Hey everyone,

I’ve been studying Japanese for almost 1.5 years now and I am currently trying to conquer N4.

I am not having ANY trouble with vocab and kanji, but the grammar is making me go absolutely crazy.

My current approach is literally just “working off” a list of N4 grammar on JLPT Sensei and checking off items I’ve already learned. I usually look at the rule definiton, the example sentences of JLPT Sensei and then make my own ones.

But I don’t really feel confident at all and I am not sure what I can do to try to make my grammar better. I already Bunpro before but that became more of a “sentence silhouette matching”, because I more so remembered the shape of the sentence instead of the actual grammar.

Any tips?

  • nutcase2690@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    6·
    1 day ago

    To be honest, I never really focused on any of the JLPT tests, but do you take in a lot of (comprehensible) input? Like watching gaming streams in Japanese, AHK Easy news podcasts, watching movies? It is pretty active and difficult to do, but over time it gets easier.

    I found that my “speaking ability” totally skyrocketed after hearing certain grammar structures so many times from native speakers in actual conversations. For some situations, I came to realize that I don’t even know why I say certain things-- just that it feels right to word it that way. And I haven’t really had strange looks from native speakers when it happens like that. The only way you can build up those kinds of instincts is to hear it repeatedly.

    The comprehensible input also helps you after awhile when it comes to speaking, since you’d be prepared to keep up with a conversation and can just parrot variations of what you’ve heard more easily.

    Granted, this is all under the pretense that you can already understand basic sentences and such.

    • NekoBeko@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      1 day ago

      Thanks for your reply!

      I’m also not really studying for a specific JLPT test. Just for fun, really! :D

      […] do you take in a lot of (comprehensible) input?

      I’m actively reading Satori Reader stories on my commute and also occasionally read NHK Easy news.

      I’ve also tried watching gaming videos, streams, etc… But those are still way above my level. If I had to guess my comprehension level for those, I’d say I understand around 15-20% of the words. If they have subtitles baked into the video, then that helps a lot as well.

      The only videos I am able to fully understand are the videos by a YouTuber called Shun.

      I came to realize that I don’t even know why I say certain things […]

      I’ve noticed this after learning English. At some point it just switches over and you don’t really have to think about it. Though I feel like it’s quite a lot harder with Japanese, since it’s so linguistically different to English.

      I’ll definitely get some more input in! Thanks for your help! :D

      • emb@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        23 hours ago

        I’m actively reading Satori Reader stories on my commute and also occasionally read NHK Easy news.

        These are really great! You should be in good shape if you keep practicing those. (Another thought: sometimes, try playing the audio and see if you can understand that way. Listening is a somewhat separate skill that’s hard to learn, and they’re good sources for that too.)

        The only videos I am able to fully understand are the videos by a YouTuber called Shun.

        Another one I’d recommend giving a shot is いろいろな日本語. I struggle with listening comprehension, but I found their videos approachable.