JLPT N4 Speaking: How Weather Affects Your Plans

The JLPT N4 speaking test focuses on simple conversational scenarios. A common topic is how weather influences your activities and plans. This article will guide you through practicing this by using everyday Japanese. We’ll cover vocabulary, useful phrases, and realistic dialogues to help you confidently talk about the impact of weather on your day.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Let’s build our vocabulary first:

• 天気 (tenki) – Weather
• 雨 (ame) – Rain
• 晴れ (hare) – Sunny
• 曇り (kumori) – Cloudy
• 風邪 (kazegushi) – Cold / Flu
• 予定 (yotei) – Plan / Schedule
• 〜ので (~node) – Because of… / Due to…
• 〜はずです (~wa desu) – It should be…/ I was planning to…
• 残念 (zuannai) – That’s a shame! / Too bad!

Scenario 1: A Change of Plans

Let’s imagine you and a friend are planning to go hiking, but the weather changes.

Japanese Dialogue

Person A (You): 「ねえ、今日はお山に行こう！晴れそうだし。予定は？”

(Nee, kyou wa o-yama ni ikou! Hare soso dasshi. Yotei wa?)”

Translation: “Hey, let’s go hiking today! It looks sunny. What’s the plan?”

Person B (Friend): 「いいですね！でも、ちょっと寒くないですか？ 天気予報によると、午後から雨が降るみたいです。”

(Ii desu ne! Demo, chotto samui koto naku desu? Tenki yohou ni routine wa, gogo kara ame ga furu mitai desu.)”

Translation: “That’s good! But, isn’t it cold? According to the weather forecast, it looks like rain will come after this afternoon.”

Person A (You): 「あら、そうでしたか！残念。もう別のことをしましょう。”

(Ara, sou desu ka! Zuannai. Mou betsu no koto o shimashou.)”

Translation: “Oh, I didn’t notice! That’s a shame. Let’s do something else.”

Common Mistakes & Corrections

• Mistake: Using overly complex grammar.
• Correction: Keep it simple like the example dialogue – focus on basic sentence structure and everyday phrases.
• Mistake: Forgetting to express surprise or regret.
• Correction: Adding “あら (ara)” – “Oh!” or “残念 (zuannai)” – “That’s a shame!” adds naturalness.

Scenario 2: Adjusting Your Plans Due to Illness

Now, let’s say you have a cold and need to cancel your plans.

Japanese Dialogue

Person A (You): 「すみません、今日、映画を見に行く予定だったんだけど、風邪がひどくて、行けなくなりました。”

(Sumimasen, kyou, eiga o mi ni iku yotei datta nda kedo, kazegushi ga hido kukute, ike nakunaru mata.)”

Translation: “Sorry, I was planning to go see a movie today, but I have a bad cold and can’t go.”

Person B (Friend): 「それは大変！お大事にしてください。”

(Sore wa taihen! O-daiji ni shite kudasai.)”

Translation: “That’s terrible! Please take care of yourself.”

Person A (You): 「ありがとう。少し休んで、明日なら行けるかもしれません。”

(Arigato. Sukoshi yasunde, asu nara ikeru kamo shiremasen.)”

Translation: “Thank you. I’ll rest a little and maybe I can go tomorrow.”

Practice Tips for the JLPT N4 Speaking Test

• Record yourself speaking – This helps identify areas needing improvement.
• Practice with a native speaker – Feedback is crucial!
• Focus on natural conversation flow – Don’t just recite phrases, understand how people actually speak.
• Use the vocabulary and phrases from this guide in your practice dialogues.

Remember, the JLPT N4 speaking test is about demonstrating your ability to communicate simple ideas. By practicing these scenarios and key phrases, you’ll be well on your way to success!