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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| のど | のど | noun | throat | のどが痛いです。 | My throat hurts. |
| パート | パート | noun | part-time job | 私はパートをしています。 | I have a part-time job. |
| バス | basu | noun | bus | バスが来ました。 | The bus came. |
| はず | はず | noun | should; must be | 彼は来るはずです。 | He should be coming. |
| パソコン | パソコン | noun | computer | パソコンでメールを送った。 | I sent an email on the computer. |
| はっきり | はっきり | adverb | clearly; plainly | もっとはっきり言ってください。 | Please say it more clearly. |
| ハンドバッグ | ハンドバッグ | noun | handbag | ハンドバッグを買いました。 | I bought a handbag. |
| ピアノ | ピアノ | noun | piano | 姉はピアノが上手です。 | My older sister is good at piano. |
| ひげ | ひげ | noun | beard | 彼はひげをそった。 | He shaved his beard. |
| びっくり | びっくり | adverb | surprised | その話にびっくりしました。 | I was surprised by that story. |
| ひどい | ひどい | adjective | terrible | 今日はひどい雨だ。 | It is terrible rain today. |
| ビル | ビル | noun | building | あのビルは高い。 | That building is tall. |
| ファックス | ファックス | noun | fax | ファックスを送りました。 | I sent a fax. |
| ぶどう | ぶどう | noun | grapes | ぶどうを食べた。 | I ate grapes. |
| プレゼント | プレゼント | noun | present | 友だちにプレゼントをあげた。 | I gave my friend a present. |
| ベル | ベル | noun | bell | ベルが鳴った。 | The bell rang. |
| ほど | ほど | expression | about; as much as | 一時間ほど待った。 | I waited for about one hour. |
| ほとんど | ほとんど | adverb | almost all | ほとんど終わった。 | It is almost finished. |
| ほめる | ほめる | verb | to praise | 先生が私をほめた。 | The teacher praised me. |
| まじめ | まじめ | adjective | serious; diligent | 彼はまじめな人です。 | He is a serious person. |
| まず | まず | adverb | first; before anything else | まず、名前を書いてください。 | First, please write your name. |
| または | または | conjunction | or; otherwise | コーヒーまたはお茶をください。 | Please give me coffee or tea. |
| ミリ | （メートル） | noun | millimeter | この線は1ミリしかありません。 | This line is only 1 millimeter. |
| もうすぐ | もうすぐ | adverb | soon | もうすぐ春です。 | Spring will come soon. |
| もし | もし | expression | if; supposing | もし雨なら、行きません。 | If it rains, I won't go. |
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.
