You’ve graduated from survival Japanese-ordering ramen, introducing yourself, navigating train stations. Now you’re hungry for more: describing your weekend, explaining why you’re running late, and actually following a simple anime scene without subtitles. That’s N4 territory, and this vocabulary list is built exactly for it. We’ve gathered around 1500 practical words that show up on the JLPT N4 and in everyday life, skipping the obscure terms you’ll never use. It’s vocabulary that earns its keep. Pair these words with JLPT N4 grammar to build fuller sentences.
Ready for a little vocabulary adventure? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable JLPT N4 Japanese vocabulary list PDF PDF and the free downloadable printable JLPT N4 Japanese PDF flashcards.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Japanese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve already locked a few of these N4 words into memory? The quick quiz below will show you what you know and which ones could use a second glance-no pressure, just a friendly check-in.
Keep building your Japanese
Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ジャム | ジャム | noun | jam | 朝はジャムをパンにつけます。 | In the morning, I put jam on bread. |
| じゃんけん | じゃんけん | noun | rock-paper-scissors | じゃんけんで順番を決めました。 | We decided the order with rock-paper-scissors. |
| す | す | expression | I will go and come back. | いってまいります。 | I will go and come back. |
| スーツ | スーツ | noun | suit | 今日はスーツを着ています。 | I’m wearing a suit today. |
| スーツケース | スーツケース | noun | suitcase | スーツケースを持ってきました。 | I brought a suitcase. |
| ずいぶん | ずいぶん | adverb | very; considerably | 今日はずいぶん寒いです。 | It’s very cold today. |
| すく | すく | verb | to be empty; to become vacant | この店はすいています。 | This store is not crowded. |
| スクリーン | スクリーン | noun | screen | 映画をスクリーンで見ました。 | I watched the movie on the screen. |
| すっかり | すっかり | adverb | completely | 宿題はすっかり終わりました。 | The homework is completely finished. |
| すっと | すっと | adverb | smoothly; straight | 道をすっと歩きました。 | I walked straight along the road. |
| ステーキ | ステーキ | noun | steak | 夜ごはんにステーキを食べました。 | I ate steak for dinner. |
| ステレオ | ステレオ | noun | stereo; stereo system | ステレオの音が大きいです。 | The stereo sound is loud. |
| すばらしい | すばらしい | adjective | wonderful; great | すばらしい発表でした。 | It was a wonderful presentation. |
| すり | すり | noun | pickpocket; thief | すりに気をつけてください。 | Please be careful of pickpockets. |
| すると | すると | expression | then; and then | ドアを開けました。すると、猫が出てきました。 | I opened the door. Then a cat came out. |
| ぜひ | ぜひ | adverb | by all means; definitely | ぜひ来てください。 | Please come by all means. |
| ぜんぜん | ぜんぜん | adverb | not at all | ぜんぜん分かりません。 | I don't understand at all. |
| そう | そう | adverb | so; like that | そうですね。 | That's right. |
| ソフト | ソフト | noun | soft; software | このソフトは便利です。 | This software is useful. |
| それで | それで | conjunction | so; therefore | 雨です。それで、行きません。 | It's raining. So, I won't go. |
| それに | それに | conjunction | besides; also | 安いです。それに、近いです。 | It's cheap. Besides, it's close. |
| それほど | それほど | adverb | not that much | それほど高くないです。 | It's not that expensive. |
| そろそろ | そろそろ | adverb | soon; before long | そろそろ帰ります。 | I'm going home soon. |
| そんな | そんな | adjective | such; that kind of | そんな話は聞きません。 | I haven't heard such a story. |
| そんなに | そんなに | adverb | that much | そんなに食べません。 | I don't eat that much. |
Free JLPT N4 Japanese Vocabulary PDF and Flashcard Downloads
Grab the purple button for the JLPT N4 Japanese vocabulary list PDF and the teal button for the JLPT N4 Japanese PDF flashcards. Both downloads are 100% free, with no signup required.
