JLPT Grammar: Don't Just LEARN, Feel It!

Hello everyone, with 10 years of experience in Japan and having passed the N1 long ago, I've realized a crucial truth about tackling high-level grammar questions:

At higher levels, the battle is no longer about "right" vs. "wrong," but "natural" vs. "awkward."

Ever stared at four N1 grammar options and felt... they all look kinda the same? 🤔 When translated, their meanings are nearly identical. That's the biggest trap!

For instance, grammar groups like 〜ならでは vs. 〜あっての vs. 〜なくしては, or 〜に至っては vs. 〜たるもの... they carry very subtle nuances. Rote memorization of definitions won't save you.

The Tip: Feel the "Flow" of the Context (文脈の流れ)

Instead of just focusing on the blank, apply these three steps to "feel" the sentence like a native speaker:

1. Scan the Whole Picture 🗺️

Don't just read the sentence with the blank. Read the sentence before and after it. This helps you grasp the narrative flow and the author's intention. Are they telling a story, explaining, complaining, or praising?

2. Check the "Temperature" of the Sentence 🌡️

Every sentence has an emotional "temperature":

• Positive / Grateful? (likely 〜おかげで, 〜あっての)
• Negative / Critical? (likely 〜せいで, 〜始末だ)
• Formal / Written style? (likely 〜に堪えない, 〜の極み)
• Hypothetical / Conditional? (likely 〜としたら, 〜ないことには)

Sensing this "temperature" can help you immediately eliminate one or two wrong answers.

3. "Listen" to the Options in Your Head 🎧

Once you've narrowed it down to your final 1-2 choices, try "plugging" them into the blank and "reading" the complete sentence in your head. Long-term Japanese learners develop a kind of "linguistic intuition." You'll feel that one answer sounds much "smoother" and more "fluid" than the others.

That feeling of "Hmm, that just sounds weird!" (なんか不自然だな) is your ultimate weapon!

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Instead of being a technician who just assembles grammar parts, become an artist who feels the soul of the words. That's the key not just to passing the N1, but to truly mastering Japanese.

Good luck conquering the exam with a more refined sense of the language! 🚀