JLPT N3 Grammar List - Page 9
Explore the intermediate grammar concepts for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N3. Each grammar point explains its meaning and formation with example sentences.
~とか (hearsay)
Report something you heard with some distance or uncertainty
来年、駅の前に大きな病院ができるとか。
rainen, eki no mae ni ookina byouin ga dekiru toka.
Apparently a big hospital is going up in front of the station next year.
田中さんは風邪だとか言っていました。
tanaka san wa kaze da toka itte imashita.
Tanaka was saying something about having a cold.
あの店は来週閉店するとか言っていました。
ano mise wa raishuu heiten suru toka itte imashita.
They were saying something like that store will close next week.
~と言える
Say that a conclusion can reasonably be stated
日本は安全な国だと言える。
nihon wa anzen na kuni da to ieru.
It can be said that Japan is a safe country.
毎日歩くことは、健康にいいと言えるでしょう。
mainichi aruku koto wa, kenkou ni ii to ieru deshou.
It can probably be said that walking every day is good for your health.
スマートフォンは生活に欠かせないものだと言えます。
sumaatofon wa seikatsu ni kakasenai mono da to iemasu.
It can be said that smartphones are indispensable in daily life.
~ものだ
Describe what is naturally expected or generally true
子どもはよく笑うものだ。
kodomo wa yoku warau mono da.
Children laugh a lot; that’s just how they are.
楽しい時間はすぐに過ぎるものだ。
tanoshii jikan wa sugu ni sugiru mono da.
Good times always pass quickly; that’s just how it is.
薬は苦いものだ。
kusuri wa nigai mono da.
Medicine is naturally bitter.
~もの・~もん (reason)
Give a casual personal reason
だって、知らなかったんだもん。
datte, shiranakatta n da mon.
But I didn’t know!
行けなかったの。熱があったんだもの。
ikenakatta no. netsu ga atta n da mono.
I couldn’t go. I had a fever, after all.
失敗しても仕方がないよ。まだ子供なんだもの。
shippai shite mo shikata ga nai yo. mada kodomo nan da mono.
It can't be helped if they make a mistake. They are still a child, after all.
~のだから
Emphasize a known reason before drawing a conclusion
約束したんだから、守らなければいけないよ。
yakusoku shita n da kara, mamoranakereba ikenai yo.
You promised, so you have to keep it.
せっかく作ったんだから、たくさん食べてね。
sekkaku tsukutta n da kara, takusan tabete ne.
I went to the trouble of making it, so eat lots.
熱があるのだから、今日は無理をしないで休んでください。
netsu ga aru no da kara, kyou wa muri o shinaide yasunde kudasai.
Since you have a fever, please don't overdo it today and get some rest.
~のことだから
Predict what someone will do from what you know about them
彼女のことだから、また遅れて来るだろう。
kanojo no koto da kara, mata okurete kuru darou.
Knowing her, she’ll probably be late again.
優しい兄のことだから、きっと手伝ってくれるよ。
yasashii ani no koto da kara, kitto tetsudatte kureru yo.
Knowing how kind my older brother is, he’ll surely help.
料理が上手な母のことだから、おいしい夕飯を用意しているはずだ。
ryouri ga jouzu na haha no koto da kara, oishii yuuhan o youi shite iru hazu da.
Knowing my mother who is good at cooking, she is sure to have prepared a delicious dinner.
~反面
One thing has an opposite side as well
一人暮らしは自由な反面、寂しい時もある。
hitorigurashi wa jiyuu na hanmen, sabishii toki mo aru.
Living alone gives you freedom, but it can also be lonely.
父は厳しい反面、優しいところもある。
chichi wa kibishii hanmen, yasashii tokoro mo aru.
My father is strict, but he has a kind side too.
この薬は効果が高い反面、副作用もある。
kono kusuri wa kouka ga takai hanmen, fukusayou mo aru.
While this medicine is highly effective, on the other hand, there are also side effects.
~一方で
On the other hand, another contrasting fact is true
姉は話すのが好きな一方で、妹は静かです。
ane wa hanasu no ga suki na ippou de, imouto wa shizuka desu.
