JLPT N4 grammar
いちばん — Meaning & Examples
"The most / number one". いちばん + adjective. いちばんすき (ichiban suki) = favourite, いちばん高い (ichiban takai) = tallest/most expensive.
“The Most” — いちばん
いちばん means "number one" or "the most".
Aは [group] でいちばん [adjective] です。
Examples:
富士山は日本でいちばん高い山です。(fujisan wa nihon de ichiban takai yama desu.)
= Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.
わたしはクラスでいちばん背が低いです。(watashi wa kurasu de ichiban se ga hikui desu.)
= I am the shortest in the class.
このケーキはお店でいちばんやすいです。(kono kēki wa omise de ichiban yasui desu.)
= This cake is the cheapest in the shop.
Asking with いちばん:
何がいちばんすきですか。(nani ga ichiban suki desu ka?) = What do you like the most?
どこがいちばんよいですか。(doko ga ichiban yoi desu ka?) = Where is the best?
Not as much as — AはBほど〜ない:
今日はきのうほどあつくないです。(kyō wa kinō hodo atsukunai desu.)
= Today is not as hot as yesterday.
Use ほど + negative for "not as much as".
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on いちばん. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. いちばん means?
- First time
- Together
- The most / number one
- Early
Show answer
Answer: The most / number one
いちばん = the most. わたしはスシがいちばんすき = sushi is my favourite.
2. "Today is NOT as hot as yesterday" uses?
- より (yori)
- とても (totemo)
- いちばん (ichiban)
- ほど + negative (hodo)
Show answer
Answer: ほど + negative (hodo)
ほど + negative = not as much as. 今日はきのうほどあつくない = Today is not as hot as yesterday.
3. わたしはクラスでいちばん背が低い (watashi wa kurasu de ichiban se ga hikui) means?
- I am taller than the class
- I am the shortest in the class
- I am average in the class
- I am average height in the class
Show answer
Answer: I am the shortest in the class
いちばん = the most. 背が低い (se ga hikui) = short (low back). "I am the shortest in the class."
Practise いちばん in the free app
This point is part of the “Making Comparisons” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Making Comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What does いちばん mean?
"The most / number one". いちばん + adjective. いちばんすき (ichiban suki) = favourite, いちばん高い (ichiban takai) = tallest/most expensive.
Is いちばん on the JLPT N4 test?
いちばん is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Making Comparisons”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise いちばん?
Open the “Making Comparisons” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.