JLPT N1 – Grammar list

This page gathers a list of the main grammar structures in order to be able to pass the JLPT N1.

The most difficult with grammar, in comparison with the vocabulary or the kanji for instance, is to not only understand but also to be able to re-use the studied forms.

This is why you can click on any grammar form you would like to study more and a new tab will open automatically. From an other study page, the pronunciation, meaning and explanation of each grammar structure are provided. Example sentences are also available on each study page in order to be able to practice with real examples.

番号
文法形式
Grammar form
読み方
Pronunciation
意味
Meaning
1あっては atte wato be; to exist; to live
2ことやら koto yarawonder if ..
3ものを mono oalthough; but; even though; I wish that
4ないまでも nai made moeven if A is not done, at least B happens ..
5〇〇なり〇〇なり -nari -narior something; for instance … (though there are other suitable options)
6に言わせれば ni iwaserebaif ones is allowed to express himself/herself.., according to “me” ..
7に限ったことではない ni kagitta koto dewa naibeing not reserved to a specific category of (people/things/situation)
8も同然だ mo douzen dasame as ..
9までだ made daeverything ends if A occurs
10というわけだ to iu wake dathis is why; this means; it is the case that
11わけがない wake ga naithere is no way that …
12ともあろうもの tomo arouof all people (expression showing surprise at a high standing person’s misbehavior)
13こそが koso gafor sure (emphasize preceding word)
14たことにして ta koto ni shitedo as if A was B (to pretend on purpose that A is B for convenient matters)
15というわけではない to iu wake dewa naiit does not mean that ..
16〇〇とも〇〇とも -tomo -tomoones can not say if it something is A or B
17〇〇うと〇〇うと -uto -utowhether it is A whether it is B, C does not change
18〇〇といい〇〇といい -to ii -to iiboth A and B
19〇〇というか〇〇というか -to iu ka -to iu kait is not clear if it is more A or B
20というもの to iu monosomething like …; something called …
21というところだ to iu tokoro da-ish (it is about 800 yen-ish, it is about 10:00-ish)
22たりとも tari tomo(not) a single; (not) a piece of; (not) an inch of; (not) even; (not) any;
23たる tarucalling oneself a .., pretending to be ..
24とばかりに to bakari nito keep on (saying/doing) something
25ところを tokoro oalthough (it is a certain time or something is in a certain condition)
26とあって to attedue to the fact that; because of
27とあれば to arebaif it is the case that; if
28皮切りに wo kawakiri nibeginning; start
29ずくめ zukumeentirely; completely; all; nothing but
30なくして nakushitewithout; in the event that it did not (or does not) exist
31あろうとなかろうと arou to nakarou towhatever there is A or not, B occurs
32からする kara suruat least
33すら suraeven; if only; if just; as long as; the only thing needed
34としたって to shitatteeven if …; even supposing that …
35ともなく tomonakuphrase used to express the uncertainty or lack of intent in what precedes it
36とは towaindicates word or phrase being defined
37とはいえ towaiethough; although; be that as it may; nonetheless
38や否や ya ina yathe minute (that) …; no sooner than …
39をもって wo motteby (means of); with
40を限りに wo kagiri nias of the end of (today, this month, etc.); to make (today, etc.) the last (day)
41言うまでもなく iu made mo nakuobviously; as we all know; needless to say; of course; it goes without saying
42〇〇が〇〇、〇〇も〇〇 -ga -nara, -mo -dalike A, like B (e.g.: “like father, like son”)
43限りだ kagiri dabeing SO .., being JUST .. (e.g. : “I just feel jealous now”, “I am so worried about this”)
44とみると to miru toas soon as ones realize that A is A, then situation B occurs
45くらいのものだ kurai no mono dathere is only A being able to do B
46ことのないように koto no nai you nito act as a situation never happened/occured
47こそすれ koso sureWhat ones did was obviously praiseworthy and could never been criticized (provides a contrast between a good action that could have been misinterpreted by the public)
48ものとする mono to surushall …
49いえども to ie domoeven though; despite; notwithstanding
50〇〇つ〇〇つ -tsu -tsuindicates two contrasting actions
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