Nihongo So-matome N4 Grammar, Reading & Listening covers three sections of the JLPT N4 in a single book. It's structured as a six-week programme at two pages a day: four weeks of grammar, one week of reading, and one week of listening. Similar grammar concepts are grouped together, which is helpful for distinguishing between patterns that are easy to confuse. Each week ends with a test in JLPT format. Audio is downloadable from ASK's website and available on Spotify. Answers are in a separate 12-page booklet included with the book.
This is the multilingual edition (October 2023). English and Vietnamese translations are printed in the book. Portuguese, Indonesian, Nepali, Tagalog, Burmese, and Sinhala translations are available via QR codes.
This is one of two So-matome books for N4. The other covers kanji and vocabulary. The grammar section is concise and groups similar patterns together, but explanations are brief. Reading and listening get only one week each, which is light. It works well started a month or so before you finish your main textbook, like GENKI Vol. 2 or Minna no Nihongo II, as a way to spot weaknesses while there's still time to address them. For grammar prep, TRY! N4 has fuller explanations with translated example sentences and dialogues. If you have time for a thorough review across these three skills, Shin Kanzen Master N4 is still the strongest option.
