JLPT N4 Writing: Write a Short Product Review

The JLPT N4 exam includes a writing section, and one of the tasks is to write a short product review. Don’t be intimidated! It’s about expressing your opinion in a clear and relatively simple way. This article will guide you through the process with practical advice and examples.

What is a Product Review?

A product review is simply your honest opinion about something – a gadget, a book, food, anything! You’re telling people what you thought of it: was it good or bad? Why?

The Basic Structure – Let’s Build It!

Here’s a basic structure for an N4-level product review:

• Introduction (1-2 sentences): Briefly state what you are reviewing and maybe your initial impression.
• Positive Aspects (2-3 sentences): Highlight the good things about the product.
• Negative Aspects (1-2 sentences): Mention something that wasn’t great, if there is anything. Be polite!
• Overall Opinion/Recommendation (1 sentence): State your overall feeling and whether you would recommend it.

Japanese Phrases & Vocabulary You Need

Here’s some helpful Japanese to use:

• これは～です。(Kore wa ~ desu.) – This is ~
• 私は～だと思います。(Watashi wa ~ da to omoimasu.) – I think ~
• とても良いです (Totemo ii desu) – It’s very good.
• 少し難しいです(Sukoshi muzukashii desu) – It’s a little difficult.
• 値段が高いです。(Nedan ga takai desu.) – The price is high.
• 使いやすいです (Tsukai yasui desu) – It’s easy to use.
• おすすめします (Osusume shimasu) – I recommend it!
• 〜について( ~ ni tsuite) – About…
• ～のようです (~no yousu.) – It seems like…

Example Reviews in Japanese

Here are a couple of example reviews, with translations and explanations:

Example 1: A Smartphone Review

これはiPhone 14です。とても良いスマートフォンだと思います。バッテリーが長くて、カメラも綺麗です。値段が高いので少し残念ですが、使いやすいのでおすすめします。(Kore wa iPhone 14 desu. Totemo ii smartophōne da to omoimasu. Batteeri ga nagakute, kamera mo kirei desu. Nedan ga takai node sukoshi zannen desu ga, tsukai yasui node osusume shimasu.)

Translation: “This is an iPhone 14. I think it’s a very good smartphone. The battery lasts long and the camera is beautiful. It’s a little disappointing because the price is high, but I recommend it because it’s easy to use.”

Notes: This uses common phrases like “とても良いです” (very good) and explains why the reviewer likes/dislikes something.

Example 2: A Food Review (Ramen)

私はラーメンについて話します。これは美味しいラーメンのようです。スープが濃厚で、麺もよく合っています。少し値段が高いので、毎日食べられないかもしれません。でも、おすすめです。(Watashi wa rāmen ni tsuite hanashimasu. Kore wa oishii rāmen no yousu. Suupu ga noukyou de, men mo yoku aitte imasu. Sukoshi nedan ga takai node, mainichi taberarenai kamoshirenai. Demo, osusume shimasu.)

Translation: “I’m going to talk about ramen. It seems like delicious ramen. The soup is rich and the noodles go well with it. Because the price is a little high, I might not be able to eat it every day. But I recommend it!”

Notes: Notice how the review uses “〜のようです” (no yousu) – “it seems like” – which is common for expressing opinions based on information.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

• Overly complex grammar: Stick to simpler sentence structures. Avoid complicated relative clauses in an N4 review.
• Being too negative without explanation: Just saying “It’s bad” isn’t helpful. Explain why it’s bad. (Instead of: “これは悪いです。(Kore wa warui desu.)” Say: “このゲームは難しすぎてできません。(Kono geemu wa muzukashisute dekimasen – This game is too difficult, I can’t play it.)”
• Using overly polite language unnecessarily: While politeness is important in Japanese, an N4 review doesn’t require extreme formality.

Practice!

The best way to improve your writing skills is to practice. Think about a product you recently used or saw and try writing your own short review using the phrases and structures we’ve discussed.