakana
- introduce yourself and others politely
- understand numbers, the time, dates and prices
- say what you do, did and want to do
- ask and answer simple questions with か
Grammar at this level
Writing Japanese, The basic sentence, Particles, Verbs, Adjectives and adverbs, Using the te-form, Wanting and intending …
N4
Foundations
The te-form, requests and permission, talking about your day.
What you can do at this level
- ask for things and ask permission
- switch between polite and plain speech
- talk about experiences and intentions
- give reasons and conditions
- read simple texts with common kanji
Grammar at this level
Writing Japanese, Particles, Verbs, Adjectives and adverbs, Using the te-form, Wanting and intending, Giving and receiving …
N3
Intermediate
Tell a connected story, give reasons for an opinion, read everyday texts.
What you can do at this level
- understand and form the passive and causative
- express guesses and things you have heard
- give and weigh reasons for an opinion
- recognise the everyday forms of polite language
- read shorter everyday texts on your own
Grammar at this level
Particles, Verbs, Using the te-form, Giving and receiving, Conditions, Probability and hearsay, Passive and causative …
N2
Upper intermediate
Follow newspaper articles and conversations at work, say exactly what you mean.
What you can do at this level
- understand the gist of newspaper articles and reports
- speak respectfully and humbly at work
- express stance, limitation and emphasis
- tell spoken style from written style
- give a longer argument a clear structure