Welcome to my website - for preparing for the JLPT N3 test.
I have done the test and on this site I share what I learnt during the process and how it can help you to achieve your goal of passing the JLPT N3 test.
I wrote my ebook for two reasons, firstly, as a guide for myself (so I didn't forget what I did) and secondly, as a guide for others. Yes, I have self-studied using a range of textbooks, yes, I have attended classes with Japanese tutors, yes, I have studied at KUMON, yes, I have studied at a language school in Japan and yes, I am still confused trying to learn, study and memorize kanji, grammar and to clearly understand Japanese language. Yes, I have spent thousands of hours just like you self-studying, looking up words on an electronic dictionary, attending conversation classes, looking for a good teacher who can explain things to me in a simple unjumbled way and yes, just like you, I continue to search for good resources to get me closer to my goals!
Personally, I hate studying random words, random, sentences and looking up the readings for kanji I haven't even learnt yet. Sound familiar? Unfortunately if you are a non-Japanese like me and are trying to learn, it often feels like putting together a puzzle, a puizzle with too many missing pieces, no instruction booklet and no customer service support. You feel like you are a warrior, alone and fighting a battle of information. Searching for a way, a method a way to tame the beast! If your like me you want to cut through and quickly discover: what is important?, what do I need?, how is the best way to learn this? and where are some good resources to help me and not twist my brain inside out and make my head hurt. Know the feeling?
So with this background, I set out to write my JLPT N3 Study Guide in a format, I could easily use. I could learn content in grades that split the content into: Adjectives, i and na adjectives, adverbs, giseigo, grammar, katakana words, nouns, verbs and set phrases that you come across in everyday life.
Using 100% Japanese content from each study grade that Japanese student's learn at school. Namely: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4. But I also realized that you need more than this and so added video that shows content in the same format that includes Grade 5 and Grade 6 because you can never get enough content when you are preparing for a Japanese language test. As there are always surprises, (words you don't know, kanji you have never learnt, new set phrases,etc). So to be fully prepared these extra two grades have been added.
Then I wrote the content in four formats: romaji, hiragana, kanji and an English meaning. So you can see visually what each word looks like. This format also allows you to cover content and force your self to memorize. Like Japanese students do.
I find video to be a great learning tool, as I get the material visually, can pause when I want and it forces me to concentrate. Maybe this might also be useful for your learning! With this in mind I added all the content from Grade 1 through to Grade 6 onto video. I split the learning into steps - shape and meaning, on readings and kun readings. So you learn in a structured systematic way that doesn't overpower you. Small steps, logical and clear. No chaos here!
As self-studying is such a big job, I also added tutorials on how to use a paper kanji dictionary, an electronic dictionary, how to look up kanji using an onkun index, how to use a form index to also look up kanji and how to use a stroke index to look up kanji. Important skills you need to know and master before you start your JLPT N3 journey.
Then I looked at the 214 radicals you need to know before you start to seriously study kanji, the guides that help you discover, find and look up Chinese characters, quickly and easily by shape and by meaning.
As new kanji were released before I sat my test, I included detailed guides for these new 196 Joyo kanji.
In my ebook you have links to over 40 videos, old practice tests, what is in the test, my review of sitting the test, book reviews of Japanese language books, study tools, online resources, official JLPT links and much more.
Studying Japanese is not easy, that is official, but if you can make it more logical, structured and the ability to see where you are going clearly before you start, then the whole process becomes just a little bit easier to bear.
Hope my guide does this for you!
Sitemap
1. The N3 JLPT Test
What is the N3 Level
What material does the N3 JLPT test cover ?
How many kanji do you need to know?
How many vocab do you need to know?
How many study hours for Asian students?
How many study hours for non-kanji learners?
Should I sit the N3 JLPT test?
What is the structure of the N3 JLPT Test?
Test sections & question types
How is the test marked?
Essential Study Tools
How many points do you need to pass?
How to order N3 books online
Official JLPT Information
Official JLPT website
Official guide to competence required for the N3 test
Official N3 Sample questions
Official N3 Test components
Official Guide to Scoring the N3
Official JLPT test FAQ
Official JLPT test statistics
Official Guide to Test registration – Japan
Official Guide to Test Registration – outside Japan
Official Guide to test sites around the world
Official Guide to Books & References
N3 JLPT – Test Experiences
Taking the test in Japan
Application window
How to get the application form in Japan
How to complete the application form
How to take the test
Taken the Test
Test Review: From application to sitting the N3
What to do if you fail the N3 JLPT Test?
Your test feedback
If you have sat the test we would like to hear from you. Share your feedback here
Test Practice
Old JLPT Tests
The New Test
Do you know these kanji for the N3?
Do you know this vocabulary for the N3?
Do you know these verbs for the N3?
Do you know these nouns for the N3?
Do you know these adverbs for the N3?
Do you know this grammar for the N3?
Do you know this katakana for the N3?
