JLPT N4 Writing: Write About Your Work Experience

The JLPT N4 writing exam often involves describing your work experience. This isn’t about perfect academic Japanese; it’s about being able to communicate clearly and understandably about a job you’ve held, even if that job was part-time or short-term. This article will guide you through the process with practical advice and example sentences.

Understanding the Task

The prompt usually asks you to describe a specific aspect of your work experience. Examples include: “Describe a time when you helped a customer,” or “Describe a task that was difficult for you.” Don’t panic! Focus on conveying key information in a logical way.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Here’s some useful Japanese vocabulary and phrases for this type of writing:

仕事 (shigoto): Work, Job
アルバイト (arubaito): Part-time job
店員 (tenin): Shop assistant/Salesperson
お客様 (okashigan): Customer
困った (komatta): To be troubled, to have a problem
手伝って (tetsudatte): To help (with -te form)
大変でした (taihen deshita): It was very difficult
〜について (～ni tsuite): About…
〜をしました (～o shimashita): I did ~
〜の時 (～no toki): At the time when…

Structuring Your Response

Here’s a suggested structure:

Introduction (1-2 sentences): Briefly state what kind of job it was and where you worked. 例: “私は、スーパーマーケットでアルバイトをしました。” (Watashi wa, supīmāketto de arubaito o shimashita – I did part-time work at a supermarket.)
Background (1-2 sentences): Give some context – what were you doing? 例: “毎日、商品の整理やレジ打ちをしました。” (Mainichi, shōhin no seiri ya reji uchi o shimashita – Every day, I sorted products and operated the cash register.)
The Situation (2-3 sentences): Describe the specific event you’re being asked to write about. 例: “ある日、お客様が困っているのを見つけました。 (Aru hi, okashigan ga komatteiru no o mitsukemashita – One day, I noticed a customer was having trouble.)
Your Actions & Feelings (2-3 sentences): Explain what you did and how you felt. 例: “私は、お客様に手伝って見ましょうか？と声をかけました。大変でした。”(Watashi wa, okashigan ni tetsudatte mimashō ka? to koe o kakemashita. Taihen deshita – I asked the customer if I should help them. It was very difficult.)
Conclusion (1 sentence): Briefly summarize or reflect on the experience. 例: “その時、お客様に感謝されました。” (Sono toki, okashigan ni kansha saremashimashita – At that time, the customer thanked me.)

Example Response – Helping a Customer

Let’s look at an example response based on the prompt “Describe a time when you helped a customer.”


私は、スーパーマーケットでアルバイトをしました。 毎日、商品の整理やレジ打ちをしました。ある日、お客様が困っているのを見つけました。お客様は、お菓子を選びましたが、値段が分からず、大変でした。私は、「何かお手伝いしましょうか？」と声をかけました。そして、値段を教えてあげました。お客様はとても喜んでくれて、ありがとうございましたと言いました。その時、お客様に感謝されました。

(Translation: I did part-time work at a supermarket. Every day, I sorted products and operated the cash register. One day, I noticed a customer was having trouble. The customer had chosen some sweets but didn’t know the price, it was very difficult for me. I asked, “Can I help you with anything?” And then I told them the price. They were very happy and thanked me. At that time, the customer thanked me.)

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Overly Complex Grammar: Stick to simple past tense (しました – shimashita) and straightforward sentence structures.
Too Much Detail: Focus on the essential facts. Don’t get bogged down in unnecessary descriptions.
Incorrect Politeness Levels: Use polite forms (です – desu, ます – masu) appropriately.
Mistranslation of English Phrases: Be careful when trying to translate English phrases literally. Focus on conveying the meaning, not a word-for-word equivalent. For example, “I was really stressed” could be expressed as “大変でした (taihen deshita – it was very difficult).”

Practice Tips

To improve your writing skills for the JLPT N4 writing exam:

Write sample responses to various prompts.
Ask a native speaker or tutor to review your work and provide feedback.
Focus on clarity and accuracy over trying to impress with complex vocabulary.