JLPT N4 Writing: Write About a Seasonal Event

The JLPT N4 writing exam focuses on simple, everyday topics. One common task is to describe a seasonal event – think cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in spring or summer festivals (matsuri). This article will guide you through preparing for this task, focusing on practical language and realistic examples.

Understanding the Task

You’ll usually be given a prompt like: “Write about a seasonal event that you have experienced.” Don’t worry about complex literary descriptions! The examiners want to see if you can clearly communicate your experience using appropriate vocabulary and basic grammar. They value clarity over beautiful prose.

Essential Vocabulary & Phrases

Here’s some useful Japanese vocabulary and phrases you’ll need:

• 季節 (Kisetsu) – Season
• イベント (Ibento) – Event
• 花見 (Hanami) – Cherry Blossom Viewing
• 祭り (Matsuri) – Festival
• 食べた (Tabeta) – Ate
• 飲んだ (Nonda) – Drank
• 楽しかった (Tanoshikatta) – It was fun
• 一緒に行きました (Issho ni ikimashita) – We went together
• 〜と一緒に (～ni to issho ni) – Together with…
• 〜について (～ni tsuite) – About…

Example Dialogue & Sentences

Let’s look at some examples of how you might start your paragraph:

• Greeting: “こんにちは！(Konnichiwa!) – Hello!”
• Introduction: “先日、春に花見をしました。(Senjitsu, haru ni hanami o shimashita.) – Last time, I went cherry blossom viewing in spring.”
• Describing the event: “友達と公園に行って、桜の花を見ました。(Tomodachi to kouen ni itte, sakura no hana o mimashita.) – With my friends, we went to the park and saw cherry blossoms.”
• Action words: “私たちはたくさん食べたり、飲んだりしました。(Watashi-tachi wa takusan tabetari, nondari shimashita.) – We ate and drank a lot.” (Remember to use polite forms – tabetari, not just tabe)
• Expressing enjoyment: “とても楽しかったです！(Totemo tanoshikatta desu!) – It was very fun!”

Making Mistakes & Corrections

Here’s a common mistake and how to correct it:

Incorrect: “昨日、花見をした。” (Kinou, hanami o shita.) – Yesterday, I did cherry blossom viewing.

Corrected: “先日、春に花見をしました。(Senjitsu, haru ni hanami o shimashita.) – Last time, I went cherry blossom viewing in spring.”

‘した (shita)’ is often used for actions completed recently. ‘しました (shimashita)’ is more formal and appropriate when describing a past event.

Structuring Your Response

Here’s a suggested structure:

• Brief Introduction: State the seasonal event you’ll be talking about.
• Context: When and where did it happen? (e.g., “Spring, in Ueno Park.”)
• Description of Activities: What did you do? Who were you with? (e.g., “We ate shojin ryori – vegetarian food – and drank sake.”)
• Expressing Feelings/Thoughts: How did you feel about it? (e.g., “I felt really happy!”)

Resources

Here are some helpful resources for practicing:

• JLPT official website – <a href="Read More“>Read More (Look for writing practice materials).
• Memrise – Search for “JLPT N4 Writing” courses.