Learning Japanese: JLPT N4 – Discussing Plans and Intentions

The JLPT N4 exam focuses heavily on being able to understand and express your intentions, plans, and desires in everyday situations. This article will give you practical tools and examples for doing just that. Don’t worry about perfect grammar; the goal is to communicate effectively!

Key Phrases & Vocabulary

Here’s a breakdown of essential phrases and vocabulary you’ll need:

• To Want/Desire: ～たい (～tai) – This is incredibly common!
• To Plan: ～を計画する (～o keikaku suru) – More formal, but good to know.
• To Decide: ～を決める (～wo tomaru)
• Tomorrow/Next…: あした～ (ashita~) – Use the appropriate extension based on the time frame.
• This Week/Next Week: こんぽうさい～ (konpousai~) – “This week” is very common.
• To Go to… : ～へ行く (～e iku)
• Schedule / Plan: 予定 (yotei) – Used frequently.
• Food Related Words:　ご飯 (gohan – meal), 寿司(sushi), ラーメン (ramen) – Useful for planning meals!

Dialogue Examples & Practice

Let’s look at some realistic dialogues:

Example 1: Making a Simple Plan

A: 明日、映画を見ない？ (ashita, eiga wo minai?) – “Tomorrow, shall we watch a movie?”
B: うん、いいよ！　何が見たいの？ (un, ii yo! Nani ga mitai no?) – “Yeah, sounds good! What do you want to see?”
A: 寿司を食べに行きたい。(sushi wo tabe ni ikitai.) – “I want to go eat sushi.”

Translation: A: “Tomorrow, shall we watch a movie?” B: “Yeah, sounds good! What do you want to see?” A: “I want to go eat sushi.”

Example 2: Discussing a Week’s Plan

A: こんぽうさい、何か予定あるの？ (konpousai, nanka yotei aru no?) – “Do you have any plans for this week?”
B: 土曜日は、友達とショッピングに行くよ。(doyoubi wa, tomodachi to shopping wo iku yo.) – “On Saturday, I’m going shopping with a friend.”
A: それはいいね！　じゃあ、火曜日には会いたいな。 (sore wa ii ne! Jaa, ka yohou niwa aitai na.) – “That’s good! Then let’s meet on Tuesday.”

Translation: A: “Do you have any plans for this week?” B: “On Saturday, I’m going shopping with a friend.” A: “That’s good! Then let’s meet on Tuesday.”

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Here are some frequent mistakes N4 learners make and how to correct them:

• Incorrect: 明日、映画を見ますか？ (ashita, eiga wo mimasu ka?) – Literally “Will you watch a movie tomorrow?” While grammatically correct, it sounds overly formal for casual conversation. Correct: 明日、映画を見ない？ (ashita, eiga wo minai?) – More natural and friendly.
• Incorrect: 計画します。(keikaku shimasu) – This is too formal in a casual setting. Correct: Just use the verb form 計画する (keikaku suru).

Tips for Success

• Practice Regularly: Use flashcards or language learning apps to reinforce vocabulary and phrases.
• Listen to Japanese Conversations: Podcasts, anime, and dramas are excellent resources for hearing how native speakers actually talk.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes! Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language. It’s part of the process.

Focus on expressing your intentions clearly. With practice, you’ll be able to confidently discuss plans and ideas in Japanese!