JLPT N4 Writing: Tell a Story – A Memorable Trip

The JLPT N4 writing section asks you to write short paragraphs about familiar topics. One popular prompt is “Write about a memorable trip.” This seems daunting, but it’s manageable with preparation and the right approach. We’ll focus on building simple sentences and using common phrases to describe your experiences.

Understanding the Task

The examiners aren’t looking for perfect grammar or complex vocabulary. They want to see if you can communicate effectively in Japanese, even with limited resources. Think about a trip that stands out – it doesn’t have to be an amazing adventure; a simple day trip can work!

Key Vocabulary and Phrases

Here’s some useful vocabulary and phrases categorized for your writing:

• Describing Weather: 晴れ (hare – sunny), 雨 (ame – rainy), 曇り (kumori – cloudy), 熱い (atsui – hot), 冷たい (tadaki – cold)
• Activities & Locations: 旅行 (ryokou – trip/travel), 美術館 (bijutsukan – art museum), レストラン (resutoran – restaurant), 公園 (kouen – park), 景色 (keshiki – scenery)
• Describing Feelings: 楽しかった (tanoshikatta – it was fun), すごかった (sugokatta – it was amazing/wonderful), 疲れた (tsukareta – I was tired), ワクワクしました (wakuwaku shimashita – I was excited)
• Time Expressions: 昨日 (kinou – yesterday), 先週 (senshuu – last week), 夏休みに (natsu kyuu ni – during summer vacation), ３日間 (san kikan – three days)
• Connecting Phrases: そして (soshite – and), だから (dakara – therefore/because), それで (sore de – so/then)

Structuring Your Paragraph

A simple structure for this task is:

• Introduction (1-2 sentences): State where you went and when. (e.g., “先週、京都に行きました。” – “Senkyuu, Kyoto ni ikimashita.” – Last week, I went to Kyoto.)
• Body (2-3 sentences): Describe what you did and how you felt. Use the vocabulary above! (e.g., ” 美術館に行って、たくさんの絵をみました。とても楽しかったです。” – “Bijutsukan ni itte, takusan no e o mimashita. Totemo tanoshikatta desu.” – I went to an art museum and saw many paintings. It was very fun.)
• Conclusion (1 sentence): Briefly summarize or express your overall impression. (e.g., “京都はとても素敵な場所でした。” – “Kyoto wa totemo suteki na basho deshita.” – Kyoto was a wonderful place.”)

Example Paragraph & Common Mistakes

Here’s an example paragraph, followed by common mistakes learners make:

先週、家族と大阪に行きました。３日間、食べ物をたくさん食べました！特に、お好み焼きはとても美味しかったです。それで、道頓堀を歩いて、買い物もしました。京都はとても素敵でしたが、大阪の方が私の好きです。

(Senkyuu, kazoku to Oosaka ni ikimashita. San kikan, tabemono o takusan tabemashita! Toku ni, okonomiyaki wa totemo oishikatta desu. Sore de, dotonbori o aruite, kaimono mo shimashita. Kyoto wa totemo suteki deshita ga, Oosaka no hou ga watashi no suki desu.)

Translation: Last week, I went to Osaka with my family. For three days, I ate a lot of food! Especially okonomiyaki was very delicious. So, I walked along Dotonbori and did some shopping. Kyoto was wonderful, but I like Osaka more.

Common Mistakes:

• Using too much formal language: The example uses “とても” (totemo – very) which is perfectly acceptable for this level. Avoid overly complex structures like “～でした” (deshita – was/were) unless necessary.
• Overusing “です” and “ます”: While correct, excessive use can make the writing sound stiff.
• Incorrect particle usage: Remember particles! “に” (ni) for locations, “を” (wo) for direct objects (“okonomiyaki wo tabemashita”).

Practice Tips

Start with simple trips – a visit to a park or a local restaurant. Write down key words and phrases before you start. Don’t worry about perfect grammar at first; focus on getting your ideas across. After writing, ask a native speaker or teacher to check it for you.