Your JLPT level, mapped to real-life speaking scenes
The JLPT tests reading and listening. Life in Japan tests speaking: the register, the counter, the phone call. This page matches each level to the Konbini Legends voice scenes you can practise right now. You speak out loud, and the clerk, neighbour or coworker answers you in Japanese, by voice. Each level is the one the scene is written for, so a scene marked N4 uses roughly N4 Japanese. It isn’t an official JLPT mapping, just a place to start.
Find every scene in the app under Speaking practice: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6758014218
N5: first words at the counter (7 scenes)
| Scene (as titled in the app) | What you do |
|---|---|
| Konbini checkout | Heating, chopsticks, bag, how you’ll pay, receipt |
| Supermarket register | Point card, bag, how you’ll pay |
| Bakery: paying for your tray | Eat in or take out, warming, bag |
| Izakaya: first order | How many people, a drink, one dish |
| Station: asking the way | Where you want to go, checking the directions |
| Saying hello to the neighbour | Introduce yourself, where you’re from, how life is |
| Picking up your glasses | Say why you’re there, the claim slip, how they feel |
N4: paperwork, health and the phone (12 scenes)
| Scene (as titled in the app) | What you do |
|---|---|
| Ward office: moving-in (転入届) + 住民票 | File your moving-in notice, the My Number PIN, a residence record copy |
| Bank: opening an account | Open an account, residence card, how long in Japan, seal or signature |
| Clinic reception | First visit, insurance card, what’s wrong, since when |
| Pharmacy: filling a prescription | Medicine notebook, generic medicine, allergies, waiting |
| Dentist: booking a first visit by phone | Book, first visit, symptom, day and time, insurance card |
| Phone: asking for redelivery | Redelivery, tracking number, day, time slot |
| Calling in sick to work | Say you’re unwell, ask for the day off, handover, follow-up |
| Garbage point: a neighbour’s tip | Garbage type, the wrong-day tip, burnable days, bottles |
| Glasses shop: getting new glasses | What they’re for, prescription, test lenses, pickup |
| Hair salon | What you want, how much to cut, fringe, shampoo |
| Izakaya: ordering | Party size, drinks, food, last order, splitting the bill |
| JLPT test day: reception | Your test voucher and ID, your level, phone off, pencils |
N3: longer exchanges and explaining yourself (7 scenes)
| Scene (as titled in the app) | What you do |
|---|---|
| Mobile shop: new contract | New contract, keep or change number, data, SIM-only, ID and payment |
| Phone: reporting a repair to the management company | Name and room, the problem, a visit time, contact |
| Returning an item | Return or exchange, what’s wrong, receipt, refund method |
| Work: asking to leave early | Ask, give a reason, time, who covers, tomorrow |
| Neighbourhood association: your turn on duty | The duty request, what it involves, dates, the circular board, fees |
| First date at a café | Ordering, what you do, days off, how long in Japan, a next date |
| Break room: anime talk | What you’re watching, where, recommending, spoilers |
N2 and N1: no voice scenes yet
N2 and N1: There aren’t any speaking scenes written for N2 or N1 yet. If you’re at this level, the N3 scenes are a good warm-up for speaking at full speed. Lessons, kanji and JLPT-style practice tests go all the way to N1.
Pick a scene and say it out loud
Konbini Legends: free on iPhone and iPad. Open Speaking practice and choose a scene at your level.
Konbini Legends is a real-time voice conversation app for foreigners living in Japan: you speak Japanese out loud and an AI conversation partner replies in Japanese by voice, in everyday scenes like the konbini, the ward office, a clinic, the bank and a phone shop.