Test Review: From application to sitting the N3
2. Resources
How to order books on Amazon Japan
Essential study tools for the N3 JLPT
Book Reviews
Dictionaries
1. Romaji – Japanese English
2. Compact Nelson Kanji Dictionary
3. Collins Shubun English – Japanese Dictionary
4. Canon Wordtank V90 Japanese English Dictionary
Grammar
1. The Complete Japanese Verb Guide
2. English Grammar for learners of Japanese
3. All About Katakana
4. All About Particles
5. A Dictionary of Basic Sentence Patterns
Kanji
1. Kanji In Context
2. The Memory Book
3. Basic Kanji Volume One Red Book Chieko Kano
4. Guide to reading & Writing Japanese
5. Magnifying Glass
Japanese Culture
1. Rashomon & Other Short Stories
2. Who’s who of Japan – 100 historical people
3. One Hundred Sacks of Rice
4. The Bamboo Sword
5. Zen & Japanese Culture
6. A Diplomat in Japan
7. Snow Country
8. Eating in Japan
9. The Lake
10. Piercing
Advanced Resources
1. JLPT 2 Grammar Unicom Test guide
2. JLPT 2 Listening Unicom Test guide
3. JLPT 2 Kanji &Vocab Unicom Test guide
4. JLPT 2 Reading Unicom Test guide
N3 JLPT Online Resources
Blogs
N3 JLPT
Three steps over Japan
Crazysunshine
Tanos
Chuckiesblurbs
Wikipedia
JLPT
Japanese Language
Japanese Dictionaries
Learning Japanese Kanji
Japanese Grammar
Japanese Verbs
Reading Japanese
Gender differences in spoken Japanese
Japanese Literature
Forums
How to learn any language
Gaijin Pot
About.com
Hakuba
Jref
Jlpt study
Useful Links for Preparing for the N3 JLPT
Popular Japanese Words in 2010
Popular Japanese Words in 2012
Pera Pera Penguin
Talking about the Past
How to say No
Free online Grammar resources
Japanese Proverbs
N3 JLPT Store
Amazon – USA (English)
Store Front
Kanji
Grammar
Dictionaries
Test Guides
Reference
Textbooks
Amazon Japan Store
Amazon – Japan (Japanese)
Store Front
Kanji
Grammar
Dictionaries
N3 Test Guides
Culture
Old JLPT Tests & Guides
Textbooks
Backup Strategies
What to do if you fail the N3 JLPT Test?
3. Study Skills
How to study for the N3 JLPT test?
How to use a form index
How to use an on-kun index
N3 JLPT Study Plan
Knowledge
1. Tutorial - Japanese - Hiragana script by shape
2. Tutorial - Japanese - Katakana script by shape
Skills
1. Tutorial - How to use a kanji dictionary?
2. Tutorial - How to use a Canon Wordtank?
3. Tutorial - How to look up kanji using an onkun index?
4. Tutorial - How to use a form index to look up kanji?
5. Tutorial - How to use a stroke index to look up kanji?
Kanji
New 196 Joyo Kanji List 2010
How to study the 196 new joyo kanji ?
New Joyo Kanji in Heisig format
Radicals
1. Tutorial - The 214 traditional radicals by shape
2. Tutorial - The 214 traditional radicals by meaning
Grade 1
1. Tutorial - Grade 1 Characters by Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 1 Characters On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial – Grade 1 Characters Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 2
1. Tutorial - Grade 2 Characters Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 2 Characters On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 2 Characters Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 3
1. Tutorial - Grade 3 Characters Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 3 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 3 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 4
1. Tutorial - Grade 4 Japanese Kanji Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 4 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 4 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 5
1. Tutorial - Grade 5 Japanese Kanji Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 5 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 5 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 6
1. Tutorial - Grade 6 Japanese Kanji Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 6 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 6 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
4. Social Media
1. RSS Feed
2. You Tube
N3 JLPT User
N3 JLPT Featured
N3 JLPT Feed
N3 JLPT All Videos
N3 JLPT Playlists
N3 JLPT Videos
Knowledge
1. Tutorial - Japanese - Hiragana script by shape
2. Tutorial - Japanese - Katakana script by shape
Skills
1. Tutorial - How to use a kanji dictionary?
2. Tutorial - How to use a Canon Wordtank?
3. Tutorial - How to look up kanji using an onkun index?
4. Tutorial - How to use a form index to look up kanji?
5. Tutorial - How to use a stroke index to look up kanji?
Resources
1. Resources - #1 Romaji Dictionary - Look Inside
2. Resources - #2 Kanji in Context - Look inside
3. Resources - #3 The Compact Nelson - Kanji Dictionary - Look Inside
4. Resources - #4 The Collins Shubun - English & Japanese Dictionary - Look Inside
5. Resources - #5 The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne - Look Inside
6. Resources - #6 Japanese Literature - Rashomon - Look Inside
Kanji
Radicals
1. Tutorial - The 214 traditional radicals by shape
2. Tutorial - The 214 traditional radicals by meaning
Grade 1
1. Tutorial - Grade 1 Characters by Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 1 Characters On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial – Grade 1 Characters Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 2
1. Tutorial - Grade 2 Characters Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 2 Characters On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 2 Characters Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 3
1. Tutorial - Grade 3 Characters Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 3 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 3 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 4
1. Tutorial - Grade 4 Japanese Kanji Shape &Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 4 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 4 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 5
1. Tutorial - Grade 5 Japanese Kanji Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 5 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 5 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Grade 6
1. Tutorial - Grade 6 Japanese Kanji Shape & Meaning
2. Tutorial - Grade 6 Japanese Kanji On Yomi Readings
3. Tutorial - Grade 6 Japanese Kanji Kun Yomi Readings
Advanced Resources
1. JLPT 2 Grammar Unicom - Look Inside
2. JLPT 2 Kanji & Vocabulary Unicom - Look Inside
3. JLPT 2 Reading Unicom - Look Inside
4. JLPT 2 Listening Unicom- Look Inside
3. Twitter
N3 JLPT Profile
4. Scribd
N3 JLPT Scribd Profile
N3 JLPT Scribd Shelf
N3 JLPT Scribd Documents
N3 JLPT Scribd Collections
5. Your test feedback
If you have sat the test we would like to hear from you. Share your feedback here
http://www.n3jlpt.blogspot.com