My older sister loves to talk, while my younger sister is quiet.
仕事が忙しい一方で、趣味の時間も大切にしている。
shigoto ga isogashii ippou de, shumi no jikan mo taisetsu ni shite iru.
Work is busy, but at the same time I value my hobby time.
彼は本業に励む一方で、週末はボランティア活動をしている。
kare wa hongyou ni hagemu ippou de, shuumatsu wa borantia katsudou o shite iru.
While working diligently at his main job, on the other hand, he does volunteer work on weekends.
~ながらも
Although a state is true, the result contrasts with it
彼は若いながらも、しっかりしている。
kare wa wakai nagara mo, shikkari shite iru.
Although he is young, he is very responsible.
文句を言いながらも、彼は最後まで手伝ってくれた。
monku o iinagara mo, kare wa saigo made tetsudatte kureta.
Although he grumbled, he helped me until the end.
失敗しながらも、最後までやり遂げた。
shippai shinagara mo, saigo made yaritogeta.
Although I made mistakes, I saw it through to the end.
~くせに
And yet, despite what should be expected
弟は子どものくせに、大人みたいなことを言う。
otouto wa kodomo no kuse ni, otona mitai na koto o iu.
My younger brother is just a kid, yet he talks like an adult.
下手なくせに、いつも歌いたがる。
heta na kuse ni, itsumo utaitagaru.
They are bad at singing, yet they always want to sing.
自分では何もしないくせに、文句ばかり言う。
jibun de wa nani mo shinai kuse ni, monku bakari iu.
Even though he does nothing himself, he only complains.
~上に
On top of that, another related fact is true
田中さんは優しい上に、話も面白い。
tanaka san wa yasashii ue ni, hanashi mo omoshiroi.
Tanaka-san is kind, and on top of that, fun to talk to.
今日は疲れた上に、お腹も空いた。
kyou wa tsukareta ue ni, onaka mo suita.
Today I am tired, and on top of that I am hungry.
昨日は雨が降った上に、風も強くて大変だった。
kinou wa ame ga futta ue ni, kaze mo tsuyokute taihen datta.
On top of the rain yesterday, the wind was also strong and it was miserable.
~どころか
Far from being true, the opposite is closer to reality
隣の部屋は静かどころか、とてもうるさい。
tonari no heya wa shizuka dokoro ka, totemo urusai.
Far from being quiet, the room next door is very noisy.
日曜日は休むどころか、いつもより働いた。
nichiyoubi wa yasumu dokoro ka, itsumo yori hataraita.
Far from resting on Sunday, I worked more than usual.
独学を始めたが、上達するどころか諦めそうになっている。
dokugaku o hajimeta ga, joutatsu suru dokoro ka akiramesou ni natte iru.
I started self-study, but far from improving, I feel like giving up.
~は別として
Set one issue aside before discussing the rest
天気は別として、旅行はとても楽しかった。
tenki wa betsu to shite, ryokou wa totemo tanoshikatta.
Weather aside, the trip was a lot of fun.
好きかどうかは別として、野菜は体にいい。
suki ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, yasai wa karada ni ii.
Whether you like them or not, vegetables are good for you.
上手かどうかは別として、楽しんで歌うことが一番だ。
jouzu ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, tanoshinde utau koto ga ichiban da.
Setting aside whether one is skilled or not, enjoying singing is the most important thing.
ところが
Introduce a result that goes against expectation
急いで駅へ行った。ところが、電車は遅れていた。
isoide eki e itta. tokoroga, densha wa okurete ita.
I hurried to the station. But, as it turned out, the train was late.
店に行った。ところが、休みだった。
mise ni itta. tokoroga, yasumi datta.
I went to the shop. However, it was closed.
試験は簡単だと思っていた。ところが、難しくて半分も解けなかった。
shiken wa kantan da to omotte ita. tokoroga, muzukashikute hanbun mo tokenakatta.
I thought the exam would be easy. However, it was difficult and I couldn't even solve half of it.