The JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese) measures whether you can communicate in everyday situations at about CEFR A2. It is a computer-based test with four sections: Script and Vocabulary, Conversation and Expression, Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension. The Japan Foundation says it takes about 60 minutes and gives a score from 10 to 250; 200 or more passes. A JFT-Basic pass (or JLPT N4) is one of the ways to show the Japanese needed for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa. Check the official JFT-Basic website for the latest dates, places in Nepal, fee and rules before you plan.
These are original practice questions written for this course in the style of the topic. They are not copied from any real test, and the real test may use a different layout. Use the Japan Foundation's official sample questions as well.
What this section checks
- Reading the writing system: hiragana, katakana and the common kanji of daily life (signs, forms, notices).
- Vocabulary in context: choosing the right word for a sentence or a situation (food, work, places, health, time, money).
- Everyday words: counters, dates, times, katakana loanwords, and set expressions.
How to study for it
- Group words by life situation, not by alphabet: work, shopping, health, transport, housing, emergencies. This course is arranged that way: review Lessons 1 to 13 as word lists.
- Kanji for daily life: study the kanji on signs and forms (Lesson 5 and Lesson 13) and the kanji from Courses 1 and 2. Always learn a kanji with its reading in a word.
- Use spaced review: 15 minutes a day beats 2 hours once a week. Use flash cards, and review a card after 1 day, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days.
- Katakana words: say them aloud in English first, then in Japanese (コンピューター, レストラン, アルバイト).
Common traps
| Trap | Examples |
|---|---|
| Long vs short vowels | おばさん / おばあさん, ゆき / ゆうき, ここ / こうこう |
| Small っ | きて / きって, おと / おっと |
| Look-alike katakana | シ / ツ, ソ / ン |
| Irregular readings | 二十歳 (はたち), 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 今日 (きょう), 明日 (あした) |
| Sound changes in counters | さんびゃく, ろっぴゃく, はっぽん, さんぼん |
| Similar kanji | 日 / 月, 人 / 入, 大 / 太 / 犬 |
20 practice questions
Answer the questions below in the Check yourself section. Give yourself about one minute per question, as in the real test. Then check the answers and write down every word you missed.
Ready for a full test? Open the MeroSir app, go to Tests, choose Interactive and take JFT-Basic Practice Test 1 to 5 (free). Each has 50 questions in the four sections and 60 minutes, and afterwards you can review every answer with an explanation in English and Nepali. They are original practice tests, not official ones.
Every ▶ button plays a clear computer voice, which is good for learning sounds and rhythm but is not a native speaker. Pitch (the rise and fall of the voice) can sound a little flat. Also listen to real Japanese as often as you can: videos, news for learners (NHK Easy), and Japanese people around you.
Check yourself
Choose the best answer, A, B, C or D. Take about 20 minutes.
- What is the reading of 「駅」?
A) えき
B) かわ
C) みせ
D) みち - What is the reading of 「出口」?
A) いりぐち
B) でぐち
C) いえぐち
D) でくち - What is the reading of 「来週」?
A) さいしゅう
B) きしゅう
C) らいしゅう
D) らいげつ - What is the reading of 「水曜日」?
A) もくようび
B) すいようび
C) かようび
D) どようび - What is the reading of 「安い」?
A) たかい
B) あんい
C) ふるい
D) やすい - What is the reading of 「会社」?
A) かいしゃ
B) がっこう
C) こうじょう
D) かいぎ - Which word is written 「十月二日」?
A) とおがつ ににち
B) じゅうがつ ふつか
C) じゅうがつ よっか
D) いちがつ ふつか - What is the reading of 「五人」?
A) ごひと
B) いつにん
C) ごにん
D) ごじん - Choose the word for the blank: ざいりゅう（ ）を わすれないで ください。
A) カード
B) テレビ
C) ケーキ
D) ノート - Choose the word: あしたは しごとが ありませんから、（ ）です。
A) いそがしい
B) ひま
C) ねむい
D) さむい - Which one is 「ヘルメット」?
A) かぶる もの
B) たべる もの
C) よむ もの
D) のる もの - Choose the counter: ペンを（ ）ください。 (3 pens)
A) さんぼん
B) さんまい
C) さんだい
D) さんさつ - Choose the word: でんしゃが おくれました。（ ）を もらいました。
A) ちえんしょうめいしょ
B) ざいりゅうカード
C) レシート
D) つうちょう - What does the sign 「立入禁止」 mean?
A) はいっては いけません
B) はいって ください
C) とまって ください
D) あけて ください - Choose the word: けさから あたまが（ ）です。
A) おいしい
B) いたい
C) うるさい
D) すずしい - Choose the word: （ ）は にく、さかな、やさいなどです。
A) のりもの
B) のみもの
C) たべもの
D) くだもの - How do you say 10:30?
A) じゅうじ はん
B) じゅうじ さんぷん
C) じゅういちじ はん
D) ごじ はん - Which reading is for 「危険」?
A) きけん
B) あんぜん
C) きんし
D) ちゅうい - Choose the word: ふろに はいる まえに、からだを（ ）ください。
A) かいて
B) きって
C) あらって
D) よんで - What does 「使用中」 mean on a toilet door?
A) Out of order
B) In use
C) Open
D) Closed for the day
Answers
Count your correct answers. If you got fewer than 14 out of 20, read the lesson again and listen to the audio once more.
- A) えき (station).
- B) でぐち (exit).
- C) らいしゅう (next week).
- B) すいようび (Wednesday).
- D) やすい (cheap).
- A) かいしゃ (company).
- B) じゅうがつ ふつか (October 2nd).
- C) ごにん (five people).
- A) カード (ざいりゅうカード, residence card).
- B) ひま (free): there is no work.
- A) something you wear on your head.
- A) さんぼん: ほん is for long thin things.
- A) ちえんしょうめいしょ (delay certificate).
- A) You must not enter.
- B) いたい (painful).
- C) たべもの (food).
- A) じゅうじ はん.
- A) きけん (danger).
- C) あらって (wash).
- B) In use (しようちゅう).
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